DEFINING MIXED REALITY

Not true. For the first time in ​human history, almost everyone ​has a computer at their fingertips, ​and with the majority of the ​world connected to the internet, ​the internet era truly begins ​NOW!

Facebook's name change to Meta does not ​make it the Metaverse. Despite their ​rebranding, Facebook remains a social media ​platform, encompassing Instagram and ​WhatsApp. While they do own the VR ​headset Oculus, their attempts to create a ​compelling virtual experience have not been ​successful so far. The true Metaverse ​extends beyond a single company or ​platform and represents a vast ​interconnected virtual universe that offers ​immersive and interactive experiences ​beyond what conventional social media can ​provide.

Ironically, NFT and Crypto enthusiasts ​have turned the emerging gaming youth ​off from the technology. However, the ​potential of what is possible has been ​demonstrated. The direction of this ​technology remains uncertain. Look at the ​economy for digital goods in Roblox and ​Fortnite, already worth billions, and yet ​there are no NFTs there.

Spatial Computing, Mixed Reality ​(MR), Extended Reality, and Virtual ​Reality—these phrases are still striving ​to define this game-changing new ​industry. The recent launch of Apple ​Vision Pro has provided a clear ​visualization of the mainstream ​applications of this technology in ​ways that only Apple can accomplish.

The speed at which this new industry ​is integrating into our lives is ​unfathomable, especially with the ​dawn of AI further accelerating ​production. Most traditional industries ​have yet to fully comprehend the ​impending changes, and the purpose ​of this article is to shed light on the ​new world from deep within. To fully ​comprehend the concept of mixed ​reality, it is crucial to internalize some ​fundamental principles that represent ​an absolute shift in the media ​landscape and user.​

The world is already virtual. Every day, half a ​billion people engage in social virtual worlds, ​referring to platforms like Roblox and ​Fortnite. Many are more engaged online ​than in real life.

For these individuals, virtual worlds ​serve as an entry point into culture, ​music, and shared experiences, often ​surpassing the significance of physical ​playgrounds in previous generations. ​As a 45-year-old, in my teenage days, I ​bought magazines from bookshelves, ​met friends in the park, and turned on ​MTV to catch up on what's hot in music

Nowadays, all these activities can be ​accessed through a virtual world. ​Fortnite, a free game, generates over ​$5 billion in revenue, whereas MTV ​made only $23 million in 2021. It's ​clear where this trend is heading.

One could argue that the virtual ​world, with its immersive and ​interconnected nature, holds more ​significance to a growing proportion ​of the population than the physical ​world itself. A person's identity might ​hold more value in the digital world ​due to investments made in avatars, ​skins, and digital assets

Soda Studio, a physical venue in ​downtown Johannesburg, has created an ​identical virtual venue, a digital twin, and ​hosts events in both spaces ​simultaneously. This mixed reality ​experience features hosts in virtual reality ​as well as hosts in the flesh and bones. ​Through innovative techniques, we have ​successfully bridged the gap between ​these two worlds, fostering powerful ​connections between individuals in the ​physical and virtual realms. Gone are the ​days of awkward Zoom meetings with ​weird webcam angles; we're moving ​towards a more immersive and authentic ​way of connecting with one another.

We produced a mixed reality Human​ Rights Festival at the historic​ Constitutional Hill of Johannesburg.​ This approximate 4-minute video​ does a good job explaining.​

At the Venice Film Festival, people ​from all over the world logged into ​our venue. Expanding the reach and ​leading to deep engagement.

Picture this: A stadium holds 60,000 fans, while ​250,000 more join virtually. This isn't just ​streaming—it's the future of sports, where digital ​avatars allow global audiences to truly ​participate. The energy transcends physical ​boundaries, creating a shared experience that ​unites people worldwide in ways never before ​possible. Virtual reality isn't just observing; it's ​being there, feeling the excitement, and ​breaking down geographical barriers to bring ​fans together in an unprecedented, immersive ​celebration of sport.

South Africa stands at a digital ​crossroads, where minimal investment ​can yield global exposure. As ​international interest in African ​culture surges, South African ​creatives are perfectly positioned to ​ride this wave of opportunity. The ​virtual realm demolishes geographical ​barriers, allowing artists, ​entrepreneurs, and innovators to ​broadcast their unique voices ​worldwide. This digital renaissance ​isn't just about showcasing talent—it's ​a catalyst for economic growth and ​cultural exchange. South Africa's ​creative economy now has an ​unprecedented chance to captivate ​global audiences, fostering ​international recognition and opening ​new avenues for prosperity.

Global Audience

From a South African perspective, the ​ability to reach a global audience with a ​very low cost of entry is revolutionary. ​As the world's taste buds turn their ​focus to Africa and South Africa, the ​time could not be better for the South ​African creative economy. This ​newfound accessibility to a global stage ​opens up tremendous opportunities for ​South African artists, entrepreneurs, ​and creators to showcase their talent ​and culture to the world, fostering ​economic growth and international ​recognition.

Our digital twin of Constitutional Hill, a South ​African landmark, opened new frontiers in virtual ​tourism. During our Human Rights Day mixed reality ​event, we witnessed the power of digitizing ​historical sites. Picture this: a live guide in ​Johannesburg leading you through a virtual ​Constitutional Hill, bridging continents and cultures ​in real-time. This isn't just a novelty; it's a glimpse ​into a future brimming with possibilities. As we ​merge physical and digital realms, we're not just ​creating experiences—we're crafting an entirely ​new job market. From virtual tour guides to digital ​architects, the opportunities in this brave new ​world are as limitless as our imagination.