How to Develop Your First XR Application
XR Applications are finding use cases in a lot of industries to give the potential customers a feel of the real thing in a reel environment. Read on to learn how to develop your first XR application.
Extended reality (XR) technologies have massive potential. Many companies and organizations across all industries are looking to build their own VR or AR applications for marketing or educational purposes. The XR market is growing fast. As a developer, building an XR application can be an exciting process. You get the chance to work with the limits of reality and the powers of technology in creative, innovative ways.
Choose A Development Platform
Developing an XR application with a personal or business goal in mind can be a fun and rewarding experience if you use the right tools. How to know which development platform is right for you? Answering this question can be challenging.
At the current state of the XR development market, beginners have only a few options. To find the ideal tool for you, check this in-depth Unity vs Unreal comparison. The two 3D game engines allow aspiring XR developers to test their ideas for free and build applications as good as those made by professional developers. Learn the Differences Between AR, VR, and MR
The terms XR (extended reality), AR (augmented reality), VR (virtual reality), and MR (mixed reality) can be confusing for beginners. They may seem interchangeable at a first look, but they're not. Extended reality encompasses AR, VR, and MR technologies and applications, but AR, VR, and MR are not the same. Learning the differences between these three simulated experiences is essential.
Which category does your XR application fall into? You can answer this question by thinking about the user experience you want to offer. A VR application completely changes the visual environment around the users, taking them to an entirely virtual world. An AR application modifies aspects of the existing reality, adding a virtual layer to it. MR technology brings digitally rendered objects into a real environment.
Having a deep understanding of the differences between VR, AR, and MR is critical before looking to develop your first application. Your app will depend on physical technology, such as smartphones, headsets, or handheld controllers, so you need to know what to expect. Brush Up Your Programming Skills
As mentioned above, most beginners use either Unity or Unreal to develop their first XR application. You don't need to be a programming expert to build entry-level applications on either of these two platforms. However, you cannot explore the full potential of a 3D game engine without basic programming skills. You need knowledge of #C for Unity and C++ for Unreal.
Before working on your first application, assess your skills realistically to determine if your idea is feasible. In addition to programming skills, you may also need working knowledge of 3D space, linear algebra, and geometry. Developing an AR/VR/MR application will put many of your skills to the test. Final Words
If you've been following tech trends, you are probably excited about the potential of extended reality. You can put your own ideas into practice immediately, for free, using 3D game engines.
