What is Apple Vision Pro?
Apple Vision Pro a computer designed by Apple that deviates from conventional interfaces, was just released. This gadget is worn on your face and projects its output directly into your eyes using two small, high-resolution monitors that are placed near you, unlike traditional computers with screens. It is unique in that it is controlled without a touch screen, keyboard, or mouse. Rather, gestures and eye tracking are used in the main interface. Apple has done away with the necessity for a physical controller by using the device’s sensors to recognize your hand and eye motions.
While there have been predecessors like Google Glass and Meta’s Quest Pro for viewing, as well as gesture control technologies like Leap Motion and Myo Armband, none have integrated all these elements into a cohesive vision.
Termed a “spatial computer” by Apple, this device can utilize any physical space around you as a canvas for digital outputs, eliminating the need for a desk or lap. The potential size of the perceived viewing area is unlimited, enabling activities like watching a cinema-sized movie in a confined space like an airplane seat.
What is the Apple Vision Pro For?
Currently, Apple emphasizes mundane uses, treating it like a regular computer or iPad but with the advantage of a more flexible and expansive display. The $3,500 price tag aligns with existing market norms for large-screen TVs, positioning it favorably for current use cases. Additionally, this strategy helps integrate the device into the ecosystem of existing iPad and iPhone applications.
However, the real question is whether the Vision Pro can lead to augmented and virtual reality applications that justify strapping a computer to your head. Although it has the technical capabilities, Apple downplayed AR and VR during the announcement, categorizing it as a spatial computer. Apple seems to suggest that if there’s a role for AR and VR, it’s in applications running on a spatial computer.
AR
AR involves altering your perception of the environment, and the Vision Pro achieves this by placing 2D displays in the real world, appearing fixed as you move your head. On the other hand, VR immerses you in a virtual environment, capturing your full attention with the potential to transport you to different spaces.
Surprisingly, Apple didn’t heavily emphasize these AR and VR capabilities, signaling that the device, while capable of both, hasn’t found compelling use cases in either domain. This leaves the door open for developers to explore and imagine innovative applications.
Considering the potential applications of AR and VR in enhancing productivity and decision-making, Vision Pro could add unique value in economic contexts. VR, with its ability to present relevant information, can be particularly useful when information is not readily available or is expensive to acquire. AR, on the other hand, excels in parsing context-specific information to provide relevant details.
Limitations of Apple Vision Pro
The Vision Pro’s limitation as a non-portable device suggests its applicability is primarily within controlled environments, limiting its use in navigating external spaces. This perspective underscores the importance of focusing on applications that offer hard-to-access contextual information, presenting an opportunity for developers to create value.
Apple’s introduction of the Vision Pro follows a familiar pattern seen with previous devices. It serves a specific purpose initially but evolves beyond that through developer innovation. The Vision Pro, with its unconstrained 3D screen, represents another exciting experiment in Apple’s computing journey.
