Apple's new Vision Pro headset, which claims to "seamlessly merge digital content with reality," can expand the boundaries of our decentralized digital future.
Apple announced new Vision Pro's augmented reality headset has entered the already densely populated arena of immersive digital technology. It faces strong competitors such as Microsoft's Hololens, Meta Quest 3 and Magic Leap. Apple describes the device as "a revolutionary spatial computer" positions it as "seamlessly weaving together digital content with reality while enabling users to be present and connect with others."
The modern device, which expands Apple's existing hardware set, can be controlled by the user's eyes, hands and voice. Perhaps the most spectacular thing is that, according to Apple, the device "interacts with digital content as if it were physically present in the user's space", meaning that the high-definition device can seamlessly project content into the user's physical space.< /p>
"Vision Pro is years ahead of its time and completely unique - with a revolutionary new input system and thousands of revolutionary innovations" said Apple CEO Tim Cook in a press release. "It offers amazing experiences for our users and creates exciting new opportunities for our developers."
The device has some impressive specs: it boasts 23 million pixels across two displays, has a unique Apple silicon chip, and introduces VisionOS, a spatial operating system that offers a three-dimensional interface, freeing apps from the limitations of traditional screens and bringing them into the realm of the real world. According to Apple, users can play more than 100 Apple Arcade games, though the company says the device will "enable titles that offer a more comprehensive experience by enabling new types of games."
In addition, the device includes a feature that Apple calls "EyeSight", which allows users to see others while displaying the user's eyes, eliminating the inconvenience of wearing a headset.
While some purists may say that the product draws ideas from existing devices, its upcoming release is significant for the development of an immersive digital future. Not only is the Apple App Store one of the most profitable platforms for developers, but Apple also has an expanding and engaged customer base, recently announcing that it has surpassed two billion active devices.
Apple explicitly avoided "augmented reality" or the "metaverse" terms in its marketing materials, although it is clear that this technology represents a new paradigm for immersive digital experiences and will likely shape the development of Web3.
Designing the blueprint for the digital future
Previous discussions of the metaverse have been vague, perhaps on purpose, and have generally revolved around the idea of a single, fully immersive, digital space where users can meet. The term was originally coined by science-fiction writer Neal Stephenson in 1992, but brands and virtual world-building platforms have used it to refer to their own version of the concept, although the data suggests that neither version has really caught on yet.< /p>
As I wrote in April, the implementation of the metaverse so far is "multiple spaces, centralized or decentralized, where users can access multiple metaverse experiences, each strictly isolated from the other, without interoperability."
Many blockchain-based companies and funds are still invested in its development and continue to make significant progress, although the future of the conceptual metaverse seems to be full of bumps, as indicated by Web3 giant Animoca Brands, which recently withdrew metaverse funding focus.
Apple's entry into virtual technology could signal a significant change in an otherwise stagnant field. Apple is one of the largest technology companies in the world, although it has previously been silent on discussions about blockchain technology or the future of Web3. Although the App Store supports some blockchain games, it has signaled its disapproval of Web3 by not allowing NFTs to be exempt from the 30% "Apple tax" for in-app purchases.
Cook has previously expressed skepticism about the concept of the metaverse - or at least the vague description of the metaverse so far.
"I always think it is important for people to understand what something really is" Cook told the Dutch publication Bright in September 2022, when rumors began to spread that Apple was leaning towards virtual reality. "And I'm really not sure the average person can tell you what the metaverse is."
Cook has previously dismissed immersive digital and virtual technology as something that can be used for short periods of time but is "not suitable for us to communicate properly."
"I don't think you want to live your whole life like this" - he told Bright, although he reacted more positively to the idea of augmented reality (AR), saying that "it's a deep technology that will affect everything."
The Vision Pro is Apple's definitive statement about the future of the metaverse, without using the word metaverse. By creating the technology framework, Apple defines what immersive digital experiences should look like, paving the way for developers inside and outside the Web3 space to create products that fit within the Vision Pro framework.
"Apple Vision Pro shows that the future of the Internet is in augmented reality (XR)" - said Andrea De Marco of Spheroid Universe Executive Director of . "Tim Cook set this theory in stone when he identified Vision Pro with the next wave of computing, describing it as the era after the Mac and the iPhone."
"This theory is based on theories that have been developed by the metaverse industry over the last couple of years" added Andrea De Marco of Spheroid Universe executive director.
For example, at the Worldwide Developers Conference held on Monday, Apple introduced its own version of digital personas, a central concept for Web3. The device uses machine learning and the device's front-panel sensors to create a natural and dynamic digital avatar that mimics the user's facial and hand movements.
The Disney Connection
To coincide with the launch of the new device, the company announced its partnership with The Walt Disney Company, which will allow users to interact with Disney sports, shows and movies in a new immersive way.
"This platform allows us to bring Disney to our fans in ways that were previously impossible" - said Disney CEO Bob Iger during the WWDC presentation.
The integration of Disney media on Apple's new device is likely a continuation of the metaverse strategy that it first began to emphasize in mid-2022. At that time, Disney announced that it had chosen the Polygon blockchain and hired executives for its entry into immersive virtual experiences. This was followed by an effort to increase the use of resources in the field of Web3 with the announcement of an in-house counsel specializing in NFTs and decentralized finance.
However, Disney seemingly voted down its plans in March 2023, when 7,000 employees were reportedly laid off, including those who worked on the metaverse team. Disney's renewed interest in virtual technology looks set to reopen that chapter, albeit with Apple's resources. In doing so, it further legitimizes the emerging technology and demonstrates the depth of its potential uses to the billions of Disney fans worldwide.
Is Apple Vision Pro mainstream appeal?
Although Vision Pro undoubtedly has the potential to transform our digital future, experts say the device as it stands is not built for mass consumption, limiting its reach, at least initially, to early adopters willing to pay the $3,500 dollar price.
“They know this is a development that takes time,” Jeff Fieldhack, director of research at Counterpoint Research, told the New York Times.
However, experts acknowledge that this is a major technological leap forward that will affect many other industries. It's not yet clear whether the new device will inspire Web3 developers to create new wearables with similar functionality, or whether Apple will eventually license Web3 platforms and applications into its expansive, multidimensional ecosystem, though it's undoubtedly laid the groundwork for its foundations.
Cathy Hackl, CEO of Journey, chief metaverse officer, believes Vision Pro "takes entertainment and communication to the next level."
Hackl, who previously worked at both Oculus and Magic Leap, told CoinDesk: "This is the most advanced technology product they've ever created."
"This is a supercomputer. This device is a milestone towards a future XR device that Apple will continue to work on."
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