VR definitions and terms: A guide to virtual reality
Like any emerging technology, extended reality (XR) – including virtual reality (VR) and mixed reality (MR) – comes with its own jargon. This XR and VR glossary will give you a better understanding of the words and phrases that you're likely to encounter on your XR journey and how to use them effectively.
You'll also find plenty of links to follow if you want to know more.
AI (artificial intelligence)
A computer system capable of replicating human intelligence and cognitive abilities, such as decision-making, problem-solving, learning, reasoning, finding meaning and analysing.
Augments
Digital objects that users can anchor to physical spaces, such as a virtual picture frame fixed to a wall or a virtual grocery list that lives on a refrigerator door, visible every time you step into mixed reality.
Augmented reality (AR)
Combining real and virtual environments, AR allows you to interact with digital elements such as text, audio and graphics, which enhance your experience of the physical world.
Automation
The use of machines and computers to reduce the need for human input. Automation can help with almost any repetitive task and many businesses are using it without realising. At Meta, we believe that it's one of the innovations shaping the future of work.
Avatar
The digital representation of a human that allows you to interact with the people and objects that you encounter in a virtual environment. You can customise your avatar to look just like you – or someone entirely different!
Boundary
In mixed reality, you can set virtual boundaries that keep you safe in the physical world while wearing your headset. You'll get a warning if you get too close to, or step outside, the boundary.
Controllers
Handheld devices with buttons, triggers and joysticks that give you the ability to "touch" and interact with objects in your virtual environment. Meta Quest's Touch Plus controllers are one example. Like other models, they include motion tracking technology to enhance your MR experience.
Controller tracking
When you're holding your Meta Quest controllers, tracking technology monitors their movement and spatial position to recreate your gestures in the virtual world through your avatar. This allows you to interact more precisely with objects in virtual environments.
Digital twin
A precise digital representation of a physical object, system or environment. Digital twins are often used to help organisations simulate real-life situations and predict outcomes at a fraction of the cost of real-world experimentation.
Extended reality (XR)
An umbrella term encompassing virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality (MR). XR technologies merge the physical and digital worlds to offer more immersive and engaging experiences. Find out more about the difference between AR, VR and MR.
Eye tracking
Technology within the VR headset that monitors eye movements and translates these to your avatar, creating more natural interactions and expressions.
Floor level
When you define your boundaries for Meta Quest, you'll need to set the floor level. This is the virtual representation of the ground within the VR environment. It's also important for establishing spatial awareness and ensuring that virtual objects relate accurately to their digital environment.
Fresnel lens
Shaped with clipped ridges rather than the smooth circular design of traditional lenses, Fresnel lenses help reduce the weight of your headset and can be found on the Meta Quest 3S.
Generative AI
Creates content such as text, images, music or code, in response to a user prompt. It uses a computer programme known as deep learning to analyse and create new data. Meta Llama is an example of generative AI and one of many large language models.
Glanceable boundary
If you're wearing a headset and want to know where you are in your physical space, look down at an angle and the glanceable boundary will appear as an overlay marking the perimeter. It reduces the risk of accidents, but you need to enable it on your device.
Glasses spacer
If you wear glasses, this creates space between the headset and your glasses for a more comfortable fit. Once inserted, it can also reduce the risk of scratching your lenses.
Hand tracking
Technology that detects and tracks your hand movements so that they can be replicated in the virtual world through your avatar. It helps create a more natural interaction with the digital environment and allows you to interact with the objects you find there.
Haptics
When you interact with virtual objects, haptic technology uses pulsing and vibration to stimulate your skin receptors. It gives you the sensation of actually touching something. This physical feedback makes your virtual experience more intuitive and engaging.
Headset
A wearable device that covers your eyes and ears to immerse you in a virtual environment. Headsets offer a range of different features and VR experiences. Compare Meta Quest headsets.
Headset tracking
The process of monitoring and updating the position and orientation of your VR headset in real time. The more accurate the headset tracking, the more immersive the experience and the less likely you are to get motion sickness.
Infinity display
A design feature in VR headsets where the display appears to extend to the edges of your field of vision. Infinity displays reduce the feeling that you're looking through a window, increasing immersion and cutting distractions.
Internet of things (IoT)
A network of physical devices embedded with sensors, software and other technologies that allow them to collect and share data. In VR, IoT integration makes it possible for interactive and interconnected virtual environments to respond to real-world data and devices.
ISV (independent software vendor)
A person or company that develops and sells software products or services. ISVs play a vital role in the VR ecosystem, creating the apps and games used in headsets. ISVs provide VR apps for the Meta Quest store.
MDM (mobile device management)
Software and processes that monitor, manage and secure mobile devices that access your company data. For example, MDM solutions help businesses deploy and manage VR headsets, ensuring that they're secure and compliant.
Metaverse
Accessed through VR, AR and smart glasses, the metaverse is a collective virtual space that brings together 2D and 3D digital environments, social interactions and experiences that go beyond individual platforms or applications.
Meta Admin Centre
If you have a Meta account and want secure access to Meta Quest for Business and Meta Business Tools, the Meta Admin Centre is the place to go.
Meta Horizon Workrooms
Meta Horizon Workrooms is a collaborative VR platform developed by Meta for remote teamwork, meetings and productivity. It offers immersive environments where you can interact with other users, share content and recreate the experience of working side by side, as you would in the real world.
Meta Quest for Business
Meta Quest for Business is a subscription-based software service to help you scale Meta Quest across your company. It includes features such as user, device and custom app management, as well as customer support.
Meta Quest Remote Desktop
An app that allows you to mirror your computer screen in the virtual environment allowing you to watch films, browse the Internet and play games. It's included with Meta Horizon Workrooms.
Mixed reality (MR)
A combination of virtual and real-world elements where physical and digital objects co-exist and interact in real time. Mixed reality blends elements of virtual reality and augmented reality increasing the immersive and interactive possibilities.
Optical stack
The combination of lenses, displays and other optical components in a VR headset that determine the characteristics and visual quality of your VR experience. The optical stack influences factors such as field of view, resolution and image clarity.
Pass-through
A VR feature that allows you to take a quick look at the outside world to help you stay oriented in your physical space while wearing your headset.
Pancake lens
A lightweight lens that reduces the necessary distance between your eyes and the headset display. This means that your headset can be less bulky. It also helps reduce eye strain and improves image clarity by minimising the gap between pixels. Pancake lenses are a feature on Meta Quest 3 headsets.
Roomscale boundary
For using your headset while moving around, you set this boundary using your controllers and it keeps you within a safe physical space to cut the risk of accidents. You get a warning through your headset if you get close or cross the boundary. Within Meta Quest, the roomscale boundary is defined as 2 x 2 m with you at the centre.
Spatial audio
Spatial audio creates the sense of a 3D soundscape, enhancing immersion and making virtual environments more realistic. For example, when people speak, you'll have a sense of where the sound is coming from and therefore who the speaker is.
Space Sense
A safety feature in VR headsets that allows you to see the outline of people, pets and other objects that cross your roomscale boundary.
Stationary boundary
When you're sitting or standing in one place, a stationary boundary defines the area within which you can move freely in the real world. Within Meta Quest, the stationary boundary is defined as 1 x 1 m with you at the centre.
TruTouch haptics
A technology that simulates a more realistic sensation of physical touch when you interact with virtual surfaces and objects. Using hand tracking and haptic feedback, TruTouch gives you more precision, making your VR experience more immersive. It's a feature of the Meta Quest Touch Plus controllers.
Virtual reality
Virtual reality is a computer-generated simulation of a 3D environment that you can explore as part of a fully immersive experience. You're represented in this world as an avatar and using a VR headset and handheld controllers, you can interact with the people and objects you find there.