Spending on augmented reality and virtual reality in the Asia Pacific region will reach US$7.5 billion this year, the analyst firm IDC says, adding that this means more than a doubling of expenditure from the previous year.

Global spending on augmented reality and virtual reality will reach US$160 billion by 2023, up from the US$16.8 billion forecast for 2019, the research firm IDC says, adding that the five-year compound annual growth rate for AR/VR spending will be 78.3%.

Telco Singtel Optus has given students at a NSW state school a taste of future technologies, allowing them to take part in an "On the Road with Optus" roadshow which included virtual and augmented reality workshops.