Wzbogacona rzeczywistość a nierówności społeczne

Abstract

This paper focuses on the technology of extended reality, whereby the aim is to draw attention to selected issues related to technology and solutions in the extended reality area in the context of social inequalities. The first part of the article discusses the essence of extended reality technology, paying attention to its place in the modern economy, along with a description of such solutions. The remainder of the study focuses on the issue of social inequality, with particular emphasis on the impact of extended reality on the problem of the digital gap and digital divide. The article presents the results of original research undertaken on a group of 88 respondents with both CAWI and equipment supporting augmented reality technology, of which 39.36% declared testing with this type of equipment in the past. The article also presents the results of original research with the use of XR equipment. XR-related solutions are currently still perceived as luxury goods, despite both the increasing availability for users and undoubtedly unique advantages. These include realism of generated experiences and the phenomenon of immersion in the synthetic world. The analysis of the role of such solutions in the context of social inequality provides a conclusion about their dichotomous nature. On the one hand, by popularizing the XR technology, the possibility of overcoming barriers and inequalities resulting from individual characteristics or social position is created, which leads to the improvement in the life situations of some people who have been struggling with exclusion so far. On the other hand, it provides the conclusion that such advanced technology entering everyday life has the potential to create another digital divide, which in the long term will result in increasing digital disproportions and exclusion.