VR immerses users in a fully digital environment using headsets, while AR overlays digital elements onto the real world via devices like smartphones or glasses. The video traces the history of these technologies from early inventions like Ivan Sutherland’s 1968 head-mounted display to modern applications in gaming, training, and industry, highlighting their evolving impact and future potential. 

This video showcases devices with advanced AR features, ergonomic designs, and flexible uses for both business and creative purposes. These alternatives offer excellent choices for users looking for immersive augmented reality experiences beyond Microsoft, focusing on high-resolution visuals, precise spatial mapping, and strong support for developers.

Extended Reality (XR), combining VR, AR, and MR, promises a futuristic tech experience. Qualcomm is partnering with global mobile operators to deliver XR viewers. Though current mixed reality headsets are costly and developer-focused, companies like Nreal are targeting consumers. XR devices could soon transform daily life and potentially replace smartphones. 

The video showcases the F-35 Lightning II Helmet Mounted Display System and its simulator, highlighting advanced military technology that provides pilots with critical flight and combat information directly on their helmet visor. Filmed in 2014, it offers insight into the cutting-edge features enhancing pilot situational awareness and mission effectiveness. 

After Microsoft’s impressive Hololens debut, companies like DAQRI are advancing AR with specialized helmets designed to assist industrial workers with complex tasks, including unique features like thermo-vision, adding practical and futuristic capabilities to AR technology.

VR gaming has evolved through many attempts, from SEGA’s unreleased 1991 VR system to Nintendo’s multiple experiments and amusement park innovations. With new consoles like the PS5 and Xbox Series X, plus powerful PCs, VR is finally delivering immersive experiences. The future promises social VR and a revival of arcade-style gaming.

A hands-on look at the Microsoft HoloLens developer edition, showcasing its augmented reality capabilities. It demonstrates how holographic robots can interact with real-world environments, giving viewers a glimpse into the immersive experience and potential of mixed reality technology. 

Airbus is revolutionizing aircraft design and manufacturing by integrating Microsoft’s Azure mixed reality and HoloLens 2. This partnership enhances safety, collaboration, and employee development while using intelligent services like Azure Remote Rendering and Spatial Anchors. Airbus expects to cut design validation time by 80% and speed up assembly tasks by 30%.

Explores how artificial intelligence is transforming healthcare, with Dr. Eric Topol highlighting AI’s potential to revolutionize medicine. From diagnostics to personalized treatment, AI is poised to significantly improve health outcomes and patient care, marking a major shift in the future of health and medicine.

Although one third of the population suffers from motion sickness, scientists aren't exactly sure what causes it. Like the common cold, it's a seemingly simple problem that's still without a cure. And if you think it's bad on a long family car ride, imagine being a motion sick astronaut! Rose Eveleth explains what's happening in our bodies when we get the car sick blues. Lesson by Rose Eveleth, animation by Tom Gran.

This research work explores the concept of an "Uncanny Valley of Haptics," where increasing realism in haptic feedback can reduce user immersion if it conflicts with visual cues. Using VR, researchers found that aligning visual and haptic sensations is crucial to avoid this effect, improving teleoperation and human-robot interactions.

Watching someone play virtual reality is surreal as they react physically to unseen virtual cues, often losing touch with reality. Despite “VR fails” like crashes, players become deeply immersed. VR uniquely engages perception, creating experiences unlike traditional games, making immersion both impressive and sometimes hazardous.