What is Extended Reality (XR) and How it Works

Extended Reality or XR is an environment that combines virtual reality and the real background into a single coherent system. XR works well on modern technologies, especially wearable devices. In recent years, more and more devices are being developed which are capable of extended reality.

The term XR encompasses several other types of subsets, which include Mixed Reality, Augmented Reality, and Virtual Reality. Over the years, different companies have pushed the boundaries of the development of XR through a wide range of experiences. XR is powerful enough to present a form of reality with several dimensions, which offers users opportunities for the purpose of innovative and insightful experiences.

How it Works

The XR is a type of technology that uses all the senses of an individual. It uses hearing, sight, smell, touch, taste, and the power of the mind. Each use of extended reality exposes users to new and profound experiences that reshape their minds. Additionally, it gives the user the ability to experience the world in a new way. XR is achieved with the help of a headset, which is capable of providing users the experience via all the senses.

The ability to see is the first and the most important feature of XR. Users are able to see computer-created reality superimposed on the real-world environment. Many popular video games offer this visual experience. Gaming platforms such as PlayStation and Nintendo offer such experience with a handful of games. Additionally, there are several museums and tours that offer 360 degrees of extended visual reality. This feature is achieved with the help of 360 degrees of cameras mounted on a headset to try and capture the portion of reality. Several companies are actively involved in the development of XR headsets.

With XR, users experience sounds all around them in 360 degrees, just as they can see in the same fashion. This feature mimics the nature in which an individual can hear sounds from all directions. Therefore, a user is able to clearly perceive sound within the realm of extended reality as they would normally do in real life. For example, if a user of XR happens to be walking in a park, if there are children who happen to be playing on the left-hand side within the XR reality space, they will hear the sound of the children’s actions from the same direction. This experience also applies to video games and many more experiences.

The sense of touch has successfully been included in the XR experience. Users of XR headsets can feel the touch of objects within the simulation through the use of bodysuits and gloves, which are specifically designed for this purpose. Such wearable technology is designed based on haptic technology, which uses a feedback system to express motions and vibrations.

The senses of smell and taste are relatively new in the field of XR. The sense of smell is achieved through the use of scent cartridges, which are able to give off neutral, pleasant, and unpleasant scents. Taste, on the other hand, is achieved with the help of electrodes placed on the tongue of the user. However, this technology is still under extensive research.

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