Mixed Reality Technology: Origin, Examples, Features, Benefits, and Challenges

Context

Mixed reality headsets have gained widespread attention with the reveal of the Apple Vision Pro headset. 

Apple Vision Pro: Revolutionizing Mixed Reality

• Seamless Integration of Virtual and Real Worlds: This device blends the virtual world with the real one, creating a seamless experience that can perform all the functions of a smartphone, but without the need for dedicating your undivided attention to a screen. 
• Cutting-Edge Features of the Headset: The headset comes with state-of-the-art hand- and eye-tracking features with a number of immersive apps, and a set of videos that are built for three-dimensional viewing.
  • e Vision Pro clearly sets a new bar in headset technology with its unique operating system, visionOS.
• Spatial Computer” vs. “Mixed Reality Headset: Apple has called the device a “revolutionary spatial computer” but most tech enthusiasts preferred calling it a ‘mixed reality headset’.
• Spatial Computing: According to mixed reality researcher Louis Rosenberg, spatial computing “is a great overarching term for AR, MR, and VR, along with other immersive experiences such as 3D movies and telepresence.

What is Mixed Reality Technology?

• Origin: Researchers Paul Milgram and Fumio Kishino coined the term in 1994 to describe the continuum between totally real and totally virtual environments. 

• About: Modern mixed reality headsets combine the best of both virtual reality and augmented reality, allowing you to experience and interact with both real and digital worlds in a natural and immersive way.
• Examples of Mixed Reality Devices: Microsoft hololens, Magic Leap One, Oculus Quest, Meta Quest.

Features of Mixed Reality Include

• Real-Time Interaction: Mixed Reality (MR) allows users to interact with virtual objects in real-time, using gestures, voice commands, or other input methods.
• Immersion: MR can create a sense of immersion, as users feel like they are interacting with the virtual world as if it were real.
• Blending of Physical and Virtual: MR blends the physical and virtual worlds, allowing users to see and interact with virtual objects in their real-world environment.
• Enhanced Reality: MR can enhance the real world by overlaying virtual elements onto it, such as information or graphics.
• Portability: MR can be accessed through various devices, including smartphones, tablets, and specialized headsets, which makes it portable and accessible. 
• Collaboration: MR can facilitate collaboration by allowing multiple users to interact with the same virtual environment from different locations. 

How Does Mixed Reality Work?

• Three-Dimensional Data Processing: An MR headset works by using advanced AI sensors, cameras, CPUs and GPUs to process and store data in three dimensions based on the mixed reality spectrum.
  • When a user puts on a set of mixed-reality glasses, the cameras and sensors in those glasses connect to a software program that gathers as much information as possible about the environment, essentially creating a virtual map of the real world.
• Mixed Reality Spectrum: It is a way of describing how physical and digital worlds can be combined in different ways to create immersive experiences. 
• Physical Reality: On one end of the spectrum, there is physical reality, where we interact with real objects and environments. 
• Digital Reality: On the other end, there is digital reality, where we are fully immersed in a virtual world. 
• Mixing of Physical and Digital Elements: In between, there are various degrees of mixing physical and digital elements, such as overlaying holograms on the real world, or blending real and virtual environments.
  • Ex– Vision Pro integrates apps within the user’s environment.

Benefits of Mixed Reality 

• Enhanced User Experience: 

  • Mixed Reality (MR) offers an immersive user experience that allows users to interact with virtual objects as if they were real.
    • This technology creates a highly engaging and interactive environment, enhancing the user experience and providing a more meaningful and memorable experience.
    • For example, Magic Leap One has been used to create a mixed-reality version of Star Wars, where users can interact with characters and environments from the franchise.

• Improved Training and Education: 

  • Mixed reality (MR) has the potential to revolutionize education and training by providing a realistic and interactive simulation environment. 
    • It can be used to train individuals in high-risk professions such as aviation, healthcare, and military, among others, by creating realistic scenarios that allow individuals to practice and refine their skills.
    • For example, Microsoft HoloLens has been used to teach anatomy, chemistry, and engineering in various universities.

• Increased Efficiency in Manufacturing: 

  • Mixed reality can be used to streamline the manufacturing process by allowing designers and engineers to visualize and test products in a virtual environment. 

• • This technology can help identify design flaws and reduce the need for physical prototypes, saving time and money.A designer could use an MR device to view a virtual model of a product and modify its design in real time. In this way, MR can help reduce production time and improve product quality.
  • For example, Trimble XR10 has been used to create a mixed reality solution for construction, where workers can access 3D models, instructions, and data on-site.

• Cost-Effective Marketing: 

  • Mixed reality (MR) can be used in marketing to create unique and memorable experiences that engage consumers. 
    • This technology can be used to create virtual showrooms, product demos, and interactive ads, among others, at a fraction of the cost of physical events.

• Healthcare: 

  • In healthcare, it will allow surgeons to use MR-powered X-ray vision to see under a patient’s skin to blood vessels and bones during surgery.
    • Telemedicine can also be facilitated through MR, enabling remote specialists to virtually examine and guide healthcare providers in real-time.

• Enhancing Communication: 

  • It also has the potential to improve communication and collaboration between people. 
    • For example, a group of people might use an MR app to view a project collaboratively and interact with it in real time. This could make it possible to work more efficiently and achieve better results.

Challenges with Mixed Reality Technology

• High Cost: Mixed Reality (MR) Technology technology is still in its early stages and is relatively expensive. The cost of developing and implementing MR solutions can be prohibitive for many organizations, especially smaller ones.
  • This financial barrier may restrict smaller companies or organizations from embracing MR due to the requirement for specialized hardware and software that may not align with existing systems or infrastructure.
• Limited Compatibility: It requires high-end hardware and software, which may not be compatible with all devices. This limitation can restrict the potential audience for MR solutions, making it less accessible to the masses.
• Limited Mobility: It requires a specific environment, such as a room or dedicated area, to be effective. This limitation can restrict the portability of MR solutions, making it less practical for certain applications.
• Technical Constraints: They also face technical hurdles, such as battery life and latency. Presence of hardware limitations that affect MR functionality, such as sensor tracking and the visual angle of Head Mounted Display (HMD) devices. 
  • These limitations can hinder the seamless integration and performance of MR experiences.
• User Discomfort and Social Acceptance: They are heavy, and uncomfortable to wear for long durations. 
  • Fixed reality headsets in their current form may not be socially acceptable due to their large, conspicuous appearance which can isolate people.
• Health Concerns: Extended use of MR  can cause physical discomfort, including headaches, nausea, and eye strain. These issues can limit the potential for mixed reality to be used in certain fields, such as healthcare and education.
• Data Privacy: Issues surrounding data privacy and intellectual property emerge with the use of MR, highlighting the need for appropriate safeguards and regulations.
  • MR technology faces even greater risks as richer information can be gathered using its highly sensitive sensors. 
• Standardisation and Interoperability: The seamless integration and cooperation of MR devices may be constrained by the absence of globally recognized standards, which might impede interoperability between various hardware and software platforms. 
• Deceptive Visuals: Mixed reality can also create deceptive visuals in the user’s environment, making it hard to distinguish what’s real and computer-generated. 
• Ethical Considerations:  MR deployment involves several ethical questions like the possibility of addiction, social isolation, and psychological consequences on users. 

Way Forward

• Prioritizing Interface Automation: The design of future Mixed Reality (MR) systems should prioritize interface automation to provide users with adaptability and a seamless experience.
• Advancements in Display Technologies:  High-resolution and wide field-of-view displays, will contribute to more realistic and engaging MR encounters.
• Harnessing MR for Education:  Educators must identify the learning objectives that MR can enhance. Understanding which content areas will benefit from immersive experiences can lead to a more purposeful and effective implementation.
  • Analyze Curriculum Needs: Determine where MR can add value, such as in complex scientific simulations or historical recreations.
  • Align with Educational Goals: Ensure that XR aligns with overall educational targets, enhancing rather than distracting from learning outcomes.
• Common protocols and measures: These must be established to foster interoperability and enable the development of a more coherent MR ecosystem.
• Reviewing Privacy Policies:  Awareness should be made regarding how the companies behind MR platforms store the data and what they do with it. For example, if they share the data with third parties.
  • Reveal of personal information should be avoided. By being vigilant and adopting robust security measures, the benefits of MR can be enjoyed and potential risks mitigated ensuring a safer digital landscape.
  • Use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) for Data Protection: The online identity and data can be safeguarded by employing a VPN service.
• Ethical Rules and Framework: It is necessary to set ethical rules and standards to prevent the exploitation of MR technology, such as intrusive data collection, unlawful surveillance, or the development of damaging or deceptive information.

DOWNLOAD PDF