Immersive technology Insights
Welcome to RPR’s immersive technology hub. Here you’ll find the latest insights, views, and trends from our industry experts. Learn about the boundless potential of this pioneering technology, like immersive Virtual Reality (VR), immersive 3D, and immersive Augmented Reality (AR), and see how it’s revolutionising businesses and industries across the globe.
Types of immersive technology
Immersive technology is not a single entity. It’s a diverse spectrum of possibilities, transforming how we engage with the digital and physical worlds. The evolution of immersive technology has seen the creation of augmented environments, extended realities, and virtual worlds. From VR and AR to MR, XR and much more, learn more about the different types of immersive technology below.
Enhance the world around you thanks to seamless digital integrations with reality—discover AR's impact across industries and future possibilities.
Advanced pillar page category Events description.
A blend of immersive technologies that fuse the real and virtual worlds—-uncover more about the XR technology behind Virtual, Augmented, and Mixed Reality.
Explore the vast digital universe—the Metaverse. Discover its impact on social interaction, entertainment, work, and innovation.
Advanced pillar page category Rock Paper Reality description.
Immersive XR experiences through your web browser—learn more about WebXR's technology, versatility, and transformative capabilities.
What is immersive technology?
Immersive technology is a catch-all term for technologies that fuse the physical and digital worlds, creating captivating and engaging user experiences. It can include: Virtual Reality (VR), where users step into an entirely simulated environment; Augmented Reality (AR) and WebAR, which overlays digital elements onto the real world; Mixed Reality (MR), which blends both VR and AR elements; and Extended Reality (XR) and WebXR, which are the technical terms for all forms of immersive technology.
Who is using immersive technology?
From entertainment, gaming and hospitality to healthcare, education, and retail, various organisations across many industries embrace immersive technology. It offers companies worldwide unprecedented opportunities to create engaging experiences for users to improve how they learn, train, explore, and play.
Insights Glossary
Browse terms related to immersive reality technologies in our Insights Glossary.
Virtual Environment
A virtual environment is a computer-generated 3D simulation of a space that mimics a real or physical environment. It allows users to immerse themselves in a digital space and interact with objects or other users just as they would in the physical world.
Haptics
Haptics utilizes technology to simulate motion and the sense of touch, recreating the sensation of interacting with physical objects via remote operations or computer simulations. This is achieved using actuators—small motors that generate vibrations—and sensors to detect users’ interactions with the interface.
Gesture Recognition
Gesture recognition enables computers to understand human gestures as commands, particularly in gaming. This lets players control games with physical movements, rather than using traditional controllers or keyboards. Whether it’s a simple nod or an elaborate dance move, players can now dictate gameplay with their bodies, resulting in more immersive and intuitive experiences.
Headworn
A headworn device, such as a VR headset, is a piece of technology worn over a user’s eyes to visualize, explore, and interact with immersive virtual environments. VR headsets typically consist of a display screen, lenses, and motion sensors that track the user’s head movements to create realistic and interactive virtual experiences.
Spatial Computing
Spatial computing relates to the merging of digital content with the physical world. Spatial computing helps systems process the environment around users and integrate virtual objects appropriately. Utilizing technologies like AR and VR, spatial computing allows users to engage with digital elements as if they existed in their actual surroundings.
Avatars
An avatar is a digital representation of a user in a virtual environment. A virtual avatar exists within a computer-generated world and can interact with other avatars or elements. Meanwhile, an AI avatar takes it a step further: powered by artificial intelligence, it’s capable of autonomous behavior and responding intelligently to user inputs.
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