Apple Vision Pro Announcement

Apple debuted their much-anticipated Mixed Reality headset at WWDC23. So, what have we learned about the Company’s plans for the future of wearable spatial computing?

At first glance, the Apple Vision Pro looks like it could be a truly revolutionary Mixed Reality headset, combining new features to overcome obstacles that have prevented adoption of wearable technology in the past. Indeed, it might well be the most advanced consumer-available immersive headset ever. It will offer eye-tracking, hand-tracking, voice control, and seamless mobile app integration, all with Apple’s classic and elegant industrial design. Apple has promised that “on day one” the Vision Pro will integrate with all its applications including several 3rd party software solutions.

For a company that has arguably produced groundbreaking and transformational electronic products in the past, let’s look at the promise of Vision Pro.

First, Apple has apparently solved the ambient lighting dilemma that has been problematic for AR headsets. The background automatically dims or brightens according to your perceived environment by camera, lighting angles and shadow effects. For example, in some environments, ambient or direct light has interfered with AR visualizations within the Microsoft HoloLens. Bright light surroundings hinder the ability to see holographic images. The greater luminous intensity, the more diminished the viewing experience. We’ve all dimmed the lights to enjoy a movie at home, but direct sunlight makes viewing impossible.

Next, the Vision Pro offers user controls that adjust the visual experience range from VR to AR thereby offering a true Mixed Reality experience. The ability to control the degree of immersion through its now familiar “digital crown” is compelling; use cases for businesses and consumers will no doubt move the market toward greater adoption. Beyond that, the ability to engage individuals while wearing the headset overcomes the VR blindfold effect. Real-life human interactions are now possible with passthrough technology that acknowledges others while signaling situational awareness to those nearby.

For those of us who create 3D and AR content, Apple’s continued relationship with Unity is a welcome affirmation. It creates an unquestionable future for the developer economy.

Merchandising curiosities such as the obvious presence of a battery tether, its $3,500 price tag and its availability sometime early next year will raise questions for many, and with good reason. However, we look forward to getting our hands on the Vision Pro and testing the 4K displays of this device with our business applications. Based on Apple’s past successes with their product releases, we are confident the Vision Pro will significantly impact the AR market!