Building new worlds : the future of immersive technology

Immersion technology is transforming audiences into players and bringing information to life. With the acceleration of AR, AI, and 3D tech, all eyes are on how the future of experiences will look.

We have always been subjected to forms of immersion. From books, plays, films and video games, we have found ways of transporting our consciousness elsewhere for means of entertainment and engagement.

Now, augmented reality, artificial intelligence, and 3D are improving and becoming more integrated. When it comes to immersive technology in experiences, we'd like to begin with one key piece of advice: Get ready, because it is coming.

Today’s immersion

In people’s minds, there is often a detachment between immersive tech and human experience.

When we talk about VR, AR, and 3D; ideas of sci-fi holograms and low-resolution virtual spaces are still conjured up. While some of these things may be true, the immersive revolution has been making huge strides. Just as mobile phones have become an extension of our biological limbs, immersion will become more and more integrated into our lives. If you look closely, it has already begun.

Take filters on social media - they are live augmentations of your face and the environment you’re standing in, yet they are so commonplace that they’re barely thought of as AR anymore. Every day, people are getting used to interacting with immersive tech through their mobile devices.

With that being said, we are social animals, and that is what has let the technology we use thrive. However, it will not be able to replace the value of face-to-face interaction. The language we use when standing in front of one another goes far beyond the spoken word. It’s body language and tone. It’s scent, sound, and surroundings.

Starting out

So, what’s the starting point when designing an immersive experience? Well, it all begins with the message. Like any communication strategy, you must always start with something concrete and build upwards. What are you trying to say? What is the product? What is the meaning? What is the takeout?

No matter how advanced technology is, we will always be the end users; and the experience will be shaped around us. The human experience underpins every stride that technology is taking. After all, we are creatures driven by chemical impulses, signs, signals, and desires.

This is a truth that lies at the heart of all immersive experiences. So consider how your audience have previously interacted, and then find a way to enhance that through immersion. Now you have your starting point, people. What next? It’s time to build your experience.