MR in the Media
Although mixed reality is a relatively new technology, MR and similar technologies have been covered significantly in the media. Scroll down to see some examples!
Microsoft HoloLens 2
In February of 2019, Julia Schwarz of Microsoft performed an on-stage live demonstration of the HoloLens 2 MR headset. The video below of said demonstration does a great job of helping one visualize the diverse interactions that can be made between humans and "objects" in mixed reality. Unlike pure augmented reality, where items can be seen but not interacted with, or pure virtual reality, where items can be interacted with but only in a virtual world, mixed reality aims to combine properties of both approaches to develop new technology.
Magic Leap
Magic Leap is another example of an emerging MR technology that lets users see and interact with digital content around them. Users put on a lightweight headset and can place virtual items almost anywhere: on a desk in their bedroom, in their backyard vegetable garden, or on a business table during a work meeting. The video below shows a demo of how Magic Leap works. Notice that some of the objects are locked into the real environment; this is the key feature that distinguishes MR from AR and VR.
Back to the Future (1985)
In Back to the Future, the scientist, Doc, wears video glasses which, as their name implies, contain screens where television programs and video calls can be shown. In this cinematic universe, they are used in the year 2015 to view TV programs without a large screen. Simple as it may sound, such a depiction of this kind of technology in mainstream media was way ahead of its time, as it wasn't until 1994 that mixed reality would be formalized as a concept.
Image Source: https://backtothefuture.fandom.com/wiki/Video_glasses
Spongebob Squarepants (2002)
In a 2002 episode of the popular cartoon series, Spongebob Squarepants, everyone's favorite villain, Plankton, is seen enjoying some holographic meatloaf. Although a hologram is simply a projection of light (and real-life plankton gain energy through photosynthesis, which justifies Plankton's behavior), the idea can be extended to humans eating food as well. Further developments in MR could potentially allow us to create "virtual" food that we can feel and taste.
Image Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/TVDetails/comments/at0luw/in_s03e07_of_spongebob_plankton_eats_holographic/
Avatar (2009)
In Avatar, the whole concept of movie is based on mixed reality, which the human is able to connect their mind into virtual environment and make concrete influence on the real world. The movie describes a complete imagination of mixed reality, which shows the interplay between human's reality and the different reality of Na'vi. Along with the movie, an idea of 'virtual world' has been raised, which with the support of technological device, such as Hololens, people will be able to have a parallel view of virtual landscape mapped around them on the real environment. The figure shows people use MR technology to interact with the Na'vi tree in the virtual world.
Image source: https://www.pocket-lint.com/apps/news/108890-best-augmented-reality-in-movies
MCU's Avengers (2012 - 2019)
In Disney's first installment in a long line of intricately-woven Marvel movies alone, there are many scenes in which MR technology is applied. The image below is a still from just one of several such scenes in The Avengers, in which Tony Stark interacts with his Iron Man hologram by visualizing the different points of the suit's anatomy. This thread weaves its way throughout the entire franchise, manifesting even in the fourth and final installment, Avengers: Endgame, when Black Widow uses MR-like technology to communicate with other members of the team remotely. It would be incredibly exciting to imagine a future world in which such MR communication is the standard. Picture for one moment what it would be like to feel the warmth of a hug from a loved one far away, or the firmness of a handshake closing that trans-continental business deal, and tell me you don't feel the same.
Image Source: https://amp.businessinsider.com/images/507ec25aeab8ea502b000014-750-324.jpg