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Apple Vision Pro. Expectations and realities
Valentina Fuentes

Apple crowned the world’s most valuable brand according to the Kantar Brand Z report in 2023, is known for being iconic, revolutionary, and innovative. As well as being loved by so many, it can move and influence millions of people around the world. With products that have marked a before and after in the history of technology, such as the Apple Macintosh in 1984, the iPod in 2001, and its first iPhone in 2007, among many others, it cannot go unnoticed when it launches its new proposal: the Apple Vision Pro.

What are Apple Vision Pro and what do they do?

Apple Vision Pro and one of its features. Image taken from: https://www.apple.com/apple-vision-pro/

This curious, little, and futuristic gadget for some, consists of augmented reality glasses that superimpose virtual elements on the vision of reality. In this sense, wearing them is like being able to interact with virtual elements in the real world. Sounds like something out of a science fiction movie, doesn’t it?

The Apple Vision Pro can track eye movements, perform hand gestures, or identify voice commands. They can be connected and paired with all iOS operating systems, from the MAC to the iPhone, to name a few. This is why all elements of these other devices can be transformed into a new way of looking at things. In this sense, typical apps can fill the space around the person, move anywhere, scale in size, react to the lighting in the room, and even cast shadows. In the same way, movies, photos, videos, video calls, and games are transformed into almost real-life elements.

Are there other devices?

The history of augmented reality goes back to 1957, however, in this case, the focus will be specifically on one of the biggest competitors to the Apple Vision

Pro and that is the Oculus, currently owned by Meta. The Oculus Rift glasses, created by Palmer Luckey in 2012, were virtual reality glasses like never before, they revived this technological option after many years. This model perfectly simulated human vision had built-in headphones for sound, and could recreate virtual environments without the side effects of motion sickness and disorientation. Quite successfully, these glasses were able to immerse the user in a realistic virtual experience.

As time went on, Palmer Luckey’s team was expanded and the company Oculus VR was created, where 17,000 people, mostly game developers, joined the company. It was at this point that Mark Zuckerberg first tried them out in a ruined medieval castle full of gargoyles one afternoon in 2014, and it was there that he decided to acquire Oculus VR, thus ushering in the era of virtual reality, mixed realities, and augmented reality.

At this point, Meta’s most recent product is the Meta Quest 3, released in October 2023, which allows:

Meta Quest 3 and one of its features. Image extracted from: https://stealthoptional.com/news/meta-quest-3-supply-cuts-millions-headsets-poor-pre-orders/
  • Play an extensive library of virtual reality games, including action, adventure, sports, puzzle games, etc.
  • Connect to a wired or wireless PC to play PC VR games.
  • Download games and apps from the Oculus Quest shop.
  • Join virtual spaces with friends and others.
  • Watch movies and videos together in a virtual room.
  • Play board games and other multiplayer games.
  • Attend virtual events such as concerts, lectures, and classes.
  • Exercise with a variety of virtual reality fitness apps.
  • Play fitness games that get you moving.
  • Track your workout stats and progress.
  • Use virtual reality applications to work on 3D projects.
  • Attend virtual meetings in a virtual reality environment.
  • View presentations and documents on a virtual screen.
  • Paint and sculpt in 3D.
  • Create music and videos.
  • Design objects and environments.
  • Travel to virtual places around the world.
  • Learn new skills with virtual reality educational applications.
  • Watch 360-degree videos.
  • Explore virtual worlds created by other users.
  • See digital information overlaid in the real world, such as navigation instructions, weather information, or notifications from your phone.
  • Interact with virtual objects in the real world, such as playing a virtual board game or trying on virtual clothes.
  • Collaborate with other users on mixed reality projects, such as working on a 3D model together or giving a virtual presentation.

On the other hand, with Apple Vision Pro you can:

  • Combine the real world with the virtual world to create immersive experiences.
  • See digital information superimposed on the real world.
  • Interact with virtual objects in the real world.
  • Play virtual reality and mixed reality games.
  • Experience games in a new and immersive way.
  • Interact with the game environment more naturally.
  • Use mixed reality applications to work on 3D projects.
  • Attend virtual meetings in a mixed-reality environment.
  • View presentations and documents on a virtual screen.
  • Paint and sculpt in 3D.
  • Create music and videos.
  • Design objects and environments.
  • Watch movies and videos on a virtual screen.
  • Attend virtual events such as concerts, lectures, and classes.
  • Explore virtual worlds created by other users.
  • Travel to virtual places around the world.
  • Learn new skills with educational mixed reality applications.
  • Watch 360-degree videos.
  • Take 3D photos and videos.

Seen in this light, the Meta Quest 3 has a host of features that make it very similar to the Apple Vision Pro. However, this is where the truly visionary point of the Apple brand comes in, and that is to manage to sell its product as an affordable, everyday, practical technology, which, on the other hand, Meta has focused more on the world of video games.

In this sense, both technologies share similar characteristics and augmented reality, mixed reality, and virtual reality technologies have been around for quite some time. For this reason, although the Apple Vision Pro has been a big trend, it does not detract from the fact that it is neither the first nor the only technology to make its functionalities possible. Therefore, it is true that they are a product that makes mixed reality close and useful, but how revolutionary is it?

References

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