Skip main navigation

New offer! Get 30% off one whole year of Unlimited learning. Subscribe for just £249.99 £174.99. New subscribers only. T&Cs apply

Find out more

What is Extended Reality? In Conversation with Matt Wade, former ECD of Google Creative Lab

Former ECD of the Google Creative Lab, Matt Wade, talks us through key terminologies related to XR.

In this film Matt explains the common terminology used in this area and provides some good starting points for understanding the landscape

Watch the 5 minute film…

Things to notice, understand & consider…

The terminology

VR (Virtual Reality) What is V.R? How is it experienced It is the most well known/ least experienced.and puts you into a 100% artificial world.

AR (Augmented Reality) What is AR? How is it experienced? It is the most experienced. Extended reality platform Providing a Virtual layer on top of the real world via a device.

MR (Mixed Reality) What is MR? How is it experienced? MR provides a literal mixing of worlds

Understand the difference between AR & MR A.R is a layer on top of the world whereas MR is in the world. MR interacts with the world sensing surfaces etc…

XR (Extended Reality) What is XR? How is it experienced? XR extends our world providing additional information and experiences. Additional opportunities for interaction

Spatial computing Is a useful term to explain the connection to conventional computing and explain how conventional computing is changing. Think about the additional opportunities that this new dimension for computing provides?

3D Real Time Interaction. What does this mean? How is it different from what came before? This is an Important and fundamental concept of XR and can be seen in games like . Fortnite.

The Unreal engine A key platform created by Epic Games is a key tool for creating 3D Real Time interaction. We will be finding out more about the Unreal Engine later in the course.

Look at the way children/ young people in your family interact with Fortnite. They have an innate understanding of this world and do not question being in two places at once.

A new creative playground. We are defining new ways to explore new forms of storytelling that utilise 3D design, collaboration, spatial interaction and user experience.

Let’s find out more!

This article is from the free online

Creative Communication Beyond VR and AR

Created by
FutureLearn - Learning For Life

Reach your personal and professional goals

Unlock access to hundreds of expert online courses and degrees from top universities and educators to gain accredited qualifications and professional CV-building certificates.

Join over 18 million learners to launch, switch or build upon your career, all at your own pace, across a wide range of topic areas.

Start Learning now