Differences Between Mixed Reality Vs Extended Reality

Mixed reality (MR) and extended reality (XR) are two terms that are often used interchangeably, but they actually refer to different technologies. While both MR and XR involve the integration of digital content into the real world, the key difference between the two is the level of immersion.

Mixed reality refers to a spectrum of technologies that blend the virtual and the real worlds. There are three main types of mixed reality: augmented reality (AR), which overlays digital information on the real world; virtual reality (VR), which immerses the user in a completely digital environment; and hybrid reality, which combines elements of both AR and VR.

Augmented reality, the most common type of MR, uses a device such as a smartphone or tablet to display digital information on top of the real world. This can include text, images, and videos, and can be used for a variety of applications, such as gaming, education, and navigation. One of the most well-known examples of AR is Pokemon Go, a mobile game that uses the player's smartphone camera to display virtual Pokemon in the real world.

Virtual reality, on the other hand, completely immerses the user in a digital environment. Users wear a VR headset that covers their eyes and ears, and are able to interact with the virtual world using hand controllers. VR is often used for gaming, as well as for training and simulation in industries such as medicine and the military.

Hybrid reality is a combination of both AR and VR, it blends the real and virtual worlds in such a way that the user feels like they are in a new environment, it has been used in gaming, entertainment, and in industrial and educational settings.

Extended reality (XR) is a broad term that encompasses all forms of MR, as well as other immersive technologies such as virtual worlds and holographic displays. XR extends beyond the physical world, and allows users to interact with digital content in new and innovative ways.

One of the main Differences Between Mixed Reality Vs Extended Reality is the level of immersion. While MR is primarily focused on overlaying digital information on the real world, XR takes it a step further by completely immersing the user in a digital environment. XR also includes technologies such as holographic displays and virtual worlds, which allow users to interact with digital content in new and innovative ways.

It's important to note that the line between MR and XR is not clearly defined and the terms are often used interchangeably. However, in general, MR is used to describe technologies that blend the real and virtual worlds, while XR is used to describe all forms of immersive technology.

In conclusion, MR and XR are two terms that are often used interchangeably, but they refer to different technologies. MR is a spectrum of technologies that blend the virtual and the real worlds, including augmented reality, virtual reality, and hybrid reality. XR, on the other hand, is a broad term that encompasses all forms of MR, as well as other immersive technologies such as virtual worlds and holographic displays. It is a newer term that encompasses all forms of immersive technology with an emphasis on the level of immersion and the ways in which digital content can be integrated into the real world.