What’s “Immersive”? (Pt. 1)

We all either love the word "immersive" — or are fed up with it.

Or both.

The inimitable Charlie Morrow invited me on his podcast, "Immerse!", which is about ... you know. I did some prep research. I found ten ideas that changed how I think about what I do.

First five:

1. Immersive is a slippery word.
The word gets used widely today: shows of projected paintings, interactive digital spaces, installation art theme parks, and anything marketers need to sound cool. So what's it really mean?

2. Immersive is trendy, yet ancient.
It’s having a moment. But the word is centuries old.

3. Immersion is evergreen.
All variants — old and new, digital and analog — work according to the same principles.

4. Immerse originally meant “to dip”.
Immersion comes from in-mergere, 14th century Latin meaning “to dip”. Like into a fluid. Immersive experiences "dip" you.

5. Immersive is temporary.
Dipping is an action, temporary by definition. Fish aren't dipped in water, they're just in water.

Here’s the thing:
The oldest definitions for "immersive" still hold true. It's an act of "dipping" you into something, and it is temporary — or it's not immersion.

Next: the last five.

Warmly,
Jonathan