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Michael Nebeling

This first course in the XR for Everybody specialization creates a foundational understanding of the differences between AR, VR, MR, and XR. The course provides learners with a broad overview of the rapidly evolving XR space and the tools to characterize future XR developments and assess their potential and limitations. It establishes key concepts and dives into the XR device landscape, helping learners to differentiate current and future platforms and devices as well as critique the use of VR or AR in applications. The course pivots in the second half to look more at how to shape the future of XR, by analyzing trends and raising issues such as COVID-19, social and ethical concerns, accessibility and equity, as well as privacy and security.

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This first course in the XR for Everybody specialization creates a foundational understanding of the differences between AR, VR, MR, and XR. The course provides learners with a broad overview of the rapidly evolving XR space and the tools to characterize future XR developments and assess their potential and limitations. It establishes key concepts and dives into the XR device landscape, helping learners to differentiate current and future platforms and devices as well as critique the use of VR or AR in applications. The course pivots in the second half to look more at how to shape the future of XR, by analyzing trends and raising issues such as COVID-19, social and ethical concerns, accessibility and equity, as well as privacy and security.

The course comes with an honors track in which learners will try out and classify existing XR applications, pick technologies when designing solutions for various XR application scenarios, and dive into the issues contributing to the larger discussion around trends and the future of XR.

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Syllabus

XR Terminology & Applications
This module will establish the different notions around XR and provide a brief overview of the associated technologies. Key to understanding the potential and limitations of AR, VR, and MR is to know the differences in how they each work and what they each can be used for. In the honors track, you will learn how to find and try out an AR experience and classify it along the reality–virtuality continuum. This continuum is an important notion to localize applications in the wide spectrum covered by mixed reality technologies and aids our overall understanding of the XR space.
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Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Develops soft skills in XR device landscape, XR application scenarios, and accessibility & equity, which are core skills for XR professionals
Examines XR applications, XR solutions, ethical & social concerns, and technological trends, which are highly relevant to XR applications
Taught by Michael Nebeling, who are recognized for their work in XR
Explores technological trends, accessibility, and privacy, which are standard in XR industry
Teaches XR concepts in both a conceptual and technical way, which helps learners understand XR applications

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Reviews summary

Foundational overview of xr technologies and issues

According to learners, this course offers a comprehensive and foundational overview of AR, VR, MR, and XR technologies. Students appreciate its broad scope, moving beyond technical details to cover applications, current trends, and critical societal issues such as privacy, accessibility, and ethical concerns. Many found it to be an excellent starting point for understanding the rapidly evolving XR landscape without requiring prior technical knowledge. While some wished for more hands-on development aspects, the course primarily focuses on conceptual understanding and strategic perspectives. The optional honors track provides valuable practical engagement for those seeking to apply concepts. Overall, it's considered a highly relevant and thought-provoking introduction.
Content delivery is clear, but pacing might vary for learners.
"The course structure was clear and easy to follow, making the learning experience quite smooth."
"Some parts felt like a high-level lecture, but overall the instructor keeps things engaging."
"I found the pace suitable for an introductory course, allowing time to absorb new concepts."
Explores concepts, trends, and societal issues more than technical details.
"As a business professional, I appreciated the strategic outlook and discussion on the future of XR technologies."
"It's not a course for developers; it's more about understanding the landscape, applications, and ethical challenges."
"I gained insights into the broader implications and trends, rather than specific coding or development skills."
Offers practical application and deeper issue dives via the honors track.
"The honors track provided a good opportunity to classify existing applications and apply concepts to real scenarios."
"I found the honors activities helpful for trying out AR experiences and thinking critically about technology choices."
"For those seeking a bit more practical engagement, the honors track provides a valuable hands-on component."
Engages with important, timely ethical, social, and privacy concerns in XR.
"I valued the deep dives into the ethical considerations and societal impact of these emerging technologies."
"The modules covering accessibility, equity, and privacy in XR were incredibly thought-provoking and current."
"It felt very relevant to today's world, especially the section on how XR interfaces with real-world issues like COVID-19."
Provides a broad, foundational understanding of the XR landscape.
"This course gives a solid high-level overview, perfect for grasping the fundamentals of XR without getting lost in technical jargon."
"I found it to be a fantastic introduction to the entire XR ecosystem, from terminology to ethical considerations."
"It delivered exactly what I needed: a holistic view of AR, VR, MR, and XR technologies and their implications."
Course content on technologies may evolve quickly in this field.
"Given how fast XR changes, some of the specific technology examples might need periodic updates to stay current."
"While the core concepts are timeless, the rapid evolution of XR means some details might feel a bit dated quickly."
"I understand it's hard to keep up, but certain tech discussions could benefit from being updated more frequently."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Intro to AR/VR/MR/XR: Technologies, Applications & Issues with these activities:
Read "Game Development with Unity" by Will Goldstone
This book provides a comprehensive overview of Unity, game development, and programming concepts.
Show steps
  • Read the book from Chapter 1 to Chapter 10.
  • Complete the exercises and activities in the book.
  • Build a small Unity game project based on what you learned in the book.
Review middle school math
Reviewing middle school math will refresh foundational skills that this course relies on.
Browse courses on Linear Algebra
Show steps
  • Review the basics of vectors, matrices, and linear transformations.
  • Practice solving linear equations and systems of equations.
Practice coding challenges
Coding challenges can help you practice your programming skills.
Browse courses on Coding
Show steps
  • Find a coding challenge website or platform.
  • Choose a challenge that is appropriate for your skill level.
  • Solve the challenge using your preferred programming language.
Eight other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all 11 activities
Discuss XR trends and issues
Engage with your peers to discuss current trends and emerging issues in the XR space.
Browse courses on XR Trends
Show steps
  • Identify a few topics related to XR trends and issues that you're interested in discussing.
  • Find a peer or group of peers who are also interested in discussing these topics.
  • Schedule a time to meet and discuss your thoughts and ideas.
  • Be prepared to listen to different perspectives and share your own.
Explore AR and VR applications
Get hands-on experience with XR technologies by exploring different applications.
Show steps
  • Identify a few different AR and VR applications that interest you.
  • Download and install the applications on your device.
  • Explore the applications and experiment with different features.
  • Reflect on your experience and identify potential benefits and challenges of the technologies.
Explore Unity tutorials
Following tutorials can help you learn Unity and prepare for this course.
Browse courses on Unity
Show steps
  • Find a Unity tutorial that covers the basics of the software.
  • Follow the tutorial step-by-step.
  • Experiment with the Unity editor on your own after completing the tutorial.
Attend a Unity workshop
Attending a workshop can help you learn more about Unity and game development.
Browse courses on Unity
Show steps
  • Find a Unity workshop that interests you.
  • Register for the workshop.
  • Attend the workshop and participate in the activities.
Create a Unity game
Creating a game can help you apply your skills and learn more about game development.
Browse courses on Unity
Show steps
  • Brainstorm ideas for your game.
  • Create a game design document.
  • Develop your game using Unity.
  • Test and iterate on your game.
Participate in a Unity game jam
Participating in a game jam can help you learn new skills and network with other game developers.
Browse courses on Unity
Show steps
  • Find a Unity game jam that interests you.
  • Form a team or work on your own.
  • Create a game within the time limit of the game jam.
Contribute to an open-source Unity project
Contributing to an open-source project can help you learn more about Unity and software development.
Browse courses on Unity
Show steps
  • Find an open-source Unity project that interests you.
  • Read the project's documentation and contribute code.
Build a portfolio of Unity projects
Building a portfolio can showcase your skills and help you get a job in the game industry.
Browse courses on Unity
Show steps
  • Brainstorm ideas for several small Unity projects.
  • Develop each project using Unity.
  • Create a portfolio website to showcase your projects.

Career center

Learners who complete Intro to AR/VR/MR/XR: Technologies, Applications & Issues will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
User Experience Designer
User Experience Designers develop the overall experience of a product or service. This course may help a User Experience Designer to gain a better understanding of the XR space and how people interact with XR products and services. This knowledge could be helpful in the design of XR applications, ensuring that they are user-friendly and accessible.
Product Manager
Product Managers oversee the development and launch of products and services. The knowledge gained in this course about the XR space may be useful to a Product Manager in the development of XR products and services. Additionally, the course's emphasis on the trends and issues in XR could be important for a Product Manager to keep up with the constant development in the XR space.
Business Development Manager
Business Development Managers develop and implement business development strategies. The knowledge gained in this course about the XR space may be useful to a Business Development Manager in the development of XR business development strategies. Additionally, the course's emphasis on the trends and issues in XR could be important for a Business Development Manager to keep up with the constant development in the XR space.
Quality Assurance Analyst
Quality Assurance Analysts test and evaluate products and services. The knowledge gained in this course about the XR space may be useful to a Quality Assurance Analyst in the testing and evaluation of XR products and services. Additionally, the course's emphasis on the trends and issues in XR could be important for a Quality Assurance Analyst to keep up with the constant development in the XR space.
Information Security Analyst
Information Security Analysts protect information systems from unauthorized access. The knowledge gained in this course about the XR space may be useful to an Information Security Analyst in the protection of XR information systems. Additionally, the course's emphasis on the trends and issues in XR could be important for an Information Security Analyst to keep up with the constant development in the XR space.
Cybersecurity Analyst
Cybersecurity Analysts protect computer systems from unauthorized access. The knowledge gained in this course about the XR space may be useful to a Cybersecurity Analyst in the protection of XR computer systems. Additionally, the course's emphasis on the trends and issues in XR could be important for a Cybersecurity Analyst to keep up with the constant development in the XR space.
Software Tester
Software Testers test and evaluate software systems. The knowledge gained in this course about the XR space may be useful to a Software Tester in the testing and evaluation of XR software systems. Additionally, the course's emphasis on the trends and issues in XR could be important for a Software Tester to keep up with the constant development in the XR space.
Marketing Manager
Marketing Managers develop and execute marketing campaigns. The knowledge gained in this course about the XR space may be useful to a Marketing Manager in the development of XR marketing campaigns. Additionally, the course's emphasis on the trends and issues in XR could be important for a Marketing Manager to keep up with the constant development in the XR space.
Sales Manager
Sales Managers develop and execute sales strategies. The knowledge gained in this course about the XR space may be useful to a Sales Manager in the development of XR sales strategies. Additionally, the course's emphasis on the trends and issues in XR could be important for a Sales Manager to keep up with the constant development in the XR space.
Technical Writer
Technical Writers create technical documentation. The knowledge gained in this course about the XR space may be useful to a Technical Writer in the creation of XR technical documentation. Additionally, the course's emphasis on the trends and issues in XR could be important for a Technical Writer to keep up with the constant development in the XR space.
Project Manager
Project Managers plan and manage projects. The knowledge gained in this course about the XR space may be useful to a Project Manager in the management of XR projects. Additionally, the course's emphasis on the trends and issues in XR could be important for a Project Manager to keep up with the constant development in the XR space.
Data Scientist
Data Scientists collect and analyze data to help businesses make better decisions. The knowledge gained in this course about the XR space may be useful to a Data Scientist in the analysis of XR data. Additionally, the course's emphasis on the trends and issues in XR could be important for a Data Scientist to keep up with the constant development in the XR space.
Data Analyst
Data Analysts collect and analyze data. The knowledge gained in this course about the XR space may be useful to a Data Analyst in the analysis of XR data. Additionally, the course's emphasis on the trends and issues in XR could be important for a Data Analyst to keep up with the constant development in the XR space.
Software Engineer
Software Engineers develop and design software systems. The knowledge gained in this course about extended reality (XR) may be useful to a Software Engineer in the design and creation of XR software applications, software that runs on AR, VR, and MR devices. Additionally, the course's emphasis on the trends and issues in XR could be important for a Software Engineer to keep up with the constant development in the XR space.
Business Analyst
Business Analysts identify and analyze business needs. The knowledge gained in this course about the XR space may be useful to a Business Analyst in the analysis of XR business needs. Additionally, the course's emphasis on the trends and issues in XR could be important for a Business Analyst to keep up with the constant development in the XR space.

Reading list

We've selected six books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Intro to AR/VR/MR/XR: Technologies, Applications & Issues.
Provides a comprehensive overview of augmented reality (AR)-a technology that superimposes a computer-generated image on a user's view of the real world. Providing both conceptual and practical information, it covers the history, principles, and applications of augmented reality.
A strategic guide to the digital transformation of organizations, exploring how XR technologies can contribute to innovation and growth. Provides valuable insights for those interested in the business value of XR.
Offers a practical guide to the design of VR experiences, with a focus on usability and user experience.
A sweeping exploration of the technological advancements shaping the future, including the role of XR technologies. Provides a broader context for understanding the potential impact of XR on society and industry.
A visionary exploration of the potential of the metaverse, examining its implications for various aspects of society and industry. Provides a thought-provoking complement to the course's module on XR Strategy.

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