When Virtuality Surpasses Reality: Possible Futures of Ubiquitous XR

ABSTRACT Is our future heading towards enhancing the human experience with computer-mediated reality? Immersive technology is unique, existing between the world and our senses, letting users traverse wholly virtual environments (i.e. distant places or fantasy worlds) or augment the real world with virtual objects, and any mix of virtuality-reality in-between. This paper explores the philosophical and social ramifications of ubiquitous immersive technology, envisioning a relatively near-future where mainstream technology has been replaced and a dystopian far-future wherein individuals may choose to abandon reality in favour of virtual worlds. Creating design fictions as thought experiments, we explore the open challenges of possible futures in XR, researching tomorrow’s technologies today.