Reality–virtuality continuum

{{more sources|date=May 2025}}

{{Short description|Concept in computer science}}

File:Virtuality continuum 2-en.svg

The virtuality continuum is a continuous scale ranging between the completely virtual, a virtuality, and the completely real, reality. The reality–virtuality continuum therefore encompasses all possible variations and compositions of real and virtual objects. It has been described as a concept in new media and computer science. The concept was first introduced by Paul Milgram.{{cite conference |first=Paul |last=Milgram |author2=H. Takemura |author3=A. Utsumi |author4=F. Kishino |title=Augmented Reality: A class of displays on the reality-virtuality continuum |book-title=Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering Vol. 2351 |year=1994 |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228537162 |access-date=2021-06-01 }}{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yI8o7osCuQoC&pg=PA7&dq=%22Reality%E2%80%93virtuality+continuum%22+-wikipedia&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0|page=7|title=Stepping Into Virtual Reality|first1=Mario Arturo|last1= Gutiérrez Alonso|author2=Mario Gutierrez|author3=F. Vexo|author4=Daniel Thalmann|year= 2008|isbn=9781848001176|publisher=Springer London|access-date=May 13, 2025}}

The area between the two extremes, where both the real and the virtual are mixed, is called mixed reality. This in turn is said to consist of both augmented reality, where the virtual augments the real, and augmented virtuality, where the real augments the virtual.{{cn|date=May 2025}}

This continuum has been extended into a two-dimensional plane of virtuality and mediality.[http://wearcam.org/presence_connect/ Mediated Reality with implementations for everyday life], 2002 August 6th, Presence Connect, the on line companion to the MIT Press journal PRESENCE: Teleoperators and Virtual Environments, MIT Press