What is VR, AR, XR & MR ?

What is the Difference between Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), Extended Reality (XR) and Mixed Reality (MR)?

Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), Extended Reality (XR), and Mixed Reality (MR) are different forms of immersive technology that provide users with varying levels of interaction and engagement with digital content. Here's a brief overview of each:

Virtual Reality (VR): VR is a fully immersive experience that transports users into a computer-generated environment, completely replacing the real world. Users wear a VR headset with sensors and input devices, like gloves or handheld controllers, to interact with the virtual environment. VR is commonly used in gaming, entertainment, education, and training simulations.

Augmented Reality (AR): AR overlays digital content onto the user's view of the real world, enhancing the user's perception and interaction with their environment. AR can be experienced through devices like smartphones, tablets, and AR glasses. Common applications include gaming (e.g., Pokémon GO), navigation, and retail.

Extended Reality (XR): XR is an umbrella term that encompasses all immersive technologies, including VR, AR, and MR. It covers the full spectrum of experiences that blend the physical and digital worlds. XR is used to describe any application or experience that involves the interaction between real and virtual environments, regardless of the specific technology.

Mixed Reality (MR): MR is a subset of XR that combines aspects of both VR and AR. It creates a digital environment where real-world objects and virtual objects coexist and can interact with each other. MR often requires more advanced hardware, such as the Microsoft HoloLens, which uses sensors to map the physical environment and overlay digital content. MR has applications in fields like architecture, engineering, healthcare, and education.

In summary, the main differences between these technologies lie in the level of immersion and the way digital content is integrated with the user's environment. VR offers a fully immersive experience in a virtual world, AR overlays digital content onto the real world, XR is an all-encompassing term for immersive technologies, and MR combines elements of VR and AR to create a mixed environment where real and virtual objects can interact.