Extended market development with Facebook: Potentials with 5G & XR – Extended Reality

Facebook aims to play a key role in shaping the future of the extended reality market and plans to create numerous new jobs in Europe. As the graphic illustrates, consumer revenue from this promising technology could also increase significantly in the coming years – by around 30 percent annually. This forecast includes revenue from both content and hardware. Experts anticipate that extended reality could receive a further boost, particularly in connection with the new and exceptionally fast 5G infrastructure. High bandwidth combined with low latency could enable a range of data-intensive applications.

Extended Reality encompasses three technologies: Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Mixed Reality (MR). It refers to a computer-generated, virtual environment. Virtual Reality first achieved mass-market application in video games. Using head-mounted displays (HRDs), players can immerse themselves more deeply in computer-animated game worlds. Augmented Reality is defined as the projection of information and holograms onto our immediate surroundings. Mixed Reality is similar to Augmented Reality, but it also allows for interaction between the real and the virtual world.

Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced in July 2021 that Facebook aims to become a metaverse company within the next five years. In October 2021 (28th and 29th), the online event Facebook Connect (formerly Oculus Connect) took place. This virtual event aims to help shape the future of augmented and virtual reality. In his keynote address, Zuckerberg explained his vision for the metaverse and announced the first concrete steps in this direction. "We will explore what it takes to bring the metaverse to life," stated the XR conference website.

Extended reality encompasses the three technological forms of virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality (MR). This refers to a computer-created virtual environment. Virtual reality was first used on a mass scale in the field of video games. So-called virtual reality glasses (head-mounted display) are intended to enable players to immerse themselves more deeply in computer-animated game worlds. Augmented reality is defined as the projection of information and holograms in our immediate environment. Mixed reality is similar to augmented reality, but it also allows interaction between the real and the virtual.

Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced back in July 2021 that Facebook would become a metaverse company in the next five years. In October 2021 (28th and 29th), the Facebook Connect online event was held (previously Oculus Connect). It is an online virtual event that aims to help shape the future of augmented and virtual reality. At the keynote, Zuckerberg explained what he envisions the Metaverse to be and announced the first concrete steps in that direction. “We will explore what it takes to bring the Metaverse to life,” the XR Conference website said.