About XR at IU

On this page:

Overview

XR stands for "Extended Reality" and ultimately serves as a shorthand to describe a range of personal computing platforms that make use of our natural 3D world in concert with computer graphics/media. Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) remain the most popular examples of XR technology. XR is an emerging area of intensive research and innovation.

Technologies under the umbrella of XR can include:

  • Virtual reality (VR): Virtual reality is the better known form of XR technology (such as PlaystationVR and Oculus Quest2). In VR, you are usually wearing a head-mounted display and your vision of the real world is obscured so you can be transported digitally into another location or reality. It's a fully digital medium which allows you to be fully immersed in the intended experience.
  • Augmented reality (AR): Augmented reality allows users to still see their real-life surroundings, adding digital content into their view of the real world. With AR, your vision is not obscured and you can still move around in your regular environment. Since it is technologically even trickier to pull off well, this is not the more common form of XR technology, although as with all XR tech, AR quality and capabilities are constantly improving.
  • Mixed reality (MR): Mixed reality is a term that describes any mix of AR, VR, and other sense simulations (such as smell and haptics) in order to digitally alter a person's reality and fully immerse them into the experience.

Locations for XR at IU

Software, hardware, and tools

Here is a short list of some of the more common technologies used to create, view, and work with XR:

  • Software:
    • Creative VR software
      • Unity
      • Unreal Engine
    • 3D design, visualization, and file sharing
      • Sketchfab
      • SketchUp
      • Blender
      • Maya
      • Autodesk
      • Tinkercad
      • Thingiverse
    • Social and collaborative VR spaces
      • AltspaceVR
      • Spatial
      • Microsoft Teams
  • Tools and hardware:
    • VR:
      • Meta (formerly Oculus)
      • HTC
      • Pico
      • Google Cardboard
    • AR:
      • Merge Cube
      • Microsoft Hololens 2
      • Magic Leap

Resources

XR news at IU

This is document bhlk in the Knowledge Base.
Last modified on 2023-12-14 15:12:51.