Extend Your Digital Reach Through Extended Reality

Extended Reality is one of those terms that wears its definition on its sleeve. Like Virtual Production or Microwave Popcorn, the term Extended Reality, or XR for short, is trying to tell you what it is in relatively straightforward terms. However, with the various other “Realities” bouncing around out there, this new Extended Reality starts to bleed in distinction with similarly associated technology terms, like Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, and Mixed Reality. So, we are going to tackle XR head-on to identify a clear definition, explore the roles these other technologies play within this definition, and consider how IKIN’s hologram technology fits into the mix.

What Is Extended Reality?

Extended Reality is an umbrella term that refers to the multitude of established and emerging technologies that bridge digital spaces with the real world. As such, it speaks to a certain kind of immersive user experience (UX) and is encompassing of technologies, like VR, AR, and Mixed Reality (MR). As modern holograms continue to develop and expand their applications, they too can be considered XR technology.

High Prospects For XR

The tech-inclusive approach of XR has captured the imagination of today’s industries. Last year’s explosion of interest over the metaverse has helped bolster XR’s popularity and given yet another means of conceptualizing its promise. After all, one of the primary distinctions of the metaverse as the “internet of tomorrow” is its XR-based approach. Forbes recognized XR’s potential cultural and economic impacts back in 2019 when they theorized that its “tremendous growth could mean the realities of our 2030 lives are beyond our imagination’s ability to grasp.” Current forecasts project XR evaluation will reach $397.81 billion by 2026 (15 times its current market value).

VR, AR, MR: An Evolutionary Line Of Thought

Virtual Reality

The XR technologies of VR, AR, and MR can be seen as a progressive line of user experiences–in essence, an evolution. First, Virtual Reality introduced a new level of immersion to the digital environment with headsets that replaced the sensory information of the real world with a combination of digital images, sound, and 360-degree interactivity. The UX of VR is that of complete fabrication.

Augmented Reality

AR built upon this concept, but instead of secluding users from the real world, AR invites the real world into the digital experience. AR does this by mediating the real world through screens or glasses then mapping digital content onto it. The effect is a kind of hybrid digital/real experience that includes both the uber-popular AR video game Pokémon GO and the adorable image-altering Snapchat filters we all know and love.

Mixed Reality

The comparatively lesser-known Mixed Reality pushes AR further by combining AR and VR features to create a mediated experience that blends together digitally-mapped content and real-world physicality. In MR, manipulation of real-world space can impact mapped digital elements. Thus, MR invites users to not just blend the real and the digital but to actively interact with the real world as part of the experience.

What About Holograms?

IKIN has built its approach to dimensional technology on holograms. While the roots of holograms predate that of VR, AR, and MR, the modern incarnation of holograms is only now emerging as viable next-gen 3D tech. Conceptually, it exists somewhere between AR and MR. Only, IKIN’s hologram technology sheds the traditional headgear of these other three XR in lieu of dimensional projector-based holographic systems, like the RYZ and IKIN ARC, that can realize 3D content in ambient light. Similar to other XR, IKIN holograms are interactive, though their intrinsic 3D nature means they are inherently volumetric. And, IKIN’s head-tracking technology means that authentic perspectives are maintained and achieved through natural movements of the user. The familiarity of IKIN’s holographic approach is known to improve the emotional engagement of the user, suggesting that, while there are some similarities between the UX of holograms and other XR, holographic experiences are distinct.

A Combined Effort

If the metaverse pans out as promised, then our future will not consist of a singular digital experience. Rather, it will be multifaceted with various options of XR available to either mediate our interaction with the real world or insulate us from it. Users will select the level of immersion appropriate for their need per interaction. This vision is a versatile system with immense customization and one that puts the user’s experience front and center.

IKIN’s Holograms

IKIN’s holography is currently emerging as the visual technology of tomorrow offering a novel user experience that is familiar in its overlap with other XR approaches and intuitive in the uniquely natural perspectives and movements of its design. With its convincing approach to 3D, hologram technology continues the ongoing evolution of Extended Reality as it strengthens the bridge between the digital and the real creating a cohesive symbiotic experience. As such, it’s time to welcome holograms as the latest inductee into the club of Extended Reality.

To learn more about IKIN’s ongoing developments in holographic technology and hologram applications, please visit the IKIN blog. And, remember to follow IKIN on social media.