Reality as we know it to exist is likely to disappear in the near future. The advent of spatial computing will lead to the digital world being interwoven seamlessly into the physical, to a point where they are indistinguishable. Augmented reality (AR), mixed reality (MR), and virtual reality (VR) all offer varying degrees of immersion, but each presents such a drastic shift from reality as we know it to be.
AR enriches our surroundings with information overlaid on the physical world through eyewear displays. Users don’t ever have to fully disconnect from reality, but they have more access to information than ever before. MR is a deeper experience, where digital elements are able to interact with the physical world. VR is the most immersive and advanced experience of the three. It offers a completely computer generated world, where the imagination of the developers is the only limit. .
Meta Quest 3 and Apple Vision Pro are currently spearheading the uptake of this technology, but it is poised for widespread adoption. Experts are estimating that worldwide, there will be 1.4 billion devices with AR capabilities by 2024. Evolving beyond bulky goggles, this cutting-edge technology will soon find its way into sleek near-to-eye displays and perhaps even make smartphones obsolete.