eXtended Reality (XR)

Extended Reality (XR) is an umbrella term that encompasses all immersive technologies—virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR). Think of it as a spectrum where you can go from completely virtual environments, to blending real and digital worlds, to simply overlaying digital information on the real world. It’s all about enhancing how we experience reality through digital means, offering new ways to interact, learn, play, and work.

Technically, XR involves a combination of hardware and software to create these immersive experiences. The hardware includes devices like VR/MR HMDs (like the current favorite, Quest 3), and AR glasses, each equipped with sensors, cameras, and sometimes depth sensors. These devices capture the user’s environment and movements, while the software uses advanced algorithms to process this data and render the digital content in real-time. The key technologies at play are computer vision, spatial computing, and real-time 3D rendering, which work together to blend the physical and virtual worlds seamlessly. Whether it’s through high-resolution screens in VR headsets, on tablets/phones, laptop/desktop PC monitors, or transparent displays in AR glasses, XR tech ensures that digital elements are integrated smoothly into our real-world view.

Why isn’t there more widespread adoption of XR in classrooms?

Good question. IMHO, it’s a lack of understanding of the technology. There is a belief that XR, in any form, is a novel approach that is best suited to special use cases because of the perception of the high cost to implement a project using any form of XR – be it VR, AR, or MR. People tend to think that the first thing is you have to have research grade software, an HMD, and a bunch of fancy tech like a gyroscope¹ or treadmill, and of course, the bias that the cheap ones are “just for gaming” and the expensive ones are for serious projects are “military budget” expensive and therefore out of the range of any classroom but large futuristic enterprises and the military.

While high tech can enhance the experience, the truth is, most XR sits in between those extremes. And really, it’s closer to the “cheap, just for gaming” edge than the “military-grade only” edge.

With just a free web browser (available on ANY computing platform) and a free software development kit (SDK), you can get started. Yes, if you already have a computer, you can get started in XR for free.

Scout’s honor.

OK, I’m in. How do I get started?

I’m glad you asked. The best way to get involved in using XR in technical training (or business or entertainment) is to learn more about what makes it tick and how to develop projects with it. Here is where the beauty of the internet comes into play.

First, a couple of quick questions for you…

• Have you ever heard of the University of Michigan (you know, the Wolverines)?
• Have you ever wanted (or needed) free professional development?
  • Did you ever wish that free professional development was online and self-paced <silly question, I know 😜>?
• Have you ever heard of Coursera?

• Did you know that Coursera (via UofM) has a sequence of beginner level classes to teach you all about XR? Extended Reality for Everybody Specialization
  • Learn about User eXperience (UX) design
  • Learn about the digital tools used to develop XR applications (no experience required)
    • WebXR
    • Unity
      • Students and Instructors can get it for free.
      • Personal seats are free too (with restrictions).
      • Learn from the folks that produce Unity (maybe alongside/after the UofM courses)
    • Unreal
      • Under $1M USD in revenue? Then it’s free!
      • Educators and schools have no revenue limits, so it’s always free!
      • Learn from the folks that produce Unreal (maybe alongside/after the UofM courses)

Or…

• What if you want to explore without installing any software?
• How would a browser-based VR/AR development platform sound?
• How does “free to play” sound?

Educational accounts for Uptale.io start at free.

For an example of what you can do with VR and bringing industry together with education, visit Paris, France, and take a virtual tour of a Schneider Electric facility.

Or… maybe AI+XR is an interest

• Have you ever heard of Hewlett-Packard (HP)?
• Have you ever heard of edX?

• Did you know that edX (via HP) has a sequence of beginner-level classes to teach you how to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) in your Unity/Unreal world(s)? Generative AI Mastery: Revolutionizing Game Development
• Now that AI has “entered the chat“… Coursera and edX have AI classes for beginners too.

Second, questions you may have for me (FAQs if you will) …

• What’s the difference between Unity and Unreal graphics²?
  • See a side-by-side comparison of these graphics systems here, in this video above.
• What’s the difference between Unity and Unreal licensing and development modes²?
  • See a side-by-side comparison of these platforms here, in this video.
• What’s a “seat” in software lingo?
  • A software license based on the number of individual users. For example, 5 people using the software may require 5 seats.
• Do I have to build a game with this software?
  • No, that’s just the primary function of the software.
• What is a game/software engine (i.e. “Unreal Engine”)?
  • A software engine is the heart of a complex software system. “Engine” here is a metaphor or allegory of an automobile’s engine as the “thing” that makes the system work. A game engine is a software engine refined specifically for gaming in a way similar to how a racing engine in an automobile is refined for sport (i.e., gaming).

1. This link and the one right before it are both to video clips from the 1992 film, The Lawnmower Man. ↩︎
2. Please note that as these platforms are in constant development and updates are frequent, the information in these links may change faster than these links can be updated. ↩︎