What does spatial mean?
“Spatial” has emerged as a buzzword in recent years, particularly in the extended reality landscape. Apple even advertised the Apple Vision Pro as a “spatial computing device”, rather than using the traditional terms of MR or AR/VR headset.
But what do companies actually mean when they describe something as “spatial?” More importantly, why is the “spatial revolution” so important to today’s businesses?
We’ve discussed the concept of “spatial computing” before here on XR Today. Here, we’ll dive a little deeper into the term “spatial” and why it’s taking the world by storm.
What Does Spatial Mean? The Dictionary Definition
The term “spatial” is an adjective used to describe things relating to areas or spaces. For instance, a human being’s spatial ability defines their capacity to see and understand the world around them and the relationships between various areas and shapes.
On a daily basis, human beings move through various environments and interact with their surroundings. They can do this because they have “spatial awareness.” Without this awareness, you’d constantly be bumping into people and objects.
Spatial awareness allows human beings to be conscious of the things surrounding us and our position relevant to them. It gives context to the location of an object (like knowing your laptop is on your desk, not under it). This awareness shows you how to move through your environment and navigate your surroundings. It even ensures you can manage social interactions.
For instance, if you didn’t understand your environment, you’d have difficulty respecting a person’s personal space. Our ability to read, write, and even calculate formulas also relies on spatial awareness.
So, What Does Spatial Mean in XR Terms?
All the technology that underpins augmented, virtual, and mixed reality experiences, from depth mapping to haptic feedback, relies on a computer’s “spatial awareness.”
Just like human beings, computer systems in XR need to be aware of what’s going on around them and the relative position of objects and spaces to deliver an immersive experience.
When the concept of spatial computing was first introduced to the XR space, it was defined by the factors that enable human interactions with a machine. For instance, a VR headset can understand what you’re trying to interact with when you raise your hand toward a virtual object using computer vision, spatial mapping, and gesture recognition.
However, as the XR landscape has evolved, the definition of “spatial” has transformed with it. Today, companies use the word “spatial” to refer to every type of interaction between the physical and the digital. For example, an app like Google Maps that overlays direction and information onto your smartphone screen needs spatial awareness to identify the right positioning of content.
Something like a Snapchat filter needs spatial awareness to know how to position digital content over a human face correctly.
How Computer Systems Use Spatial Awareness
In the XR world, spatial technology, like depth mapping, tracking, haptic feedback, and more, essentially gives computers the “spatial awareness” we have as human beings. As a human being, your brain always leverages spatial awareness to translate two-dimensional images into a 3D model of the world around you, make sense of objects, and direct your actions.
For instance, when you pour yourself a cup of tea, your brain tells you where to direct the water, when to stop pouring, and so on. Computers with spatial awareness do the same thing, but they use sensors and actuators (rather than human senses).
Basically, spatial computing works like this:
- The computer gathers data: The computer system in an XR device collects data using mapping techniques. Photogrammetry, radar, and lidar capture 3D models of the world that are uploaded to the computer system. Lidar and radar measure the reflection of a laser or radio signal of objects to build a “point cloud” representing shapes and distances. Photogrammetry combines images from multiple cameras to build the world (like our eyes).
- The system performs an analysis: Using techniques like computer vision, it analyzes all of the data collected to make sense of it. AI techniques usually come in here, helping to identify the objects in an environment and how they interact with other objects.
- Taking action: Finally, the system presents the data to the user and allows them to leverage motion sensors, speech recognition, and controllers to interact with the surrounding environment.
Why Does Spatial Technology Matter?
The most common follow-up question to “What does spatial mean?” is “Why does it matter?” Human spatial awareness is obviously important because it allows us to interact with the world around us effectively (and safely). But why do we need computers to have the same abilities?
There are a few reasons. First, the human brain has evolved to interact with 3D environments rather than 2D screens. Spatial technology allows us to interact with the world and technology in a more natural format, which is why it’s so effective at enabling immersive learning and collaboration.
Spatial computing systems allow us to explore digital content of any type, from visualizations to mathematical concepts, in a way that takes advantage of our standard human cognitive capabilities.
Studies by PWC have shown that using extended reality (VR) in training can triple learners’ confidence, quadruple learning speeds, and more. However, the success of immersive experiences isn’t just about the technology itself – it’s about how we interact with it.
Spatial computing doesn’t just allow us to move beyond two-dimensional experiences and reimagine them in 3D. It unlocks the opportunity to radicalize how we work and interact with content.
What Does Spatial Mean for Businesses?
On a broader scale, let’s consider what spatial technology means for businesses and what problems solutions can address. In the last couple of years, the rapid evolution of this technology has introduced us to a range of potential use cases.
The University of Cambridge is using spatial computing to help detect early Alzheimer’s symptoms. Automotive leaders, like Basemark, are experimenting with similar technology to create heads-up displays that improve driver and vehicle operator safety.
Overall, though, there are four areas that analysts believe will hold the most opportunities for spatial solutions in the business environment:
- Process optimization: Already, organizations in countless industries are using solutions like digital twins to test designs, streamline processes, improve efficiencies, and reduce risks. Spatial technology helps users to interact more effectively with machines, environments, and people in the real world, enhancing process optimization.
- Revenue diversification: Spatial computing opens the door to unlimited revenue opportunities – and not just for XR headset developers like Apple. With the right technology, companies can create new customer-facing support platforms in the metaverse, enhance co-creation strategies, and design new experiences for every user.
- Brand engagement: Spatial solutions, like many extended reality technologies, are offering companies new ways to engage their audience and strengthen community experiences. In-game advertising and digital asset sales are increasing, and spatial solutions allow companies to create new virtual environments to connect with their audience.
- Employee experiences: We’ve already mentioned how spatial solutions can improve learning in the workplace (and elsewhere). However, they can also significantly impact employee experience in other ways. By enhancing how we interact with computers, these solutions can boost focus, productivity, and efficiency.
The Challenges Facing the Spatial Revolution
Today, the term “spatial” is evolving from a concept focused entirely on how humans interact with the world to something that influences virtually every technological revolution. However, while spatial solutions are becoming increasingly critical for businesses and XR innovators, there are still challenges we need to overcome.
We may all understand “spatial awareness” from a human perspective, but teaching computers how to demonstrate the same level of understanding isn’t easy. There are also issues to overcome when it comes to giving systems the data and insights they need to enable awareness. Companies will need to rethink their data and security strategies on a significant scale.
Advances in technology are happening constantly, but there are still roadblocks. Even the best XR headset vendors and metaverse creators can design environments that cause VR sickness.
Part of the reason for this is that while all human beings leverage spatial awareness, the way our brains work and process information can differ. Computer systems, on the other hand, need to follow a standardized process, which can cause some variability in experiences.
What Does Spatial Mean for the Future?
Based on the rapid development we’ve seen in extended reality space, it seems fair to say that spatial computing is the future.
The more computers, technology, and XR headsets can simulate human awareness, the more natural and intuitive our interactions with machines will be.
There’s still work to be done, but if we can effectively give computers the same awareness as human beings, the results could be phenomenal, influencing our digital future on a massive scale.
The spatial technology era has arrived, and it should be a positive step forward for all of us.
