Extended Reality: A Realistic Goal or a Faraway Dream?

Things are heating up in the Extended Reality (XR) space, and many industries are jumping in to take advantage of the impressive innovation. But is the world ready to embrace the new reality just yet?

Imagine what it might be like living and working in the world in 2030 and beyond. Recent developments in Extended Reality (XR) provide much food for thought.

Thanks to Extended Reality (XR), you may be able to shop for a new house anywhere in the world as if you were on-site or enjoy a date in some faraway, impressively good-looking place (without breaking the bank!).

According to IMARC Group, the XR market is set to reach $604 billion by 2028, which is nearly 10X compared to today. This remarkable growth might mean the reality of life in 2030 is beyond a normal folk’s imagination. 

That's what this article is all about. Below we will dive into the Extended Reality (XR) spectrum and the benefits and challenges of making XR part of our lives.

What is Extended Reality (ER)?

Extended Reality is just like the name suggests– a broader visualization of our physical environment, a new way of experiencing reality. This type of technology has opened many doors in many industries.

From improved security to providing immersive experiences to consumers, ER technology has provided new tools to enhance customer experiences and loyalty. As a result, by combining the two worlds, digital and physical, XR allows people to get a new level of understanding of the task at hand.

For example, training with Extended Reality (XR) technologies can make employees 70% more effective. What else:

• The provision of a unique experience: A dive into a completely different reality allows businesses to offer consumers special experiences or experiment with something extraordinary without leaving the house.
• Safe training: Those who need to practice in high-risk conditions, such as the army or chemists, can train safely in regular classrooms.
• Effective information uptake: XR offers users a more realistic view of their topic, enabling them to be trained more effectively.
• Seamless data access: XR allows humans to easily access remote data by removing distance barriers. 

But before we go there, there are a few hurdles to jump over…

Challenges of Extended Reality (XR)

Developers of extended reality (XR) technologies face certain obstacles that hinder widespread adoption. Firstly, XR innovations collect and process huge amounts of very detailed and personal data about what you do, what you look at, and even your emotions at any time, which needs to be protected.

Also, the technology's implementation costs must be reduced to make it more accessible for companies with limited budgets. The wearable devices that allow a complete XR experience must be fashionable, comfortable, always connected, smart, and immersive.

Significant technical and hardware hurdles are to tackle, such as display, power and thermal management, motion tracking, connectivity, and realistic lighting. These challenges aim to create virtual objects that blend seamlessly with the real world, maintaining authenticity even as lighting conditions change.

As each day passes, the world is one step closer to overcoming these challenges to see a lot more mainstream applications of all XR technologies in the following years. 

Final thoughts: Is it the right time to give way to Extended Reality (XR)?

As it matures, XR technology will change how you engage with your smartphones and PC. 

When you experience a large screen through glasses and take advantage of cloud-based solutions like Windows 365, your computer transitions to the cloud. This shift eliminates your need for a traditional PC, as you only require a high-powered, wireless device to access computing resources.

Extended Reality (ER) is already impacting how businesses train people, build and repair products, and engage with their consumers. In time, Extended Reality is set to fully transform what's on people’s desks or may even make the desks completely obsolete.