Apple Introduces New Headset Vision Pro
© Apple
(eap) At this week’s Apple Worldwide Developers Conference (“WWDC 2023”), the US technology company announced the launch of the “Apple Vision Pro” scheduled for spring 2024. The VR/AR headset is said to be a revolutionary spatial computer that lets users interact with digital content as if they were in space with them, through a fully three-dimensional user interface and intuitive control via eyes, hands and voice. Apps are thus freed from the confines of a display and can be presented at flexible sizes in space. Dynamic responses to natural light, as well as the rendering of shadows, are intended to give users a better sense of the size and distance of content in the immersive space.
© Apple
With two ultra-high resolution displays about the size of a postage stamp that use micro OLED technology to accommodate a total of 23 million pixels, the Vision Pro is said to offer a wide color spectrum and high dynamic range. Users who require vision correction can use optical inserts from ZEISS.
Using a 3D Audio System, sounds are said to adapt to the room, and two individual drivers in each of the audio pods are said to create an audio experience tailored to users’ head and ear geometry.
“EyeSight” will allow users to stay in touch with their surroundings while using the Vision Pro. The device appears transparent as soon as a person approaches the user.
A continuous piece of curved laminated glass serves as a lens for numerous cameras and sensors. The glass merges into a frame made of a special aluminum alloy that curves slightly to the user’s face. The Light Seal is made of a soft flexible fabric and comes in several shapes and sizes. Flexible straps ensure the proper fit of the sound output to the ears. The headband is also available in different sizes and is attached with a simple mechanism, making it easy to change.
The visionOS operating system was developed based on previous Apple systems (macOS, iOS and iPadOS) and designed to support the requirements of spatial computing with low latency.
The technology innovation is driven by a dual chip design – in addition to the M2 chip (unveiled in June 2022), the new R1 chip processes input from twelve cameras, five sensors and six microphones and transmits images within 12 milliseconds – designed to prevent motion sickness.
© Apple
The Apple Vision Pro is designed for all-day use when plugged in and can run for up to two hours on a high-capacity external battery. With a starting price of $3,499, the Apple Vision Pro will initially be available in the U.S. from spring 2024, before other countries follow.
Disney is involved from day one – as CEO Bob Iger announced, Disney+ will be available to users from launch. “We’re constantly in search of new ways to entertain, inform, and inspire our fans by combining extraordinary creativity with groundbreaking technology to create truly remarkable experiences. We believe Apple Vision Pro is a revolutionary platform that can make our vision a reality.” While the trailer for Disney and Apple’s collaboration does include a small section of content at Disney Parks, at no point does Disney promote the use of Vision Pro at the theme parks themselves.
To what extent Apple’s new development is or can become relevant for the leisure industry as a whole cannot be said with certainty at this point. Although the headset could be used in parks for VR or AR experiences or as a visualization tool for designers and developers, the Apple product is currently priced in completely different dimensions than competing products such as the “Meta Quest Pro” (see EAP 2/2023). ■
