As Apple CEO Tim Cook was gearing up to unveil the company's groundbreaking Vision Pro headset on Monday, I couldn't help but notice his deliberate choice of words. Rather than using the terms "VR" or "virtual reality," Cook opted for something more distinctive. He introduced an entirely new AR platform, hinting at a device that would enhance, rather than obstruct, our perception of the world around us.
While Apple positioned its Vision Pro and visionOS as an augmented reality experience, the device is undeniably a VR headset. Many of the features touted by Apple are reminiscent of VR capabilities we've seen before, such as floating windows for apps, large screens for videos, and immersive 3D experiences. Similar to Meta's Quest headsets, the Vision Pro is worn on the face like a computer.
Apple's reluctance to embrace VR aligns with its unique vision for how these devices should be used. While Meta encourages users to immerse themselves fully in a virtual world, Apple seeks to integrate virtual computers seamlessly into our physical reality:
- Apple chose not to showcase connected virtual spaces like Meta's Horizon Worlds metaverse platform, and the idea of the metaverse was notably absent from their presentation.
- While Meta offers VR workspaces like Horizon Workrooms, Apple's concept of collaborative work with a headset is essentially an upgraded Zoom call.
- Instead of transforming Memoji avatars into cartoonish VR characters, Apple envisions people interacting with realistic digital versions of themselves that are scanned into the headset.
- So far, Apple has only demonstrated games played with traditional gamepads, lacking Beat Saber-like VR experiences.
During the keynote, Apple's VP of human interface design, Alan Dye, emphasized the company's commitment to ensure users are never isolated from those around them while wearing the headset. The Vision Pro's EyeSight feature, displaying the wearer's eyes on the device's outer screen, attempts to simulate eye contact. In contrast, when wearing Meta's Quest 2, maintaining eye contact requires physically removing the headset.
While the Vision Pro allows users to transition between total immersion and the external environment using a digital crown, the headset's outer screen can display an animation to indicate when someone is fully engaged. This serves as a useful cue for grabbing the wearer's attention, unlike the Quest 2, where someone nearby might need to shout.
The term "spatial computer" used in Apple's press release to describe the Vision Pro is worth noting. While part of it may be attributed to Apple's branding strategy, it also allows room for future technological advancements that may diverge from the traditional bulky VR headset, potentially alluding to AR glasses.
Looking back, it's not surprising that Apple refrained from associating the Vision Pro with virtual reality, given Tim Cook's long-standing enthusiasm for augmented reality. However, AR technology still has a long way to go before the rumored AR glasses, which could be years away, become a reality.
Therefore, for the time being, the Vision Pro primarily offers a VR experience. However, Apple undoubtedly has plans for something entirely distinct in the future. To catch a glimpse of Apple's vision ahead, you'll have to don a VR headset.
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