Some exciting new research from Metamandrill.com highlights a shift in the public’s perception of immersive technologies such as augmented reality, virtual reality, and mixed reality devices. A market once dominated by gaming is now seeing larger professional adoption. The research examined the usage preferences of 1,299 professionals. Enthusiasm for immersive reality in education was especially high, with interest at 61%. At the same time, significant market growth has been observed in specialized hardware.
About the Research
Metamandrill.com, a knowledge platform dedicated to immersive technologies, conducted comprehensive research involving 1,299 industry professionals and technology enthusiasts. The survey targeted those interested in immersive technology as consumers, business professionals seeking solutions, and industry professionals involved in development. The research aimed to identify key trends in usage preferences and hardware adoption intentions across various immersive technology applications and devices, providing valuable insights into market direction.
Immersive Technology Solutions: Education Takes the Lead
Martijn Barten, a Founder at Metamandrill.com, has noted that “Organizations are increasingly recognizing the potential of these tools for education and skill development.” This observation is especially poignant in light of the survey’s results. The majority of participants, 61%, showed an active interest in the use of immersive technology in education and training. It’s clear that these technologies are transforming how people approach education. 51% of those surveyed showed interest in gaming or virtual worlds. The major benefits of immersive technologies in this area have been increased social interaction and enhancement of gameplay.
Meanwhile, 44% of the surveyed individuals showed an interest in immersive technologies within general entertainment. This category includes immersive art, sporting events, and music. Significant interest from the business sector is also clear. 43% showed enthusiasm for the use of immersive technologies in industrial optimization, collaboration, and general service within workplace environments. Use for marketing and sales applications came in at 42%.
In summary, the majority of those surveyed showed an interest in immersive technologies for education. This was followed by an interest in workplace applications, gaming or virtual worlds, entertainment, and marketing.
Preferred Devices: The Hardware Driving Immersive Experiences
A significant shift to purpose-built immersive technologies, distinct from mobile devices such as smartphones, was also seen in the survey. Mobile devices still have the most significant amount of interest at 54%. Likewise, consoles and standard computers have a similar level at 48%. However, significant and growing interest can be seen in devices designed around immersive reality. The results showed interest in virtual reality headsets at 45%, augmented reality headsets at 38%, and mixed reality headsets at 44%.
The numbers align with the International Data Corporation’s (IDC) projections for growth in immersive technologies. IDC has stated that they see global shipments of VR and AR headsets moving upward at a steady pace. From 6.7 million units shipped in 2024 to 22.9 million in 2028. The compound annual growth rate would reach 36.3%. The ongoing growth is expected to continue, with mixed reality taking the lead at over 70% of global shipments in immersive technology by 2028.
The results of the survey show that the public’s interest in immersive technologies extends to dedicated devices, which can further enhance their experiences. The larger industry is ready to match that demand in 2025/2026 with major releases from the larger tech companies. These releases include the Vision Pro 2 from Apple, the XR headset from Samsung, Valve’s Index 2, and an expanding ecosystem from Meta, which includes Oakley-branded smart glasses.
To access the full survey findings and explore detailed trends, visit:
https://metamandrill.com/infographic-research/
The survey demonstrates how immersive technology is growing from its roots in gaming into a larger ecosystem that meets the needs of business, education, and more. New devices, software, and ideas are creating unexplored possibilities. People are leveraging the technologies for innovation in almost every field.
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