Mixed Reality will be most important tech of 2017

2016 has been a remarkable year that’s brought continued growth and awareness to the worlds of Augmented, Virtual and Mixed Reality. Set to become a $165 Billion dollar industry by 2020, there’s still a common question that lingers among many newcomers trying to understand this fast moving digital phenomena we are just beginning to watch evolve: What’s the difference between them and how will it impact the digital world as I currently know it?

Before we jump into the mind-blowing future Mixed Reality is set to usher in over the course of 2017, let’s first discuss the distinctions between Virtual and Augmented Reality. Their technologies are very similar but have some fundamental differences.

Virtual Reality (VR) is a digital environment that shuts out the real world. VR is able to transpose the user. In other words, it can bring us someplace else. Through closed visors or goggles, VR blocks out the room and puts our presence elsewhere.

Augmented Reality (AR) places digital content on top of the physical world you see around you. AR works by adding 2D or 3D layered content on top of real world objects or locations, allowing the user to unlock additional information that may be relevant, therefore turning the physical world around them into digital media.

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Mixed Reality (M/R) bridges the gap between two
worlds. It merges the virtual and physical worlds together to alter your reality. This is used with 3D and 2D graphics/animation, Video, imagery, and access to the internet. All while seeing what is going on in your environment.

According to SuperData Research, the enterprise market for virtual reality and augmented reality will grow from $16 million and $17 million in 2016 to over $1.6 billion and over $3 billion by 2020, respectively. source

Microsoft is the furthest along with the A/R technology ( now calling it Mixed Reality) and will give us the building blocks for new R&D as we move further into M/R. The Hololens is a fully self containing computer more powerful than the average laptop. You do not need to be attached to anything to use it. Currently, Bellevue University, is using simple learning objects to help student learn and practice skills in addition to the course content. The Design and Creative Production department is creating 3D simulations, video presentations, interactive web applications, and now 3D immersive games and simulations. Our next step is to provide students with these tools along with hands-on instructional materials that they can engage with, in the real world, without having to be in front of a computer.

With the help of faculty and our Course Designers, we can create meaningful and helpful tools for the students. To start with, we would like to create MR applications to assist science students for the new lab on campus. They can perform tasks while receiving information on the task to help the student
learn. An example for this; the student is using a microscope for the first time, they can us MR to display directions on how to use it properly, explain what the parts are and how they work, and even provide additional content about microscopes in general. This technology can be used for most, if not
all subjects. The possibilities are only limited to your imagination.

Many other colleges and universities are already using this technology. However, I believe Bellevue University would be the only one developing for it. The others go through third party vendors. I believe using vendors is a good idea if they already have content developed, use it. We will build the rest.

Microsoft is skipping Version 2 and going straight to version 3 for consumer release. The announce date for launch is second half of 2019. New technologies are being built to compete with Microsoft. Design and Creative Production is currently interested in one them, Magic Leap. However, the release of it has yet to be announced.