Difference between Mixed Reality and Extended Reality

As technology continues to evolve, virtual experiences have achieved great importance in various industries and everyday life. Terms such as mixed reality (MR) and extended reality (XR) have become increasingly prevalent. While these concepts might seem interchangeable, they represent distinct technologies that offer unique experiences and functionalities.

Understanding the distinctions between mixed reality and extended reality

Learning the key differences between both of these technologies is very important to understand and employ these technologies in your field.

Mixed reality (MR)

Mixed reality is a cutting-edge technology that combines elements of both the real and virtual worlds to create an immersive and interactive environment. It blurs the line between the physical and digital realms, allowing users to interact with virtual objects while remaining anchored in the real world. MR merges two key technologies which are augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR).

1. Augmented reality (AR): AR enhances the real-world environment by overlaying digital content on it. This content can include 3D models, animations, text, or other virtual elements. Users experience AR through devices like smartphones, tablets, or AR glasses, where the virtual objects are superimposed onto the real-world view.

2. Virtual reality (VR): In contrast, VR offers a fully immersive experience by transporting users to a completely virtual environment. With the use of VR headsets or goggles, users are entirely immersed in a computer-generated world, isolating them from the real world.

In summary, mixed reality bridges the gap between AR and VR, allowing digital content to interact with and be aware of the real-world environment.

Extended reality (XR)

Extended reality is an umbrella term that encompasses all immersive technologies, including AR, VR, and MR. It is a broad concept that refers to any environment where the physical and digital worlds coexist and interact.

XR expands the scope beyond the individual technologies’ specific features and applications. It acknowledges that the boundaries between real and virtual experiences are continuously evolving, and new technologies might emerge that combine various immersive elements.

Therefore, while MR is a specific combination of AR and VR, XR is the broader term that encompasses both MR and any other technology that blurs the lines between real and virtual.

If you want to learn about the differences between XR and VR, read this.

Key Differences

Let's go through the specific differences between both of these terms because understanding these differences is essential for businesses and individuals looking to use the vast potential of immersive technologies in various industries and everyday life.

Scope and inclusivity

Mixed reality refers specifically to the merging of AR and VR technologies to create a spectrum of experiences that span from the real to the virtual. In contrast, extended reality is a more extensive term that includes any immersive technology, encompassing AR, VR, MR, and any future advancements that offer blended experiences.

Terminology

The difference between MR and XR lies in the terminology itself. MR focuses on the “mixing” of real and virtual elements, while XR implies a broader extension of reality to include all immersive technologies.

Application focus

MR’s primary focus is on the integration of the physical and digital worlds for interactive and practical applications. It is often used in areas such as training simulations, remote assistance, and entertainment experiences. XR, being more encompassing, can refer to any application within the AR, VR, and MR spectrum, including specific use cases or novel technologies that blend these immersive experiences in different ways.

Conclusion

In conclusion, mixed reality and extended reality might seem similar at first glance, but they represent distinct concepts. Mixed reality explicitly blends AR and VR technologies to create interactive experiences. In contrast, extended reality encompasses the entire spectrum of immersive technologies, including AR, VR, and MR, along with any future developments.

We can elaborate on the differences in a better way through a tabular form.