This course is part of the Extended Reality for Everybody Specialization

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Michael Nebeling

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Extended Reality for Everybody SpecializationUniversity of Michigan

About this Course

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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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Course 1 of 3 in the

Extended Reality for Everybody Specialization

Beginner Level

Approx. 28 hours to complete

English

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What you will learn

Explain the conceptual and technological differences between VR, AR, MR, and XR.
Understand strengths and weaknesses of VR and AR for new XR applications.
Summarize the XR technology landscape in terms of platforms, devices, applications, and tools.
Devise a strategic plan to incorporate XR into new projects and initiatives.

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Coursera Labs

Includes hands on learning projects.

Learn more about Coursera Labs

Course 1 of 3 in the

Extended Reality for Everybody Specialization

Beginner Level

Approx. 28 hours to complete

English

Could your company benefit from training employees on in-demand skills?

Try Coursera for Business

Instructor

Instructor rating

4.82/5 (92 Ratings)

Michael Nebeling

Assistant Professor of Information, School of Information and Assistant Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, College of Engineering

23,205 Learners

4 Courses

Offered by

University of Michigan

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Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Content Rating99%(1,944 ratings)

Week1

Week 1

6 hours to complete

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.

6 hours to complete

7 videos (Total 60 min), 19 readings, 3 quizzes

7 videos

Meet Your Instructor2mCourse Overview9mWhat Is XR? (V1)8mWhat Is XR? (V2)4mXR Technology Landscape15mWelcome to the Honors Track7mYour XR App Classification11m

19 readings

Welcome!5mAbout You10mCourse Summary & Outlook10mCourse Syllabus5mAccessibility Statement10mModule 1 of 4: XR Terminology & Applications5mWhat Is XR?5mTips on XR Terminology10mFour Classes of XR Technology10mXR Applications10mHow to Use the Gallery Tool10mTrying an AR App on Your Smartphone20mYour First Quiz5mAbout the Honors Track5mReality-Virtuality Continuum12mActivity: What is Mixed Reality? Research Paper10mAssignment 1: App Classification30mAssignment Discussion5mHow to Submit to the Gallery Tool10m

1 practice exercise

Terminology & Applications Quiz20m

Week2

Week 2

6 hours to complete

XR Concepts & Technologies

This module will provide an overview of virtual and augmented reality both at the conceptual level as well as in terms of current technologies. It is important to distinguish concepts from technologies because the concepts are foundational and less likely to change significantly while the technologies that implement the concepts are rapidly evolving. In the honors track, we will use the conceptual and technological insights we developed through the standard track to recommend AR or VR technologies for a set of given scenarios. A key goal for us is to obtain a thorough overview of the technology landscape and this activity will allow you to practice your decision making and how to analyze and assess different technology options.

6 hours to complete

13 videos (Total 174 min), 10 readings, 3 quizzes

13 videos

VR Demo5mIntro to VR13mVR Concepts16mVR Technologies23mAR Demo3mIntro to AR16mAR Concepts (Part 1)14mAR Concepts (Part 2)13mAR Technologies20mVR vs. AR13mXR Technology Tree6mXR Decision Tree15mYour XR Technology Selection11m

10 readings

Module 2 of 4: XR Concepts & Technologies5mVirtual Reality (VR)10mAugmented Reality (AR)12mVirtual Reality vs. Augmented Reality5mComing Up Next: XR Jeopardy!5mActivity: XR Jeopardy!30mUsing QOC Analysis for Decision Making10mRecommending XR Technologies10mAssignment 2: Technology Selection1hAssignment Discussion10m

1 practice exercise

XR Concepts & Technologies Quiz20m

Week3

Week 3

11 hours to complete

Trends & Issues in XR

This module will start our discussion of the opportunities and challenges that come with XR technologies. I will identify technological trends and what I think are some of the key issues. The issues will be grouped into three broader classes: ethical & social concerns, accessibility & equity, privacy & security. All three classes are important and we currently only have a limited understanding and clear ways forward regarding each of them. In the honors track, we will work through some of these issues and, depending on your interests and access to XR technologies, you can set your focus on one of the classes of issues. There will be activities to learn more about social experiences in AR/VR, accessibility, and privacy. I look forward to an open and constructive discussion with you about these issues and the future of XR technologies.

11 hours to complete

9 videos (Total 106 min), 20 readings, 4 quizzes

9 videos

Attending IEEE VR 2020 in VR12mTrends in XR (Part 1)15mTrends in XR (Part 2)8mKey Issues in XR15mEthical & Social Concerns8mAccessibility & Equity9mPrivacy & Security8mConcluding Thoughts10mYour XR Impact Analysis15m

20 readings

Module 3 of 4: Trends & Issues in XR5mGoing virtual due to COVID-195mShaping the Future of XR5mThinking Critically about XR10mTopics for Discussion5mEthical & Social Concerns10mActivity 1: SIGHT Short Film30mActivity 2: The Ethics of Realism Research Paper1hDiscussion: Social and Ethical Concerns20mAccessibility and Equity15mActivity 1: SeeingVR Research Project45mActivity 2: iGYM Research Project45mDiscussion: Accessibility and Equity Concerns20mPrivacy and Security10mActivity 1: HYPER-REALITY Short Film30mActivity 2: 2019 Industry-Academia Mixed Reality Security, Privacy, and Safety Summit1hDiscussion: Privacy and Security Concerns20mThinking through the Issues5mAssignment 3: Impact Analysis1hAssignment Discussion10m

2 practice exercises

Trends & Issues in XR Quiz20mDrafting Your Impact Analysis30m

Week4

Week 4

5 hours to complete

XR Strategy

This is our last module in this course. It will bring more of a strategic outlook into the XR space. This is a space where you have to continuously learn and push yourself. I believe you have to develop a growth mindset when you think about new projects and initiatives, your team, the equipment, working with stakeholders, and defining measures of success. The key is to start somewhere, with something small, then grow your experience and expectations around it. Most people try it the other way around, not realizing that XR is a huge space and there will always be people who know more than you about something. In my opinion, the best way to go about this is to find a niche, realize the potential to innovate, and start shaping your solution. This module is heavily discussion-based and there is no honors track associated with it. Thank you for taking this first course, and please check out the other two courses in this series!

5 hours to complete

7 videos (Total 125 min), 8 readings, 1 quiz

Reviews

4.7

65 reviews

5 stars
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4 stars
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3 stars
1.53%
2 stars
2.29%
1 star
1.14%

TOP REVIEWS FROM INTRO TO AR/VR/MR/XR: TECHNOLOGIES, APPLICATIONS & ISSUES

by MTAug 10, 2021

Very comprehensive! The instruction was engaging! Decently accessible as well.

by AHJan 25, 2021

This course was engaging, well-designed, and it focused on some of the most important issues and trends in XR. I would highly recommend it!

by FMar 7, 2023

The course really introduced me to the concepts of Mixed reality and the technologies involved in the XR space

by MGAug 7, 2022

This was a great foundation to XR. I highly recommend it as a jumping off point to understand more technical aspects of XR development.

View all reviews

About the Extended Reality for Everybody Specialization

Welcome to XR for Everybody! When we say “for everybody,” we really do mean it. This specialization is designed to be a broad learning experience around all things augmented, virtual, and mixed reality. The 3 courses cover the fundamental concepts of XR, how to design and develop XR applications, how to discuss the emerging key issues in the landscape of XR, and how to bring XR into instructional settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:
The course may not offer an audit option. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid.
The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
What will I get if I subscribe to this Specialization?
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
Is financial aid available?
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.
Do I need to know a lot about AR/VR?
No. This course goes over all the concepts and technologies. Even if you already have experience with AR/VR, the course provides a foundation for other courses in this specialization. In particular, the second half of the course is focused on the future of XR, analyzing trends, discussing issues, and suggesting strategies in the XR space.
Do I need to have programming experience?
No. This course is targeted at a broad audience. There are no programming exercises associated with it. Depending on your background and interest, you may choose to approach exercises from a more technical perspective. But even if you’ve never experienced AR/VR before, this course will help you build the technical knowledge to make decisions about XR projects and initiatives.
Do I need access to AR/VR devices?
No. To complete the main track of the course, it is recommended but not required. However, to complete the honors track, you will need access to AR/VR devices. To give AR a try, you need to have access to a smartphone. For VR, we do not recommend a particular device and suggest that at a minimum you use a Google Cardboard compatible display wrapper that turns your phone into VR goggles.

More questions? Visit the Learner Help Center.

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Intro to AR/VR/MR/XR: Technologies, Applications & Issues

About this Course

What you will learn