This course is part of the Extended Reality for Everybody Specialization

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Michael Nebeling

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Extended Reality for Everybody SpecializationUniversity of Michigan

About this Course

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This third course in the XR for Everybody specialization is geared toward the technical development of XR experiences. The course provides learners with a more technical mental model of XR technologies and the tools to approach XR development with confidence. It walks through the stages of development for both VR and AR projects, introducing the main XR development platforms as well as the key methods and tools. This third course also helps learners infer advanced XR requirements from physical/digital prototypes and teaches them how to differentiate major technical concerns, estimate development costs, and plan research necessary to advance XR.
This course also has an honors track that guides learners in the implementation of 3D, VR, and AR scenes in WebXR using A-Frame and in Unity, and helps them generate a development plan with clear milestones and deliverables.

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Course 3 of 3 in the

Extended Reality for Everybody Specialization

Intermediate Level

Approx. 32 hours to complete

English

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What you will learn

Create basic and immersive VR scenes in WebXR or Unity.
Create marker-based and marker-less AR scenes in WebXR or Unity.
Understand fundamental concepts and techniques for advanced XR applications.
Develop XR applications with ethics, accessibility, and privacy in mind.

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Course 3 of 3 in the

Extended Reality for Everybody Specialization

Intermediate Level

Approx. 32 hours to complete

English

Could your company benefit from training employees on in-demand skills?

Try Coursera for Business

Instructor

Instructor rating

4.25/5 (8 Ratings)

Michael Nebeling

Assistant Professor of Information, School of Information and Assistant Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, College of Engineering

23,187 Learners

4 Courses

Offered by

University of Michigan

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Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Week1

Week 1

11 hours to complete

XR Development Approaches

This first module will cover three main approaches to XR development: WebXR, Unity, and Unreal. Each approach requires different development tools, programming languages, and technical skills. They also differ in the fidelity and quality that can be achieved and in how many devices and users can be reached with each. In addition to getting a fundamental overview of XR development platforms and tools, a main goal this week is to make the jump from 2D to 3D: many of our learners will be familiar with web and mobile development, but 3D development is quite different. In the honors track, I will guide you through the creation of your first 3D scene using WebXR, Unity, or Unreal. I will also provide first steps instructions in each of them, allowing you to analyze and compare before choosing your approach and tools.

11 hours to complete

14 videos (Total 260 min), 18 readings, 3 quizzes

14 videos

Meet Your Instructor2mCourse Overview17mXR Development Approach (Part 1)11mXR Development Approach (Part 2)9mWebXR vs. Unity vs. Unreal12mBuilding Your XR Development Toolbox21mThe Jump from 2D to 3D (Part 1)13mThe Jump from 2D to 3D (Part 2)15mFirst Steps in WebXR23mFirst Steps in Unity23mFirst Steps in Unreal15mWelcome to the Honors Track16mYour 3D Scene12mOffice Hour: AR/VR with A-Frame1h 5m

18 readings

Welcome!5mAbout You10mCourse Summary & Outlook10mCourse Syllabus15mCourse Syllabus5mAccessibility Statement10mModule 1 of 4: XR Development Approaches5mIntro to XR Development10mPaths to Being an XR Creator15mDiscussion and Help Forums5mXR Platforms and Toolkits10mWhy 3D Is Hard15mHow to Use the Gallery Tool10mFirst Steps in WebXR with A-Frame, Unity, and Unreal8mYour First Quiz5mNEW! Office Hours & YouTube Playlist10mAssignment 1: 3D Scene2hHow to Submit to the Gallery Tool10m

1 practice exercise

XR Development Approach20m

Week2

Week 2

9 hours to complete

Developing VR Applications

This second module will focus on the development of VR applications. We will learn what it takes to create a virtual reality, about menus and navigation techniques in VR, as well as object selection and manipulation. I’ll share various examples that I have implemented using WebXR to illustrate the concepts. I will also cover approaches in Unity and Unreal. You will also see me give demos directly in VR to better understand how navigation and interactions work in VR. Many of the lessons are rooted in a VR design case study inspired by the Detroit Zoo, which my student Kara Dailey and I created specifically for this XR MOOC. In the honors track, I will guide you through the creation of your first VR scene using A-Frame, Unity, or Unreal. And, I will provide more hands-on lectures on how to create basic and immersive VR scenes with WebXR using A-Frame.

9 hours to complete

12 videos (Total 302 min), 2 readings, 3 quizzes

12 videos

Designing a Virtual Reality (Part 1)24mDesigning a Virtual Reality (Part 2)13mVR Design Case Study11mInterview with Kara Dailey22mMenus & Navigation in VR (Part 1)11mMenus & Navigation in VR (Part 2)15mObject Selection & Manipulation in VR (Part 1)11mObject Selection & Manipulation in VR (Part 2)9mBasic VR with WebXR39mImmersive VR with WebXR58mYour VR Scene18mOffice Hour #2: VR with Unity1h 5m

2 readings

Module 2 of 4: Developing VR Applications5mAssignment 2: VR Scene3h

1 practice exercise

Developing VR Applications Quiz20m

Week3

Week 3

8 hours to complete

Developing AR Applications

This third module will focus on the development of AR applications. We will learn about marker-based and marker-less approaches to augmenting the environment, about the design and role of markers for prototyping and deployment, and about the differences to marker-less AR. Again, I’ll share various examples that I have implemented using WebXR to illustrate the concepts. I will also cover approaches in Unity and Unreal. We will also learn about the differences in design between hand-held and head-worn AR. Many of the lessons are rooted in an AR design case study bringing Kepler’s Laws of Planetary Motion, which my student Shwetha Rajaram and I created in an independent study project. In the honors track, I will guide you through the creation of your first AR scene using A-Frame, Unity, or Unreal. And, I will provide more hands-on lectures on how to create marker-based and marker-less AR scenes with WebXR using A-Frame.

8 hours to complete

13 videos (Total 247 min), 2 readings, 3 quizzes

13 videos

Designing an Augmented Reality16mAR Design Case Study8mInterview with Shwetha Rajaram31mMarker-based AR (Part 1)15mMarker-based AR (Part 2)11mMarker-less AR (Part 1)16mMarker-less AR (Part 2)11mHand-held vs. Head-worn AR (Part 1)14mHand-held vs. Head-worn AR (Part 2)8mAR Demo3mMarker-based AR with WebXR39mMarker-less AR with WebXR42mYour AR Scene26m

2 readings

Module 3 of 4: Developing AR Applications5mAssignment 3: AR Scene3h

1 practice exercise

Developing AR Experiences Quiz20m

Week4

Week 4

5 hours to complete

Special Topics in XR

This fourth and final module will broaden the scope of this course by introducing you to advanced techniques and also research in XR. In terms of advanced techniques, we will learn about procedural generation, redirected walking, and custom controllers for VR. I will also cover 3D reconstruction, object recognition, and custom displays for AR. I will include examples from recent research. We will also go over important topics such as accessibility, collaboration, personalization of XR experiences. These topics are receiving increased attention in current research and will significantly shape the XR landscape in the next five to ten years. I will also give a lecture on XR research, where I’ll use one of our recent research projects and present the many iterations through which it went based on user and system performance evaluations. I will also talk about good and bad research questions, which mostly has to do with scoping and how far you want to push the envelope. Finally, I will share my Making of the XR MOOC through which I hope to share some of the techniques I’ve employed in giving, recording, and sharing demos with AR/VR technologies. In the honors track, we will conclude our projects with a peer review of 3D, VR, or AR scenes.

5 hours to complete

9 videos (Total 170 min), 4 readings, 2 quizzes

Reviews

4.4

13 reviews

5 stars
77.19%
4 stars
7.01%
3 stars
5.26%
2 stars
1.75%
1 star
8.77%

TOP REVIEWS FROM DEVELOPING AR/VR/MR/XR APPS WITH WEBXR, UNITY & UNREAL

by HFMay 26, 2022

Very hands on! Covers multiple hot topics within VR/AR.

by NNApr 26, 2021

The entire course has been exceptionally put together for a wonderful learning experience. Highly recommended to ones looking to build a solid foundation in XR

View all reviews

About the Extended Reality for Everybody Specialization

Welcome to XR for Everybody! When we say “for everybody,” we really do mean it. This specialization is designed to be a broad learning experience around all things augmented, virtual, and mixed reality. The 3 courses cover the fundamental concepts of XR, how to design and develop XR applications, how to discuss the emerging key issues in the landscape of XR, and how to bring XR into instructional settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:
The course may not offer an audit option. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid.
The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
What will I get if I subscribe to this Specialization?
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
Is financial aid available?
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.
Do I need to know a lot about AR/VR?
No. This course briefly reviews key concepts and technologies in XR. However, the first course in the specialization provides a stronger foundation. This course is focused on AR/VR development. It explores possible paths to being an XR creator and introduces you to the platforms and tools for creating XR experiences. If you are already familiar with web and mobile development, this course will show you ways to transfer that knowledge to XR.
Do I need to have programming experience?
No. To complete the main track of the course, it is ideal if you already have experience with developing web or mobile applications but not required. To complete the honors track, you should be willing to work with AR/VR software tools. Many aspects of these tools are often experimental and not very well documented. This makes it hard for beginners. However, we provide many examples and code as a starting point. Even simple adaptations of our examples will help you build more confidence and feel productive. If you have previously created an XR app, this course should still help you develop a broader understanding of possible development approaches and strategies.
Do I need access to AR/VR devices?
No. To complete the main track of the course, it is recommended but not required. However, to complete the honors track, you will need access to AR/VR devices. For marker-based AR, you need to have access to a computer with a webcam and/or a smartphone. For marker-less AR, you will need access to an ARCore or ARKit capable phone. For VR, we recommend a 6DOF headset like Quest, Rift, or VIVE. For a basic VR solution of the assignments, it would be sufficient to use a Google Cardboard compatible display wrapper that turns your smartphone into VR goggles.

More questions? Visit the Learner Help Center.

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Developing AR/VR/MR/XR Apps with WebXR, Unity & Unreal

About this Course

What you will learn