Virtual Reality (VR) Student Resource Guide

Virtual Reality (VR) is one of the technologies that falls under the umbrella category of Extended Reality (XR).

Extended Reality (XR) "...refers to all real-and-virtual environments generated by computer graphics and wearables" (Irvine). XR technologies include:

Virtual Reality (VR) technology uses software and devices, typically headsets and hand controllers, to create an immersive experience in an artificial, virtual environment. The user of the VR technology experiences an entirely virtual world (O'Brien). Meta Quest, Apple Vision Pro, and other gaming headsets use VR technology. 

Augmented Reality (AR) technology lets users see the real world along with an overlay of computer-generated (CG) content, such as images, videos, or 3D models. The real-world content and the CG content do not interact or respond to each other (Irvine). Pokemon Go uses AR technology.

Mixed Reality (MR) technology is similar to AR technology, but it goes one step beyond to create experiences in which the real and CG objects can interact with and respond to each other (Wetzel). Microsoft HoloLens uses MR technology.

Irvine, K. (2017, October 31). XR, VR, AR, MR - What's the difference? Viget Newsletter.

O'Brien, D. (2023, December).  XR learning resources. Archer Library, Ashland University.

Wetzel, D. (2023, August). Virtual Reality guide. Penn State University Libraries.

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