I came across the term “digital leapfrogging” this week during my family holiday in Bali. It struck me as the perfect lens for understanding virtual reality and mixed reality’s potential impact beyond traditional tech hubs and developed cities across the world.

As someone who’s traveled throughout these growing markets, I’ve seen potential use cases in classrooms where VR headsets could bring distant ecosystems and concepts into vivid focus for students. I’ve heard of doctors using immersive headsets to observe surgeries in real time halfway across the globe. I’ve learned of farmers using mixed reality overlays to identify crop pests and optimise irrigation - all without ever leaving their home or office.

Still, real-world hurdles persist. Unreliable connectivity (as I’ve found out during my trip) can turn an immersive lesson or experience into a loading screen. High device costs risk limiting VR and mixed reality to luxury status. And without the applications built on top of this technology, even the most powerful VR headset is just an unused box.

If digital leapfrogging in the context of VR is to succeed, I believe affordable hardware is the biggest necessity, followed by local talent in these communities to embrace mixed reality. By prioritising hardware affordability, community-driven content and scalable business models, immersive tech can restore presence to those who’ve long been left behind. 

When deployed thoughtfully, virtual and mixed reality could redefine what’s possible for billions of people - turning digital leapfrogging into a true springboard for progress in emerging markets.

Terimakasih,

Moondog