Foundations of Extended Reality (XR)

Type of course:

Digital learning, Lesson

Language:

Duration:

1 hour

Workload:

1 hour

Proficiency:

Beginner

Target:

Students, Professionals

This lesson introduces the conceptual foundations of Extended Reality (XR) through the Reality–Virtuality Continuum. Learners explore how real and virtual environments relate to one another and how technologies such as Augmented Reality (AR), Augmented Virtuality (AV), Virtual Reality (VR), and Mixed Reality (MR) are positioned along this spectrum. The lesson emphasizes why XR emerged as an umbrella term and how it addresses the growing complexity and convergence of immersive technologies. By the end of this lesson, learners will be able to clearly distinguish between RE, AR, AV, VR, MR, and XR and explain their relationships using the continuum framework.

Learning outcomes

Explain the Reality–Virtuality Continuum and its role as a conceptual framework for classifying immersive technologies.
Differentiate between Real Environments (RE), Augmented Reality (AR), Augmented Virtuality (AV), Virtual Reality (VR), Mixed Reality (MR), and Extended Reality (XR). Analyze why rigid categorical boundaries between AR, AV, and VR are increasingly difficult to define.
Justify the use of XR as an inclusive, future-proof term for describing evolving immersive technologies. Interpret how augmentation and display taxonomy determine the positioning of systems along the continuum.