Explanation
Technology that allows a virtual object to be attached to a precise point in physical space. When the user returns to that location, the virtual object is still there, exactly where it was placed.
Real-world example
Placing a virtual sticky note on your office wall — when you come back the next day with the headset, the note is still in the same spot.
Practical applications
- Mixed reality: placing persistent virtual objects in real spaces
- Industrial maintenance: attaching instructions or data to specific machines
- Indoor navigation: virtual markers in buildings for wayfinding
- Collaborative work: shared spatial annotations between multiple users
Types of spatial anchors
Local anchors
- Stored on the headset
- Persistent within the same physical space
- Fast and private
Example: Your virtual desktop stays in the same corner of your room
Cloud anchors
- Stored on a server
- Shared between multiple users and devices
- Persistent across time
Example: Multiple technicians seeing the same annotations on the same machine
VR scenario
In a factory, a maintenance technician places virtual annotations on a machine using spatial anchors: "Check this valve every Monday," "Torque: 45 Nm." The next technician puts on the headset and sees these annotations exactly where they were placed — a permanent augmented reality layer on the real equipment.
Why it matters in professional VR
- Spatial anchors are the foundation of all persistent mixed reality experiences
- They bridge the gap between the virtual and the real by making digital content location-aware
- Critical for enterprise AR: maintenance, logistics, training, and spatial documentation