Extended Reality

Extended Reality, or XR for short, is the umbrella term for technologies that extend, alter or completely replace our reality. From a digital layer over the world around you to a fully virtual environment where anything is possible.

XR includes Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR) and Mixed Reality (MR), among others. The technology differs, but the starting point is the same: making digital information and experiences accessible in a natural and interactive way.

At Recreate we therefore don’t look at the technology first. We look at what you want to achieve. Training, learning, visualising, collaborating, supporting or convincing. From that goal we determine which form of XR fits best.

Virtual Reality

Step fully into another world

Virtual Reality replaces the reality around you with a fully digital environment. With a VR headset you literally step into an experience where you can look around, move, explore and act.

That makes VR especially suited to situations that are difficult, costly or risky to recreate in the real world. Think of safety training, simulations, courses, product demonstrations or experiencing an environment that does not yet exist.

You can repeat situations endlessly, practise different scenarios and let people learn by doing. Without depending on a physical location.

VR is powerful when you want to fully immerse someone in an experience.

Augmented Reality

Add digital to the real world

Augmented Reality does not replace reality, but adds something to it. Through a smartphone, tablet or other suitable device, digital elements are placed over the physical environment.

That can be a 3D model, but also an animation, instruction or additional information. For example, you can view a product before it is actually in place, show information right next to an object or make a physical environment interactive.

AR is low-threshold and widely accessible. In many cases a smartphone or tablet is already enough to make the experience available.

AR is powerful when digital content should enrich the real world.

Mixed Reality

Let digital and physical work together

Mixed Reality goes a step further. Digital objects are not only shown over reality, but actually take a place within that reality.

With a Mixed Reality headset a virtual object can, for example, stand on a real table, disappear behind a physical wall or respond to the space and the user. The digital and physical world become part of the same experience.

That offers interesting possibilities for training, technical support, collaboration and visualisation. Users can keep their hands free while relevant information, instructions or 3D models are available right in their environment.

MR is powerful when the physical and digital world truly need to work together.

One spectrum, different possibilities

VR, AR and MR are not separate worlds. They sit on the same XR spectrum.

• VR → replaces reality
• AR → adds something to reality
• MR → weaves digital into reality

Which technology fits best is not determined by what is technically most impressive. It is about what works best for the user and the goal.

Sometimes that is a fully virtual training. Sometimes an AR application on a smartphone. And sometimes a Mixed Reality solution where digital information appears in the physical environment at exactly the right moment.

Technology is the means. The experience is what counts.

At Recreate we develop XR solutions from the question, not from the technology. We combine 3D, interaction and technology to make complex information understandable, let people practise safely and make products or environments tangible.

From reality to digital — and everything in between.