Who Gets Seen in XR? Data, Diversity, and Generalization in Extended Reality

As XR moves into the mainstream, one of the biggest challenges is ensuring that the technology is designed for the diversity of people and contexts it aims to serve. Much of today's XR research and development is based on datasets, environments, and assumptions drawn from a relatively narrow set of users, yet these systems are increasingly being deployed globally. Drawing on my experience teaching XR design in Pakistan, I'll explore how perspectives from outside traditional technology hubs can reveal blind spots around accessibility, affordability, cultural relevance, language, and real-world adoption. The talk will examine how issues of data quality, bias, and generalization are not just technical challenges but design challenges, and why diversity needs to be embedded into XR research and practice from the outset if we want to build experiences that work for everyone.

About Mashall Khattak:
Mashall Khattak is a creative technologist and founder of Gloss Engine, a publishing company exploring the relationship between digital and material culture. Her background spans computer vision engineering, design, publishing and academia. She has taught and lectured at institutions including London College of Communication and Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture, alongside advisory and mentorship work with startups, charities and companies including Figma and Condé Nast.