The term spatial computing is a broad concept that combines the physical world with virtual content. This process enables digital objects to exist and interact with the physical environment as if they were actually there, even allowing the user to interact with the digital objects.

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This is spatial computing in broad terms -- a system for computers to interact and understand the physical environment around users, and where they can also interact with virtual objects.

Spatial computing creates a seamless interaction between virtual and physical environments through software and hardware. You need a platform to make spatial computing possible. This platform can sense real-world information through cameras and sensors, process it in real time to understand the context of the captured space, and display content onto the physical surroundings to overlay content or create completely virtual environments.

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This three-stage process requires advanced sensors, cameras, and complex algorithms that often use artificial intelligence for spatial reasoning and object recognition. It's how you can put on an AR headset and see a digital cat sitting on your physical coffee table or a text displayed only on the wall behind your couch.

Spatial computing examples include AR glasses, likeMeta'sRay-Ban smart glasses and Xreal's Air 2 Ultra; and VR headsets, like the Meta Quest 3 and Apple Vision Pro. These spatial computers combine the physical world with a virtual one, whether by creating an immersive environment or overlaying information.

Virtual reality (VR) is a type of spatial computing. Blending the real world with digital experiences can be achieved through various extended reality (XR) technologies, including VR, but also augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR). 

Extended reality (XR) is a universal term to describe technologies that digitally alter reality. XR is a broad umbrella term that encompasses spatial computing technologies, including virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR).

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• VR: A technology used to create simulated spaces for immersive experiences. These simulated environments can be full 3D worlds or sections of virtual content overlaying the physical world. VR headsets typically have displays and a set of lenses for the eyes to see through. While VR headsets can show the physical world in front of the user, this is typically recreated by the cameras on the front of the device, as the user's view tends to be completely obstructed by the headset's displays. Though Apple markets its Vision Pro headset as an AR headset with apps overlaying the wearer's surroundings, it does this with sensors and cameras as the wearer can't see directly through the Vision Pro.

• AR: Creates an interactive experience for users by overlaying digital content, like images and text, onto the user's physical environment. AR glasses, often called smart glasses, don't obstruct the wearer's view. They often sport darker lenses than prescription or reading glasses to ensure the content can be viewed brightly. The AR experience also extends to smartphones and tablets -- anytime you use a shopping app to see what a piece of furniture will look like in your living room, you're using AR. 

• MR: Mixes both AR and VR in a way. MR gives the wearer a view of the real world around them with overlaid digital objects, but this technology lets these objects interact with the physical world. MR is more immersive than AR but not a fully immersive experience like VR. 

Though Apple has made the term popular recently, "spatial computing" has been around for decades. One of the first formalizations of the term came in 2003 by Simon Greenwold, who presented a thesis on his work with spatial computing. 

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Greenwold highlighted the move to more immersive computing environments and said spatial computing is where the physical space becomes a medium for interaction with digital information.