Explanation
An interface that creates the impression of looking through a window into another world.
Real-world example
Your computer screen when you play a game acts as a "window" into the game's universe.
Practical applications
- Panoramic screens: creating an immersive effect without a headset
- Immersive rooms: projection onto walls creating a giant window into the virtual world
- Mixed reality: virtual windows floating in real space
- Virtual desktops: multiplying screens as windows in VR
Types of immersive windows
Physical windows
- Giant curved screens (120°+)
- CAVE: projection onto 3 to 6 walls
- Immersive LED walls
- Multi-screen simulation cockpits
Example: A trading floor with a curved wall of screens that surrounds the user
Virtual windows
- Application windows in VR (Virtual Desktop)
- Portals to other environments
- Virtual screens resizable at will
- Passthrough augmented with virtual elements
Example: Watching Netflix on a virtual cinema screen in VR
VR scenario
In Apple Vision Pro, you are in your real living room but a 3-meter-wide virtual window floats in front of you, displaying a tropical beach. The closer you get, the more you feel you could "step through to the other side." Spatial audio simulates the sound of waves coming from that direction.
Why it matters in professional VR
- Gentle transition: introducing VR without the potentially intimidating full immersion
- Productivity: multiplying workspaces without physical hardware
- Accessibility: offering immersion to those who cannot tolerate headsets
- Hybrid approach: combining real and virtual in a non-invasive way