Mixed Reality

What Does Mixed Reality Mean?

Mixed reality, also known as extended reality (XR), is a hybrid environment that includes both real-world and digital elements.

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The term mixed reality is often used interchangeably with the term augmented reality. In some business applications, however, augmented reality is used to specifically describe a virtual overlay, such as a digital overlay on a car windshield, while the term "mixed reality" is used to describe more advanced AR environments that allow virtual objects to be manipulated.

Techopedia Explains Mixed Reality

Mixed reality is a type of hybrid system that involves both physical and virtual elements. Many experts describe mixed reality as the sliding scale between a fully physical environment with no virtual elements, and a completely virtual environment.

In addition, many other mixed reality projects experiment with adding virtual phenomena to the physical world. For example, some mixed reality projects involve adding digital avatars or holograms, or other virtual images and displays to a physical installation to innovate human experience. Other types of mixed reality projects include building devices and technologies that simulate physical human senses that are more difficult to simulate, such as taste, touch and smell.

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Margaret Rouse

Margaret Rouse is an award-winning technical writer and teacher known for her ability to explain complex technical subjects to a non-technical, business audience. Over the past twenty years her explanations have appeared on TechTarget websites and she's been cited as an authority in articles by the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine and Discovery Magazine.Margaret's idea of a fun day is helping IT and business professionals learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages. If you have a suggestion for a new definition or how to improve a technical explanation, please email Margaret or contact her…