By: Prof. Ts. Dr. Manjit Singh Sidhu
Mixed reality offers a major expansion in computing by seamlessly merging the physical and digital worlds. Generally, mix reality associates computer vision, graphics processing, display technologies, input methods, and cloud computing to provide a continuous experience in which digital objects appear to be a part of the actual environment. The users of this technology may interact with and edit virtual objects in real time. Today, many people are already using mixed reality applications such as Instagram and Snapchat filters. According to Market Research Future (MRFR), the mixed reality market is expected to reach USD 9.21 billion by 2030, increasing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 43.28%.
Traditional displays, such as TVs, cellphones, and laptops, are giving way to immersive, 3D digital worlds that interface with the actual world via heads-up, hands-free headsets. These gadgets show 3D holograms that can be controlled using eye and hand tracking, allowing for a far more natural and intuitive interaction with digital information. Mixed reality technology opens up new possibilities for collaboration, learning, and development, offering users immersive and engaging experiences that bridge the gap between the real and virtual worlds.
The user will be able to access and interact with digital information much more quickly and easily when physical and digital experiences are combined. It will no longer be necessary, for example, to alternate between a printed cookbook and digital instructions when preparing a new recipe. Instead, to advance to the next holographic level, just swipe your hand in the air. This streamlines the process and lessens interruptions. Thus, mixed reality is going to change the way we communicate with the digital world.
Augmented Reality and Mixed Reality are frequently used interchangeably owing to their similarity in combining the physical and digital worlds. However, there is a small difference between the two. Augmented Reality focuses on the improvement of visual components in the actual world, but Mixed Reality goes beyond this by allowing interaction with digital depictions using eye and hand tracking technologies, in addition to visual augmentation.
Mixed reality technology seamlessly integrates the physical and digital worlds by capturing the actual environment with sensors and cameras and showing digital material such as 3D holograms on transparent or semi-transparent screens in front of the user’s eyes. Users interact with these digital objects using gestures, voice instructions, or controllers, with real-time changes to guarantee precise alignment with their environment. This technology generates immersive and interactive experiences, enabling a variety of applications that combine physical and digital realities.
Consumer acceptance of mixed reality is dependent on accessibility, content richness, and user-friendly interfaces. While it is difficult to forecast an exact date, as technology gets more inexpensive and content becomes more engaging, we may anticipate a slow but continuous integration of Mixed Reality into daily life, similar to the adoption curves of previous technical advancements.
Mixed reality excels at spatial engagement and context-aware interactions that touch displays fail to deliver. Mixed Reality devices comprehend and interact with their surroundings, providing richer, more intuitive experiences. They may project information and virtual objects into the actual environment, allowing for more dynamic and realistic data presentation and interaction than touch displays’ flat, limited surfaces.
Mixed reality is the next generation of computing because it marks a fundamental shift in how we view and interact with digital material. It overcomes the constraints of displays, allowing for a more organic and integrated digital experience. As computers becomes more commonplace, Mixed Reality technology will most certainly become the norm for personal and professional digital interactions, representing a step advance similar to the move from command-line interfaces to visual user interfaces.
Mixed reality technology is being used in education to provide students with interactive and immersive learning experiences, such as virtual field excursions, as well as to allow students to participate in interactive science projects from the comfort of their own classroom.
The use of mixed reality technology in manufacturing attempts to improve productivity and quality control by providing workers with interactive and realistic simulations of the production process. Additionally, it enables distant teams to collaborate in virtual environments, which improves cooperation.
Mixed reality technology is used in construction and design to visualize building plans, provide virtual walkthroughs of architectural models, and clarify workers on new equipment and processes.
Mixed reality technology is used in the healthcare industry to provide medical practitioners with interactive and realistic simulations for teaching, training, patient treatment, and therapy.
In tourism industry, mixed reality may give cultural insights and real-time translations, making it simpler for travelers to converse while also increasing customer experience by allowing them to sense a city’s culture before visiting.
Augmented reality in warehouse operations could provide a virtual assistant guide for every action. This “assistant” may recommend optimal paths for pickers, highlight goods on shelves, and even offer real-time inventory level updates.
Mixed reality technologies may be used by businesses to increase productivity in different ways. One way is to create digital versions of real-world items, which are known as digital twins. This enables for the testing and optimization of new ideas prior to physical manufacturing, which saves money and time. Additionally, mixed reality may be used to create virtual settings that increase communication among remote personnel.
Mixed reality is an enormous step forward in computing, effortlessly combining the physical and digital worlds to create immersive and interactive experiences. Mixed reality, which combines cutting-edge technology such as computer vision, graphics processing, and display upgrades, allows users to interact with virtual things as if they were real.
The mixed reality industry is expected to rise significantly in value during the next decade. As conventional displays give way to immersive, 3D digital worlds, the opportunities for collaboration, learning, and invention grow rapidly.
Mixed reality technology improves productivity, simplifies learning, and enriches a wide range of sectors, from education and healthcare to manufacturing and tourism. Its uses in industrial settings, particularly with devices such as Microsoft’s HoloLens, offer considerable gains in productivity and cost savings.
As consumer acceptance rises and technology becomes more available, mixed reality is set to become a daily aspect of life, shifting how we interact with digital information and improving our comprehension of the world around us. Mixed reality is the next frontier in computing, with the capacity to change both personal and professional relationships, opening up unlimited opportunities for innovation and growth.
The author is a Professor at the College of Computing and Informatics, Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN), Fellow of the British Computer Society, Chartered IT Professional, Fellow of the Malaysian Scientific Association, Senior IEEE member and Professional Technologist MBOT Malaysia. He may be reached at manjit@uniten.edu.my
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