IRIS-XR aims to design, integrate, and validate a next-generation XR hardware software platform that redefines the limits of visual quality, energy efficiency, and real-time responsiveness. The project combines breakthroughs in photonics, compact sensing, and AI- driven multimodal interaction to overcome longstanding barriers of contrast, stability, and integration in current XR systems. By delivering a coherent and scalable solution, IRIS-XR will enable immersive, adaptive, and sustainable XR experiences and strengthen Europe's leadership in advanced hardware platforms. At its core, IRIS-XR develops a novel display backlight technology that dramatically enhances contrast, colour gamut, and visual uniformity while simultaneously reducing artefacts and energy use. The system further integrates display-embedded infrared eye- tracking, ensuring robust and accurate gaze interaction across diverse lighting conditions and eyewear types. Complementing this, ultra-fast event-based sensing modules provide precise eye, hand, and gesture tracking with minimal latency. These sensing capabilities are unified through an embedded AI engine for multimodal fusion, which combines gaze, depth, and gesture signals into a stable, real-time interaction layer. This enables more natural, intuitive, and responsive user experiences that adapt seamlessly to context. To validate its impact, IRIS-XR will be demonstrated in high-value pilot domains such as flight simulation, healthcare, and automotive applications, where usability, ergonomics, and performance improvements are critical. Through this integrated approach, the project will establish a new benchmark for XR platforms, delivering both technological excellence and societal benefit.
Partners
VARJO TECHNOLOGIES OY ; VOXELSENSORS ; INSTITUTO TECNOLOGICO DE INFORMATICA ; REISER SIMULATION AND TRAINING GMBH ; UNIVERSITY COLLEGE DUBLIN, NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF IRELAND ; AUSTRALO INTERINNOV MARKETING LAB SL.
