Immersive Realities: Transformations and Challenges in VR, AR, XR, and the Metaverse

Dear Colleagues,

We are excited to announce a forthcoming Special Issue titled “Immersive Realities: Transformations and Challenges in VR, AR, XR, and the Metaverse”, and we invite you to contribute your latest research and insights.

Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Extended Reality (XR) are transforming the technological landscape, offering immersive experiences that seamlessly blend digital and physical worlds. These technologies have profound implications across various fields. In healthcare, VR and AR are being utilized for surgical training, rehabilitation, and mental health therapies, enhancing precision and outcomes. Education is being revolutionized with immersive learning environments that significantly boost student engagement and comprehension. In the industrial sector, AR is enhancing productivity and safety through real-time information and guidance, streamlining operations. The entertainment and gaming industries are continually pushing the boundaries of possibility, crafting experiences that captivate and deeply engage audiences. Taking this a step further, the metaverse envisions a comprehensive digital universe where people can work, play, socialize, and create in interconnected virtual environments. This concept promises to revolutionize the way we interact with technology and each other, presenting new opportunities and challenges for developers, businesses, and users alike. By integrating VR, AR, and XR into a cohesive metaverse, we stand on the brink of a transformative era in digital interaction, poised to reshape our everyday experiences and societal norms.

The advances of these technologies present new challenges and questions. How can we ensure ethical use and address privacy concerns? What are the psychological impacts of extended immersion in virtual environments? How can we design user interfaces that are intuitive and accessible to all?

This Special Issue aims to address these questions and more by providing a platform for cutting-edge research and discussion. The topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Innovations in VR, AR, and XR hardware and software;
• Novel immersive gaming and entertainment experiences;
• Breakthroughs in healthcare and rehabilitation applications;
• Educational transformations through immersive technologies;
• Industrial and enterprise applications of AR and XR;
• The metaverse: building a comprehensive digital universe;
• Enhancements in user experience and human–computer interaction;
• Ethical, social, and psychological implications of immersive technologies;
• Future trends and speculative innovations.

Dr. Jelena Nakić
Dr. Lada Maleš
Dr. Maja Stella
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Electronics is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• virtual reality (VR)
• augmented reality (AR)
• extended reality (XR)
• metaverse
• immersive technologies
• digital interaction
• human–computer interaction (HCI)
• immersive learning environments
• VR/AR in healthcare
• VR/AR in gaming and entertainment