Breaking the mould of Social Mixed Reality - State-of-the-Art and Glossary

Current MR technology fails to authentically replicate human embodiment and social interaction, meaning that virtual social experiences in mixed reality still feel artificial and don't capture the full complexity of how humans naturally interact with each other—a critical limitation for meaningful digital connection.

Responsible AI and Ethics by Design must be built into MR systems from the start, not added later; the paper emphasizes that ethical considerations should be integrated into the development process itself to ensure virtual agents and social experiences prioritize psychological safety and inclusivity.

Multi-modal data and multi-agent interaction are essential for authentic social MR experiences; the technology needs to process multiple types of information simultaneously (like voice, gesture, and facial expressions) and enable meaningful interactions between humans and multiple virtual agents, not just one-on-one exchanges.

The field currently lacks a shared vocabulary and framework for discussing social MR, responsible AI, and ethical design—the glossary addresses this gap by establishing common definitions and concepts, which is necessary for researchers, developers, and policymakers to communicate effectively about these technologies.

Human-centric innovation should be the priority for MR development, with particular attention to how these systems affect psychological well-being, social connection, and accessibility for diverse users rather than focusing solely on technical capabilities.