The future of tech promises seamless integration, transforming the way we experience and perceive our surroundings
In the constantly shifting tech scene, major companies’ recent updates have brought augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality (MR) back into the spotlight.
These technologies are making a remarkable comeback, transcending the boundaries of science fiction to reshape how we understand and engage with our surroundings.
A standout player in this resurgence is the Meta Quest 3 – a recent breakthrough in both hardware and software. It’s propelling AR and MR into a new era, offering a glimpse into a future where the digital and physical effortlessly blend and co-exist.
In simple terms, AR enhances your real-world view by adding extra information. For example, using your phone to see directions or names of buildings overlaid on the street you’re walking.
MR on the other hand, takes it a step further by seamlessly blending the real world with virtual elements that can interact.
Imagine wearing special glasses that not only show your actual surroundings but also display and let you interact with virtual objects, such as playing with a digital pet in your living room.
Though the Meta Quest 3 falls short of fully materialising the vision for AR and MR, my experience with it over the past few weeks has provided a compelling glimpse into the substantial potential of these technologies becoming a commonplace in the real world.
It’s a notable step towards moving beyond the confines of science fiction and making AR and MR a tangible part of our everyday lives.
As someone who has used both the original Oculus and the Oculus Quest (now Meta and Quest 2), one of the standout features of the Meta Quest 3 is its size.
Unlike its slightly elongated predecessor, the Meta Quest 3 boasts a sleeker form factor that sits more flush and attracts less attention on the user’s face.
This not only eliminates awkwardness but also enhances overall comfort during use. However, despite these improvements, there’s still a lingering uncertainty for onlookers who might approach the user cautiously, unsure whether they are engaged in AR and MR or fully immersed in virtual reality (VR).
In contrast to AR and MR, VR is designed to entirely shut out the real world and plunge users into a fully immersive virtual environment. Despite having AR and MR capabilities like its predecessor, the Meta Quest 3 is primarily a VR device, and it excels in delivering a top-notch virtual reality experience.
The Meta Quest 3 hits all the right notes in the realm of VR, thanks to its upgraded SnapDragon XR2 Gen 2 chip and an impressive 2064 x 2208 per eye display, providing a clearer and sharper image compared to its predecessor, the Meta Quest 2. Whether diving into action-packed AAA games like Assassin’s Creed Nexus or enjoying more relaxed titles such as Lego Bricktales, the Meta Quest 3 offers a diverse and engaging VR experience.
Despite its strengths, the Meta Quest 3 isn’t flawless, with one major drawback being the quality of the real-world depiction. While it has evolved from a simple black-and-white display to full colour, the resulting image still carries a slight fuzziness reminiscent of early 2010s phone cameras.
Despite the advertisements showcasing a seamless fusion of virtual items blending into the real world, the AR and MR experience on the Meta Quest 3 can be inconsistent if expectations aren’t managed properly.
This is exacerbated by the absence of object occlusion, where real-world objects appear to phase through virtual ones, despite the Meta Quest 3 featuring a time-of-flight sensor for accurate object detection.
No doubt that these issues will be updated and addressed as hinted by Meta in a number of announcement as well as sneak peeks, which helps to paint a better understanding of how AR and MR will be commonly used, especially with Apple’s Vision Pro on the horizon.
The Meta Quest 3 unveils exciting possibilities for AR and MR applications, particularly in the realms of productivity and learning.
Unlike its predecessors, the Meta Quest 3 brings these concepts to life, with apps like PianoVision and Paradiddle reimagining piano and drum learning. They overlay scrolling notes, akin to games like Guitar Hero and Rock Band, onto real-world instruments through the magic of AR and MR.
Productivity also takes a leap forward with the current AR and MR capabilities of the Meta Quest 3. While screen clarity remains a bit fuzzy, computer and smartphone screens are legible and can be extended through AR and MR, creating virtual screens that expand available screen space.
As AR and MR technologies mature, the vision of seamlessly blending digital and physical reality becomes more tangible.
Recent releases like Meta Quest 3 and the upcoming Apple’s Vision Pro pave the way for these technologies to shift from novelty to practicality.
Whether enhancing daily tasks, revolutionising industries, or fostering collaboration, AR and MR are erasing boundaries, propelling us into a future where the lines between the real and virtual worlds are increasingly blurred. – Daniel Lim