Emerging Technologies
Mixed Reality (MR)
Definition
Mixed Reality (MR) is the merging of real and virtual worlds to produce new environments and visualizations, where physical and digital objects co-exist and interact in real time.
Why It Matters
MR is a step beyond AR. It not only overlays digital objects onto the real world, but allows them to interact with it as if they were really there. This has profound implications for collaboration, design, and education.
Contextual Example
Using a mixed reality headset like the Microsoft HoloLens, an architect could place a virtual 3D model of a building on a physical table and walk around it, viewing it from all angles as if it were a real physical model.
Common Misunderstandings
- MR is often considered a spectrum, with AR at one end and full VR at the other. MR sits in the middle.
- The key feature of MR is the interaction between the digital and physical worlds.