Spatial Computing: Concept, Applications, Challenges and Future Directions
Gokul Yenduri, Ramalingam M, Praveen Kumar Reddy Maddikunta, Thippa Reddy Gadekallu, Rutvij H Jhaveri, Ajay Bandi, Junxin Chen, Wei Wang, Adarsh Arunkumar Shirawalmath, Raghav Ravishankar, Weizheng Wang
TL;DR
Spatial computing aims to fuse digital content with the physical world to enable immersive, context-aware interactions. The paper surveys core enabling technologies (AI, IoT, connectivity, cloud/edge computing, XR, and blockchain), surveys applications across education, healthcare, manufacturing, tourism, and more, and discusses representative projects and industry initiatives. It identifies key challenges—interoperability, sensor fusion, latency, data processing, privacy, ethics, and regulatory hurdles—and proposes concrete directions and solutions for future research and deployment. The work highlights the practical significance of spatial computing in shaping user experience, collaboration, and efficiency across sectors.
Abstract
Spatial computing is a technological advancement that facilitates the seamless integration of devices into the physical environment, resulting in a more natural and intuitive digital world user experience. Spatial computing has the potential to become a significant advancement in the field of computing. From GPS and location-based services to healthcare, spatial computing technologies have influenced and improved our interactions with the digital world. The use of spatial computing in creating interactive digital environments has become increasingly popular and effective. This is explained by its increasing significance among researchers and industrial organisations, which motivated us to conduct this review. This review provides a detailed overview of spatial computing, including its enabling technologies and its impact on various applications. Projects related to spatial computing are also discussed. In this review, we also explored the potential challenges and limitations of spatial computing. Furthermore, we discuss potential solutions and future directions. Overall, this paper aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of spatial computing, its enabling technologies, their impact on various applications, emerging challenges, and potential solutions.