Virtual reality

Summary: A comprehensive overview of developments in augmented reality, virtual reality, and mixed reality--and how they could affect every part of our lives. After years of hype, extended reality--augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and mixed reality (MR)--has entered the mainstream. Commercially available, relatively inexpensive VR headsets transport wearers to other realities--fantasy worlds, faraway countries, sporting events--in ways that even the most ultra-high-definition screen cannot. AR glasses receive data in visual and auditory forms that are more useful than any laptop or smartphone can deliver. Immersive MR environments blend physical and virtual reality to create a new reality. In this volume in the MIT Press Essential Knowledge series, technology writer Samuel Greengard offers an accessible overview of developments in extended reality, explaining the technology, considering the social and psychological ramifications, and discussing possible future directions. Greengard describes the history and technological development of augmented and virtual realities, including the latest research in the field, and surveys the various shapes and forms of VR, AR, and MR, including head-mounted displays, mobile systems, and goggles. --

Other Formats and Editions