Top Immersive Technology Trends

The gaming world is on fire as 2024 draws close, with blockbuster releases and groundbreaking innovations capturing players' imaginations. As we enter the holiday season, the video game industry is serving up a feast of new titles and technological advancements that promise to redefine interactive entertainment. 🕹️ Console Wars Evolve: The battle for living room supremacy intensifies, with Sony's PlayStation 5 Pro rumors gaining traction. This upgraded console is expected to push the boundaries of 4K gaming and potentially introduce 8K capabilities. At the same time, Microsoft's Xbox Series X focuses on expanding its cloud gaming services and game pass offerings. Nintendo, not to be outdone, is reportedly gearing up for a next-generation Switch announcement, promising to blend handheld and home console gaming in innovative new ways. 🌐 Metaverse Momentum: The concept of interconnected virtual worlds is gaining serious traction in gaming. Major publishers and tech giants invest heavily in creating persistent, immersive environments where players can socialize, make, and play across multiple platforms. These metaverse-like experiences blur the lines between games, social media, and digital economies, with some titles introducing blockchain-based assets and cryptocurrencies to facilitate in-game transactions and ownership. 🤖 AI Revolution in NPCs: Artificial Intelligence transforms non-player characters (NPCs) from scripted automatons to dynamic, responsive entities. Advanced language models and behavior trees enable NPCs to engage in natural conversations, remember player interactions, and adapt their responses based on the game world's state. This leap in NPC intelligence creates more immersive and unpredictable gaming experiences, particularly in open-world and role-playing games where player choice and environmental storytelling are paramount. 🎮 Cross-Platform Play Becomes Standard: The walls between gaming ecosystems crumble as more titles embrace cross-platform play. This trend allows friends to play together regardless of their chosen hardware and fosters larger, more diverse player communities. Developers are rising to the challenge of balancing gameplay across different input methods and performance capabilities, resulting in more inclusive and accessible gaming experiences that prioritize fun and social connection over platform exclusivity. 🕶️ VR Goes Mainstream: Virtual Reality is shedding its niche status and stepping into the spotlight as a mainstream gaming platform. With more affordable and user-friendly headsets hitting the market and a growing library of high-quality VR titles, the technology is finally delivering on its promise of truly immersive gaming. From heart-pounding action games to serene exploration experiences, VR offers unique gameplay possibilities that attract both hardcore gamers and casual players alike, signaling a potential paradigm shift in how we interact with digital entertainment. #GamingTrends

🚀 CES 2025: The Ultimate Immersive Tech Round-Up 🕶️🎮 This year’s CES took immersive tech to an integrated ecosystem with groundbreaking advancements in 3D, Hardware AI, and XR. Here are several interesting ones I noticed: 🎥 AR/VR Innovations • RayNeo X3 Pro AR Glasses: Lightweight, sleek, and packing a 2,500-nit micro-LED display with a dual-camera system. Perfect for AR enthusiasts! 👓✨ • Pimax Dream Air VR Headset: The world’s smallest full-feature 8K headset—just 200g but packed with immersive power. 🌀 • Roto VR Explorer Chair: An Meta Certified Solution, this VR gaming chair rotates with your gaze and adds haptic feedback for the ultimate in-game immersion. 🎮🔥 • XReal Cinematic AR Glasses: Your private IMAX experience, blending cinematic quality with everyday usability. 🎬🌟 🖥️ 3D Displays & Capture • HP Z Captis: A 3D capture powerhouse with NVIDIA Jetson AGX Xavier tech, perfect for creators using Adobe Substance 3D Sampler to digitize materials. 📸🎨 • Samsung Odyssey 3D Monitor: Glasses-free 3D gaming and visuals, using eye-tracking and lenticular lens tech to transform 2D into 3D magic. 🖥️⚡ • Metavista3D AI Displays: AI-powered glasses-free 3D displays with Super-Multiview (SMV) tech for crystal-clear, immersive visuals—ideal for gaming, healthcare, and beyond. 🎯🤖 🚗 Immersive Driving • BMW Panoramic iDrive: A full-width AR display on your windshield, seamlessly merging real-world driving with digital info overlays. 🚙✨ • Sony & Honda Afeela 1: Unreal Engine-powered AR/VR integration for a futuristic driving experience. It’s like stepping into a sci-fi movie. 🚗🎮 CES 2025 wasn’t just about tech—it’s redefining how we see, play, create, and drive. Which of these products caught your attention? 👀👇 #CES2025 #ImmersiveTech #tech #hardware #AI #3D #ARVR #XR #Future #design #innovation #meta #sony #bmw #honda

It's easy to forget there's other emerging tech out there being built in the looming shadow of GenAI. For me personally, hologram tech is one I'm most bullish about and my newsfeed must know this because not one <<but two>> articles about holograms made it into my feed over the weekend. HOLOGRAM CONTACT LENSES Scientists are testing out how to use nanostructures to project 3D holograms via contact lenses. While it might seem a bit far-fetched - and a Black Mirror episode come to life - scientists have been able to use metasurface tech to project static images. Next phases of testing and development include integration of dynamic holograms, further testing to assess safety and performance, and manufacturing assessments to improve scalability and cost-effectiveness. For all of my AR-bullish friends, I would love to hear what you think of this news. EPHEMERAL QUANTUM HOLOGRAPHIC MESSAGES My ediscoverist friends, just when you thought preservation obligations couldn't get more difficult, emerging tech just said "but wait there's more!" Scientists are testing out the use of metasurfaces with holograms for a different purpose, this time to send encoded messages as quantum holographs: "Holograms encode complex information that can be recovered when illuminated – for instance, a 2D holographic paper card reveals 3D images when light falls on it at the right angle. To make a quantum hologram, the researchers encoded information into a quantum state of a particle of light, or photon." I've included links to both articles in the comments so you can read more details. #holograms #ar #augmentedreality #quantumcomputing

𝐇𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐢𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐞𝐬—𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝𝐬—𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬, 𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐜𝐲 𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬? The newly released Immersive Technologies Policy Primer by OECD - OCDE offers an in-depth look at both the exciting possibilities and the critical challenges ahead. I had the privilege of contributing to this paper as an immersive tech SME for #GFTech, and it’s been formally reviewed and approved for declassification by OECD Members. It’s the culmination of almost two years of collaboration, bringing together diverse perspectives to chart a path for responsible and values-based development. 🔗 Link to the paper: https://lnkd.in/g9V-adPk I’d like to acknowledge and tag all of the experts who shared their knowledge and helped shape this primer • Andreas Günter • Anne Lord Bailey, • Armin Grasnick • Asha Easton • Carlos González Morcillo • Carsten Rossi • Clarisse Gomes • Claudia Reinprecht • Daniel Dobrygowski • David Ripert • Jean-Francois Charette ☁️ • Heidi Holman • Juan Pablo Londoño • Judith Okonkwo • Lawrence W. • Leonel Merino • Lisbeth Mosnik • Maia Gould • Makoto (Mac) Yokozawa • Mark Waechter • Matej Stefanik • Matt Adcock • Matthew Price, Ph.D. • Matt Sansam • Matthias C. Kettemann • Micaela Mantegna • Paulo Goulart • Pavol Fukatsch • Rachel M. • Sebastian Klöß • Silvia Leal (PhD) • Solomon Rogers • Souichirou Kozuka • Theodore L. • Yvonne Lim A big thanks to Elizabeth T., María Castaño, Edward Logan and GFTech for enabling our collaboration! 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐫? • It reveals how immersive tech can revolutionize healthcare, education, sustainability, manufacturing, and more. • It underscores the importance of robust data governance, privacy, and child safety considerations. • It highlights real-world use cases and outlines policy considerations for mitigating risks and maximizing benefits. I invite you to read the primer and share your thoughts. Let’s collaborate to ensure these emerging technologies are human-centric, inclusive, and responsibly developed. #ImmersiveTech #AugmentedReality #VirtualReality #MixedReality #XR #XRSI #EmergingTech #DigitalEconomy #DataGovernance, #PrivacyMatters #VR #Innovation #Sustainability #Policy, #GlobalPolicy #ResponsibleTech

🚀 Reimagining Immersive Tech with BlackBox Infinite BlackBox Infinite's John LePore joins This Week in Startups to discuss the future of digital product design and immersive experiences. Key Takeaways: - Traditional app design falls short for emerging technologies like AI, spatial interactions, and sensory experiences. - To bridge this gap, LePore leverages his VFX background—including work on Iron Man's HUD—to merge cinematic technology with real-world applications. - Observing that early apps for Apple's Vision Pro lacked true immersion and felt like tablet apps, BlackBox Infinite aims to redefine the immersive experience. - Their F1 Vision Pro concept showcases how combining imagination with cutting-edge tech can create truly immersive experiences.

Fortune 100s aren’t experimenting with XR anymore—they’re scaling it. In this episode, I sit down with immersive tech pioneer Cortney Harding and CEO of Friends With Holograms to unpack how global brands are driving real business impact with spatial computing, AI, and virtual reality. From AI-powered avatars for McDonald’s to VR training for Walmart and Delta, Cortney has helped the world’s biggest companies go beyond the hype to real ROI. We also dive into the future of immersive education, workplace inclusion, and where XR is headed next. 🎧 Listen now: https://lnkd.in/dbDNkHRu #XR #SpatialComputing #ImmersiveTech #ConnectedIn3D #VNTANA #AI #VirtualReality #3DTechnology #DigitalTwins

My latest in today's print edition of The Wall Street Journal: Companies Finally Find a Use for Virtual Reality at Work. More employees are strapping on virtual reality headsets as the immersive technology becomes an increasingly common method for workforce training on a range of topics, from hardware maintenance to leadership and empathy. Companies such as UPS and Walmart have taken a slow but measured approach to adopting a technology that has drawn extreme hype and extreme skepticism over the years as businesses have tested, piloted and pulled back on various uses. “It’s an interesting, but slower than expected journey. But for training—I think VR will always be a good way to use it,” said Johan Hellqvist, head of mobile and XR/3D at Volvo Group, about the process. The company today uses VR to train employees on actions like replacing the battery on an electric truck. What are your thoughts on getting trained in virtual reality? Read the full story here for more from Mark Gröb, Head of Immersive Technology at UPS, Christopher Botzum, Deputy Police Chief, Joliet Illinois Police Department, Nicki Finnigan, director of learning and development at St James's Place, Jennifer Buchanan vice president of the Walmart Academy training program, and Brad Scoggin, co-founder and chief executive of ArborXR: https://lnkd.in/ewYyumhn

🌟 What’s Next for AI Design: Themes for 2025 🌟 As we enter 2025, the landscape of AI design is evolving rapidly, with emerging trends reshaping how we build and interact with technology. Here are some key trends I’m particularly excited about: 🔹 1. Interfaces That Adapt to User Needs We’re moving from static UIs to interfaces that dynamically adapt to context, personalization, and real-time inputs. This means simpler, cleaner, and more intuitive UX that delivers exactly what users need when they need it. 🛠️ Examples: Jordan Singer's work at Mainframe and Beam by @Toby Bream (https://beem.computer/) showcase the future of adaptive design. 🔹 2. Reimagining Data Organization Traditional data structuring feels ancient today. AI is helping us rethink how unstructured data is reorganized and delivered intuitively, in formats tailored to our needs. 💡 Check out @MatthewWsiu's explorations on this (https://lnkd.in/gFADJkXS) 🔹 3. Fluid Media AI is democratizing media creation - transforming text into videos, sketches into 3D models, and more. These capabilities open up a world of immersive, creative possibilities. 🎨 There are many advanced models out there, but here is a classic example I worked on a while back that transforms sketches into animated characters (https://lnkd.in/gPYA7xfP) 🔹 4. Multimodal Interactions Gone are the days of singular inputs. Multimodal AI systems combine voice, visuals, text, and beyond to create richer, more engaging user experiences. Claude artefacts are a good example! 🔹 5. Human-AI Connections AI isn’t just a tool - it’s becoming a partner for advice, journaling, task management, and more. Designing safe, meaningful interactions is key to ensuring this shift feels natural and intuitive. 🤖 e.g. I’ve been using apps like Rosebud (https://www.rosebud.app/) that probably know me better than some of my friends! 🔹 6. Immersive Experiences Adaptive interfaces, fluid media, and multimodal capabilities make immersive experiences more accessible than ever. 🌐 Rooms by Things, Inc. has recently launched some fun examples of this (https://lnkd.in/grcnyRcy) 🔹 7. Empowering Anyone to Build Anything The lines between designer, PM, and engineer are blurring. Tools like Cursor are empowering everyone to create AI apps, breaking down traditional silos. 🚀 Dreamcut.ai by Meng To is a great example of the creative potential unlocked by AI. 🔹 8. AI-First Interaction Patterns As AI capabilities grow, we must develop new design patterns to handle these challenges. For those interested in diving deeper, check out my course (https://lnkd.in/gcVgP3My). The next cohort starts in February, and we’ll explore these trends and more! As a reminder, these are just some themes I'm personally excited about and I'm sure I've missed many. Are there other themes you're excited about? Please share them in the comments!