Why virtual, augmented, and mixed reality are the 4th wave of tech

Consumer computing platform changes aren’t straight lines — they’re waves. PC, internet, and mobile were the first three waves, and each was faster, larger, and more disruptive than the last. Now the fourth wave of virtual, augmented, and mixed reality is bearing down on us, so let’s dive in.

Waves come in sets

Growing up in the surf teaches you a thing or two about waves and how to read them. One of the things you learn is that waves are not solitary creatures, and they always come in sets. So the fourth wave is actually a set of three overlapping waves: virtual reality, augmented reality and mixed reality.