Key takeaway: Mixed reality blends the real world and the virtual world seamlessly, letting virtual objects interact with the real environment, and by combining the strengths of AR and VR it is becoming the most compelling form of spatial computing.
What Mixed Reality Is
Augmented reality (AR) overlays virtual information on the real world, and virtual reality (VR) replaces the real world with a virtual one. Mixed reality sits between them — it blends the real and the virtual seamlessly, letting virtual objects exist in and interact with the real environment.
In mixed reality, a virtual object can sit on a real table, respond to real light, and be occluded by real objects. The virtual and the real are not separate layers; they are combined into a single experience. This is what makes mixed reality compelling.
Why Mixed Reality Is Compelling
| Strength | What it provides |
|---|---|
| Real context | Virtual objects in the real environment |
| Interaction | Virtual and real objects interacting |
| Presence | A convincing sense of being there |
| Practicality | Useful in real-world settings |
Mixed reality is compelling because it combines the strengths of AR and VR. It provides real context — virtual objects placed in the real environment; interaction — virtual and real objects interacting; presence — a convincing sense of being there; and practicality — it is useful in real-world settings, where the real environment is part of the experience.
The Technology Behind It
Mixed reality is made possible by advances in the hardware and software that understand the real world. The headset must sense the environment — its surfaces, lighting, and objects — and place virtual content in it convincingly. This requires cameras, depth sensors, and the software to process them, and it is getting better and more affordable.
The result is that mixed reality is becoming the most compelling form of spatial computing, and it is where much of the industry’s attention is going.
The Bottom Line
Understand that mixed reality blends the real and the virtual seamlessly, since it lets virtual objects exist in and interact with the real environment, combining the strengths of AR and VR. It provides real context, interaction, presence, and practicality, and it is made possible by advances in the hardware and software that sense the real world — which is why mixed reality is becoming the most compelling form of spatial computing.
