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

U-M Free Access Enrollment Options

What You'll 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.

4 Modules

28 Hours

7 hrs per module (approx.)

Rating

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

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.

Skills You'll Gain

What You'll Earn

Certificate of Completion:: Certificates of completion acknowledge knowledge acquired upon completion of a non-credit course or program.

Experience Type: 100% Online
Format: Self-Paced
Series: Extended Reality for Everybody
Subject: Technology
Platform: Coursera

Welcome Message

Welcome to Intro to AR/VR/MR/XR: Technologies, Applications & Issues, the first course in the XR for Everybody course series. This course introduces the landscape of extended reality technologies, including augmented, virtual, and mixed reality. You will explore current and emerging XR applications, key technical concepts, and social, ethical, and practical issues shaping the future of XR, building a foundation for informed discussion and strategic use across industries.

Course Schedule

Module 1: XR Terminology and Applications

Reading: Welcome!
Video: Meet Your Instructor
Ungraded Plugin: You and XR
Reading: About You
Video: Course Overview
Reading: Course Summary & Outlook
Reading: Course Syllabus
Reading: Accessibility Statement
Discussion Prompt: Introduce Yourself
Reading: Module 1 of 4: XR Terminology & Applications
Reading: What Is XR?
Video: What Is XR? (V1)
Video: What Is XR? (V2)
Discussion Prompt: Using XR in Education
Reading: Tips on XR Terminology
Reading: Four Classes of XR Technology
Video: XR Technology Landscape
Reading: XR Applications
Reading: How to Use the Gallery Tool
App Item: Discussion of XR Applications
Reading: Trying an AR App on Your Smartphone
Discussion Prompt: Reflection on AR Experience
Reading: Your First Quiz
Reading: About the Honors Track
Video: Welcome to the Honors Track
Reading: Reality-Virtuality Continuum
Reading: Activity: What is Mixed Reality? Research Paper
Video: Your XR App Classification
Reading: Assignment 1: App Classification
Reading: Assignment Discussion
Reading: How to Submit to the Gallery Tool
Graded: Terminology & Applications Quiz
Graded: Submission of Your XR App Classification

Module 2: XR Concepts and Technologies

Reading: Module 2 of 4: XR Concepts & Technologies
Reading: Virtual Reality (VR)
Video: VR Demo
Video: Intro to VR
Video: VR Concepts
Video: VR Technologies
Reading: Augmented Reality (AR)
Video: AR Demo
Video: Intro to AR
Video: AR Concepts (Part 1)
Video: AR Concepts (Part 2)
Video: AR Technologies
Reading: Virtual Reality vs. Augmented Reality
Video: VR vs. AR
Reading: Coming Up Next: XR Jeopardy!
Video: XR Technology Tree
Reading: Activity: XR Jeopardy!
Reading: Using QOC Analysis for Decision Making
Video: XR Decision Tree
App Item: Discussion of XR Technologies
Reading: Recommending XR Technologies
Video: Your XR Technology Selection
Reading: Assignment 2: Technology Selection
Reading: Assignment Discussion
Graded: XR Concepts & Technologies Quiz
Graded: Submission of Your XR Technology Selection

Module 3: Trends and Issues in XR

Reading: Module 3 of 4: Trends & Issues in XR
Reading: Going virtual due to COVID-19
Video: Attending IEEE VR 2020 in VR
Reading: Shaping the Future of XR
Video: Trends in XR (Part 1)
Video: Trends in XR (Part 2)
Discussion Prompt: Good and Bad Trends in XR
Reading: Thinking Critically about XR
Video: Key Issues in XR
Video: Ethical & Social Concerns
Video: Accessibility & Equity
Video: Privacy & Security
Video: Concluding Thoughts
Discussion Prompt: Reflecting on the Issues
App Item: Discussion of XR Issues
Reading: Topics for Discussion
Reading: Ethical & Social Concerns
Reading: Activity 1: SIGHT Short Film
Reading: Activity 2: The Ethics of Realism Research Paper
Reading: Discussion: Social and Ethical Concerns
Reading: Accessibility and Equity
Reading: Activity 1: SeeingVR Research Project
Reading: Activity 2: iGYM Research Project
Reading: Discussion: Accessibility and Equity Concerns
Reading: Privacy and Security
Reading: Activity 1: HYPER-REALITY Short Film
Reading: Activity 2: 2019 Industry-Academia Mixed Reality Security, Privacy, and Safety Summit
Reading: Discussion: Privacy and Security Concerns
Reading: Thinking through the Issues
Video: Your XR Impact Analysis
Reading: Assignment 3: Impact Analysis
Graded Assignment: Drafting Your Impact Analysis
Reading: Assignment Discussion
Graded: Trends & Issues in XR Quiz
Graded: Submission of Your XR Impact Analysis

Module 4: XR Strategy and Reflection

Reading: Module 4 of 4: XR Strategy
Reading: Developing Your XR Strategy
Video: Developing Your XR Strategy
Discussion Prompt: XR Strategy Discussion
Reading: XR Strategy Panel
Video: Part 1: Scale & Approach
Reading: Metrics of Success
Video: Part 2: Success
Video: Part 3: The Future
Discussion Prompt: Your Takeaways from the XR Strategy Panel
Reading: XR Student Panel
Video: XR Student Panel (Part 1)
Video: XR Student Panel (Part 2)
Discussion Prompt: XR Student Panel Discussion
Reading: XR Case Studies
Video: Course Conclusion
Reading: Thanks!
Discussion Prompt: Your Takeaways from the Course
Reading: Exit Survey
Graded: XR Strategy Quiz

Grading Policy

Course materials are self-paced and remain open throughout the course. Learners must complete all required quizzes to earn a passing grade. Four quizzes are each worth 25% of your final grade. Optional honors assignments may be completed to earn an honors distinction.

Michael Nebeling

Assistant Professor

Course content developed by U-M faculty and managed by the university. Faculty titles and affiliations are updated periodically.

Beginner Level

No prior experience required

Individuals

This experience is available to individual learners on the following platforms:

U-M Community

Students, faculty, staff, and alumni of the University of Michigan get free access.

Organizations

Special pricing and tailored programming bundles available for organizational partners.

4.7

339 Ratings from Coursera

Most Recent Reviews

Read all reviews

November 30, 2025

best

June 14, 2025

Without a doubt THE best course you can find anywhere for this area, especially if you are a beginner!!.

December 19, 2023

I cant seem to unenroll. there is only a rate or share button, no unenroll

December 02, 2023

nice course i like it

October 23, 2023

Every lesson is like repeating one main idea. You can learn the whole material of this course by asking ChatGPT "What is AR|VR", etc.

August 27, 2023

EXCELLENT COURSE FOR BEGINEERS . TOO GOOD.

January 16, 2023

The course pace is pretty slow. It repeats the same points over and over again. Discussions and lectures are very long. If you are a high school student and have no idea about technology, then it would provide a basis for you. If you are an engineering student, or a tech-savvy person, then you can move the lectures quickly by fast forwarding or checking the main points quickly. I started the honour track, but then I stopped it as it was unnecessarily long. I did not see much value in honour track when I check the learning/time-spent factor. But of course there are new things I learnt here too such as Reality–virtuality continuum and some other things.

February 20, 2022

The course is a very basic introduction to the field. As a complete novice to AR/VR, I did get some insight which will be useful. The lecturer is very enthusiastic, which is really awesome and encouraging. However, overall the course is rather shallow, there are unnecessary repetitions, there is a lot of talking with little substantial content. I had the stamina to complete the honors track, but in hindsight I find the time spent on the course mostly wasted. Some of the discussion provided at the course is unnecessarily long and of little practical value, which could be characterised as overly academic. For example, there is a lengthy explanation of what X in XR means, with a suggested reading of a multipage 'research' paper (by the lecturer); thre are other courses at Coursera with similar scope, which spend on this 1-2 minutes and then quickly proceed to much more practical issues. Throughout this and the other courses in this specialization, the lecturer seems to preferentially cite/reference publications of their own or from their students, which is surprising and disappointing. It gives the (possiby wrong) impression that they have little familiarity with the field beyond their own work and opinions, do not follow up on others' work. Too much weight is placed on self-marketing instead of a balanced, fair overview of the field. Some parts of the presentation (in particular, examples of VR/AR interactions) seem not very well thought-through, the sight keeps moving around the scene in haphazard ways instead of focusing on the important areas (and explaining why), which at times is quite uncomfortable to watch.

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

What You'll Learn