Mixed reality’s benefits — and costs — may surprise us

The last two decades have been marked by a more or less optimistic view of how technology will change our lives. But recently, we’ve also seen studies on the detrimental effects of screens on child development, the new phenomena of device addiction, and the many reports of data breaches. Now, with the Facebook-Cambridge Analytica scandal dominating headlines, we have to collectively start considering the very real threats posed by our digital future.

As I read these news stories, I’ve been thinking critically about the technology I work with every day: mixed reality (MR). Obviously, my colleagues and I are excited about the potential for MR to transform the world, and the retail sector in particular.