Through the Glass:
Exploring the Imaginarium
of VR and AR

Augmented Reality is an innovative technology that blends the real world with digital enhancements. Using a device's camera overlays virtual elements onto the physical environment. For instance, through an AR app on your smartphone, you can see real-time information, navigation instructions, or historical facts superimposed on your surroundings. An example of popular AR use is the game Pokemon Go.

Virtual Reality immerses users in computer-generated worlds, providing a captivating experience. Through head-mounted displays or VR goggles, users are transported to fully simulated environments, shutting out the real world's visuals and sounds. Within these virtual realms, users can freely explore, interact, and move in three dimensions. Gaming and entertainment industries extensively use this technology.

Virtual Reality has a fascinating history dating back to the 1950s. Morton Heilig's "Experience Theatre" concept led to the creation of the Sensorama in 1962, offering a multi-sensory experience. Ivan Sutherland's Sword of Damocles 1968 was the first head-mounted display for immersive simulation.

During the 1970s-1990s, VR found applications in the medical, military, and design industries. Jaron Lanier popularised the term "virtual reality" through VPL Research. In the 1990s, VR gained commercial traction with releases like Sega VR and Virtuality.

In the 2000s, VR faced a lull, but Valve's low-persistence displays in 2013 sparked renewed interest. Palmer Luckey's Oculus Rift prototype in 2010 revitalised VR. Companies like HTC, Sony, and Google entered the market.

The popularisation of VR sets has been a remarkable journey, marked by significant advancements in design, affordability, and accessibility. In the early days of VR, the technology was bulky and expensive. However, as technology progressed and demand increased, VR sets underwent a transformative evolution, making them more user-friendly and appealing to a broader audience.

In the late 1980s and 1990s, VR systems were mainly used for research, military, and industrial applications. However, their large and expensive head-mounted displays limited their accessibility and adoption to specialised fields.

In 2012, Oculus VR's Kickstarter campaign for the Oculus Rift marked a turning point for VR. The ergonomic and lightweight design of the Rift garnered widespread interest and attracted investment from the tech industry.

The development of wireless and standalone VR headsets removed the need for tethering to computers, granting users greater mobility and a simpler setup. Standalone VR headsets like Oculus Quest integrated computing power directly into the HMD.

Recent trends saw VR merging with AR and MR technologies, creating a seamless blend of virtual and real-world elements. This convergence opens new possibilities across industries, from entertainment, such as sports watching and gaming, to various enterprise applications.

VR and AR are gaining recognition as transformative tools with vast applications across numerous industries, offering innovative solutions and unlocking new possibilities for enhanced experiences and efficiency.

Dubai's Metaverse Strategy is an ambitious plan to position itself as one of the world's top metaverse economies. The strategy seeks to attract companies and projects to Dubai through collaborations in research and development by emphasising innovation, talent development, and advanced ecosystems.

Key pillars like extended reality, augmented reality, virtual reality, mixed reality, and digital twins are at the heart of this transformative initiative. By leveraging real-time data, artificial intelligence, and blockchain technology, Dubai aims to revolutionise critical sectors such as tourism, education, retail, remote work, healthcare, and legal services.

The strategy focuses on setting global standards for platform development, infrastructure, and regulations. It also prioritises the full deployment of 5G networks to enable edge computing, empowering the utilisation of smart devices and local networks for on-demand computing resources.