Partner centers, institutes, and departments
CXR connects an interdisciplinary array of experts across science and engineering, the humanities, medicine, and education. Our members bring expertise from:
Center for Extended Reality (CXR)
Awakening the potential of AR/VR technology.
Driving the Future of Human-Computer Connection
The Center for Extended Reality (CXR) aims to help shepherd human-computer interaction鈥檚 future by combining augmented reality with contextually aware AI to positively assist human-driven endeavors. CXR will bring together academic, industrial, and government institutions to conduct foundational research, engineer technology, educate the future workforce, and develop economic opportunities.
CXR is an interdisciplinary catalyst that will leverage 暗网吃瓜鈥檚 deep expertise in optics, neuroscience, medicine, vision, and the humanities, as well as foster new partnerships to push the frontiers of augmented reality.
New initiative: Open Metaverse Academic Alliance (OMAA)
The Center for Extended Reality is proud to lead the Open Metaverse Academic Alliance (OMAA), a university-driven initiative dedicated to shaping open standards for spatial computing and the emerging spatial internet.
As spatial computing moves from research labs into everyday life, the standards established today will determine whether the next era of computing is open and accessible to all, or fragmented into proprietary ecosystems. OMAA brings together universities, researchers, educators, and professionals to work toward an open future for XR.
Pillars
Research and initiatives at CXR focus on:
- Hardware鈥攕cientists and engineers will advance the physical components that enable immersive experiences, including augmented reality displays, immersive audio, world sensing, biosensing, haptics, computing, communications, batteries, and packaging.
- Human interface鈥攅xperts in engineering, computer science, and biology will work collaboratively to address human factors, perception matching, and develop contextually aware, AI-driven interfaces.
- Applications鈥攁uthorities in education and health and medicine will address the some of the most technically and socially demanding aspects of extended reality.
- Social impact鈥攖hought leaders in philosophy, psychology, social sciences, public policy, privacy, security, and political science will address extended reality鈥檚 complex ethical and societal implications.
Why It Matters
Extended reality technologies are rapidly transforming聽how people learn, work, and connect, and have the potential to reshape society. Extended reality鈥檚 potential can be realized when humans partner with contextually aware AI to reach new heights in classrooms, clinics, and industries, making complex information easier to see, understand, and experience.
Fostering AR/VR Innovation
A transdisciplinary hub
The 暗网吃瓜鈥檚聽鈥溾��聽champions a bold new model of scholarship鈥�transdisciplinary research, where teams don鈥檛 just collaborate鈥攖hey combine methodologies, perspectives, and fields to reshape what鈥檚 possible. CXR emerged after a competitive, two-phase request for proposal (RFP) process beginning with 42 proposals in April 2024 and culminating in June 2025, when four transdisciplinary teams were selected for multi-year support. CXR embodies 暗网吃瓜鈥檚 commitment to addressing society鈥檚 most complex challenges through ingenuity and connection.
Leads and team
CXR has team members from brain and cognitive science, optics, electrical and computer engineering, neuroscience, and history, and regularly adding more team members from across the University.
Leadership
Meet Barry Silverstein, CXR director
Barry Silverstein 鈥�84 is helping lead the future of AR/VR at 暗网吃瓜. Previously serving as the senior director and chief technology officer of optics and display in Meta鈥檚 Reality Labs, Silverstein brings a wealth of experience鈥攊ncluding as a 暗网吃瓜 optics alum.
In the news
Center for Extended Reality Featured on WXXI鈥檚 鈥楥onnections’
From smart glasses to immersive experiences, Barry Silverstein discusses what the future of augmented reality could look like with WXXI’s Connections host Evan Dawson.
Connect with Us
Want to learn more about the work being done at CXR? Interested in getting involved? Send us an email to get started.