In a groundbreaking announcement today, Apple unveiled its highly anticipated AR/VR headset named Vision Pro at WWDC 2023 marking the company’s official entry into the immersive technology market. The long-awaited device, Vision Pro, promises to revolutionize the way we perceive and interact with digital content.
Eye Sight, an innovative Technology: With the integration of eyes, hands, and voice, interacting with the virtual world becomes a seamless and intuitive process. Subtle gestures, such as eye movements, allow users to navigate through screens, while a simple tap selects items, and a flip motion enables smooth scrolling. Voice input takes on a new dimension with the ability to dictate using Siri, making it as easy as having a conversation. Furthermore, the Magic Notepad and Magic Keyboard can be seamlessly brought into the AR world, allowing for a familiar and productive work environment. FaceTime, a beloved Apple feature, works seamlessly across all devices within the Apple ecosystem, enabling immersive and lifelike video calls.
Spatial Photos and Videos: With the incorporation of Apple’s first-ever 3D camera, users can now capture their surroundings in stunning three-dimensional detail. The headset’s advanced camera technology enables users to record 3D movies, preserving not only the visual aspect but also the depth and spatial information of the scene. What makes this feature truly remarkable is the ability to revisit these captured moments and relive the memories with a single click.
Entertainment from Day 1: Apple has promised availability of more than 100 arcade titles from day one of the Vision Pro release and similarly a groundbreaking partnership with Disney+ will amount to presence of most amazing of entertaining stuff that we expect to watch on a device like this one.
Vision Pro Won’t Hide your Eyes: Through advanced technology, the headset captures your natural look, emotions, and facial expressions, resulting in a digital persona that closely mirrors real life. What sets this feature apart is the remarkable ability to create a 3D vision of your eyes, even while wearing the headset. This means that your eyes, with their unique sparkle and depth, become visible to others in the virtual world, adding a level of realism and connection that was previously unattainable. Imagine exploring virtual environments, engaging with others, and expressing yourself authentically, all while maintaining the subtle nuances and expressiveness of your eyes.
Price: The Apple AR/VR headset, priced around $3,499, and will be available by next year, setting the stage for a robust augmented and virtual reality ecosystem.
At the core of the Vision Pro lies a host of advanced technologies, including two chips (an M2 chip and new R1 Chip) and a remarkable 12 cameras, 5 sensors and 6 mics, empowering developers to create next-generation experiences that surpass the capabilities of current VR/AR headsets with an advance real time sensor system. The headset features two 8K micro-OLED displays with 23 million pixels in front of the user’s eyes, complemented by LiDAR sensors for enhanced spatial awareness.
A unique Continuity feature, hinted at in a recent patent filing, enables users to transfer music or respond to emails while wearing the headset. Apple’s suite of iOS apps, including FaceTime, Maps, and Mail, has been adapted for this immersive experience, taking digital interactions to new heights.
In terms of performance, the Apple AR/VR headset is equipped with a powerful M2 chip and a brand new R1 chip, striking a balance between power and energy efficiency. With Wi-Fi 6E support, seamless data transfer between the headset and other devices is possible, eliminating the need for physical cables.
The headset may come with a 96W MacBook charger and an external battery pack, allowing for up to two additional hours of usage. The lightweight and portable external battery pack ensures a comfortable and extended immersive experience.
Users can choose from a diverse range of intuitive control options, including hand and eye tracking, Siri integration, a keyboard and mouse, and control via other Apple devices. The inclusion of a Digital Crown, akin to the AirPods Max, allows users to switch between augmented and virtual reality modes effortlessly. Apple is also exploring the development of smart rings or other wearable tech to enhance hand tracking and gesture recognition capabilities.
Running on a custom operating system called VisionOS, which draws similarities to iOS, the Apple AR/VR headset offers seamless integration with Apple’s ecosystem and provides an optimized platform for immersive experiences.
Privacy is at the forefront of Apple’s vision with the introduction of the Apple AR/VR headset’s Vision Pro technology. Optic ID, a revolutionary feature akin to Face ID, ensures that user data remains securely stored only in the Secure Enclave Processor. As always, data encryption provides an additional layer of protection, safeguarding sensitive information. With Optic ID, the headset can uniquely differentiate between individuals, ensuring a personalized experience without compromising privacy.
Notably, the headset respects the user’s privacy by keeping their gaze private from apps and websites until explicitly clicked. Camera data is processed at an individual user level, further enhancing privacy measures. Apple’s commitment to privacy is evident by the filing of 5,000 patents during the development of this technology, underscoring their dedication to protecting user data and preserving individual privacy in the immersive world of AR/VR.
Source: WWDC 2023 Livestream
