Foundations of Immersive Technology
- (Harvard University - Harvard Taiwan Student Association)
- Overview
Immersive technology is a way of communicating with users through visual and auditory messages to create virtual environments or enhance the physical world. Immersive technology blends the physical world with digital or analog reality to create unique experiences. The two main types of immersive technology are virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR).
Virtual reality(VR) is a completely immersive technology that uses computers to create simulations of real-life scenes. Users feel like they are seeing and hearing things in an environment created by the technology. VR is used in many industries, including real estate, to allow homebuyers to tour homes without being physically present. Marketers can also use VR to connect with customers in a more personal way. In healthcare, virtual reality can treat mental problems such as phobias and anxiety disorders by exposing patients to stress-inducing situations in a controlled environment.
Augmented reality(AR) uses technology such as smartphone cameras and screens to add a computer-simulated layer of information on top of the real world. AR can be experienced through wearable eyewear devices or smartphone applications. AR can be thought of as an enhancement of the world around you, rather than creating a new virtual world like VR.
Other types of immersive technologies include mixed reality and haptic technologies. Haptic technology, also known as 3D touch or kinesthetic communication, uses force, vibration, or motion to create a touch experience for the user.
Immersive technology has many uses, including storytelling, entertainment, and education. It helps people make deeper connections with complex topics and promotes interactive learning.
- Spatial Computing
Spatial computing, also known as immersive technologies, extended reality (XR), or AR/VR, is a technology that allows people to interact with digital content using physical space as a medium. It involves computers blending data from the surrounding world in a natural way.
Spatial computing represents a fusion of digital content with our physical environment, enabling new ways to interact with the digital world that feel as natural as in the real world.
Spatial computing is the technological convergence of the virtual and physical worlds, facilitated by the integration of augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and mixed reality (MR).
This convergence enables the creation of environments where digital and physical elements coexist and interact in real time, driven by user input and environmental data. Spatial computing transforms how we perceive, interact with, and understand our surroundings, offering a more intuitive and immersive experience. It also allows machines to navigate and understand the physical environment around them.
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