Holograms | AR | VR: The better way to experience immersive content is changing.

As a tech enthusiast, I have always been intrigued by the evolution of digital viewing mediums, particularly Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and Holograms. These technologies represent the forefront of immersive content, each offering unique ways to interact with and experience digital environments.

AR overlays digital information onto the real world, enhancing our perception of reality with interactive elements. VR, on the other hand, immerses users in entirely virtual worlds, providing a fully immersive experience that can transport them anywhere.

Holograms create three-dimensional images that appear to float in space, offering a tangible sense of depth and realism.

As we grow, these are the first steps to tomorrow’s evolved future, just like when Motorola launched its first “hand-held mobile phone” in 1983. It used to take 10 hours to charge and offer only 25-30 minutes of operating time. It was priced $4000 then, which roughly translates to $12000, and weighed around 1100 grams.

Now, a ten times smaller and lighter device can run AAA titles on it with a camera that absolutely shattered the point-and-shoot camera industry.

Nobody thought at the time that mobile phones would become more powerful than supercomputers. Similarly, present revolutionary technology will be seen as the stepping stones of future technologies humankind will integrate into their daily lives and culture. 

Currently, innovations like AR, VR, and Holograms are in the grassroots stages, and they need a push from society to help humans. AR and VR currently face big problems.

Be it accessibility, learning curve, or size; they are less socially interactive (Apple tried solving it with a screen in front of their HMD, but we all know how that’s going).

We should not look for AR/VR to replace any existing technologies but to find their own space in people's lives. Holograms have been around for quite some time now, but their growth and adoption stagnated quite a while ago. 

The immersive tech industry, encompassing AR, VR, and holograms, is evolving rapidly. Improved affordability and integration will make these technologies more accessible and versatile.

As these technologies become more affordable and seamless, they will transform education, healthcare, and culture, democratizing experiences and driving innovation.

I am a firm believer in making technology accessible to all. I follow a very famous philosophy: “Culture should not exist only for those who can afford it.”

Making immersive tech accessible to everyone would be the first step to opening the domain to more developers and innovators who could help people with their common problems. 

Holograms would be so much better in the education and training sector. Imagine rather than studying and learning from images of a heart on a 2D medium and then shifting to a realistic hologram!! Wow, that would be a spark that has started. Holograms and VR are being used in the medical sector, as you can see in this newsletter. 

The possibilities are endless. Humans are definitely not designed to consume information on a 2D Scale while we understand 3D more vividly and better.

It is hard to pinpoint in which direction the whole immersive technology landscape is going. But it is certain that we will soon see something revolutionary that started from an expensive and heavy 3D Table to something more intuitive, lightweight, and cheap device.

The Future

Immersive technologies—AR, VR, and holograms—are currently reshaping various fields. AR enhances real-world environments with digital overlays, which are used in apps like Google Maps and interactive training. The latest innovation in AR, Meta x Rayban glasses, is also used by people with visual impairment to improve their day-to-day lives. VR immerses users in virtual worlds for gaming, simulations, and therapy. Holograms create 3D images for displays and presentations.

These technologies are in their early stages, with improvements in affordability, integration, and usability on the horizon. As they evolve, their potential to transform education, healthcare, and entertainment will expand, making immersive experiences more accessible and impactful in the future.