What is XR?

XR, or extended reality, covers all environments that combine the real and the virtual, along with the human-machine interactions computing technology generates. It spans three families:

AR — augmented reality — I display virtual information over my real environment and enrich it.
VR — virtual reality — I am fully immersed in a virtual world, replacing the real one.
MR — mixed reality — I apply the virtual onto the real like a second skin.

Augmented reality generally requires a phone, or a dedicated headset. It presents a virtual element superimposed on the real world: how a piece of furniture looks in your living room, a car in your driveway, or metadata added to the world around you.

What is it used for?

Training — a realistic and effective tool. Time saved, economies of scale in rollout, stronger retention, no real-world risk taken, precise analysis of what the learner did.

Operations — information superimposed in real time. Time saved, risk reduced, decisions supported.

Sales and sales support — instant, customisable demonstration. Testing of items that are awkward to show, better comprehension, a personalised experience, fewer returns.

Communication — an innovative, memorable experience. A dynamic brand image, footfall in store, usage data captured.

Our XR Opportunities workshop

A workshop in two parts: discovery and explanation, then brainstorming.

Discovering the technology — history, technologies, devices.
Understanding possible uses — examples by use case and by sector.
Identifying expected gains — what can be measured, and what cannot.
Defining a client use case — with your own subjects: training a trade in a new tool, making a product easier to test.