2024 is living up to its expectation of being an inflection point in the development of tech. Well-known, free software tools like ChatGPT and Claude.ai serve as just the beginning of recent progress. A less established player in the space, CognitionAI, recently announced its creation of Devin, the world’s first AI software engineer that can complete entry-level programming tasks in minutes without any assistance [1]. Because these advancements in software are so mind-blowing, it is hard to wrap our heads around their true effect on our daily lives. Other similarly shocking hardware products are becoming reality this year as well, from Lotus’s smart ring that allows you to control home appliances with your finger to Google’s smart glass or Ray Ban’s recent sunglasses with an HD camera. However, there’s one recent product that many experts think will morph into a technology that revolutionizes how we interact with the digital world entirely: the Apple Vision Pro.
The release of Apple's Vision Pro this past February was a “watershed” moment in the development of a hardware device that has the potential to become the next great step in tech - spatial computing [2]. Spatial computing is a form of mixed reality where your favorite apps, web pages, and entertainment can seamlessly live in your immediate physical environment. The Apple headset allows you to transparently view your physical space and digital needs simultaneously in the same field of view. Imagine sitting at a table wearing the Vision Pro - you can see the floor, table, and any physical surroundings while also being able to see your photo libraries and social media apps in windows levitating above the table. Other companies have released mixed reality headsets like Microsoft’s HoloLens 2 or the Meta Quest Pro, but these products lag far behind Apple in its brand loyalty and sales. Apple has kept the actual sales numbers confidential, but multiple reports believe that it was between 160,000 and 180,000 units, and we know that the Pro was sold out eighteen minutes after pre-orders were opened in early February [3]. Their big release reflects a trend in Apple’s business plan as evidenced by the graph “Apple’s Constant Search for the Next Big Thing [4]." With the natural trend of technology advancing and new ideas constantly forming, the company generally releases an entirely new product every few years to regenerate excitement around the brand and keep users hooked on their ecosystem of devices.
However, like any pioneering first attempt, the Vision Pro comes with its set of unique challenges that will need to be solved before wide-scale adoption of the immersive technology. It’s important to explore the hurdles faced by Apple's new gadget and discuss the broader anticipated future for spatial computing from this first-generation device. While revolutionary, the product has encountered several issues that underscore the complexities of bringing spatial computing to the mainstream with current tech. At a retail price of $3,500 the Vision Pro is not going to be a staple in American homes anytime soon, but looking into Apple’s gadget allows us to imagine the next steps of spatial computing and whether it really will be the future of all our digital interactions. To achieve their goal of wide-scale use, Apple recognizes that they will need to lower the Pro’s price tag one way or another. According to Bloomberg's Mark Grumman, they plan to create an inferior model without most of the superfluous tech with a retail cost of around $1,500 to be released by the end of 2025 [5].
In the same vein, because of its advanced features, users have reported challenges with interface intuitiveness, indicating a learning curve that could deter non-tech-savvy consumers. Battery life also remains a major roadblock for the Pro, as it dies after 2 hours of use. In movie-watching mode, it only lasts 2.5 hours, not even enough time to finish recent favorites like Oppenheimer, Dune 2, and Killers of the Flower Moon [6]. The headset already weighs a whopping 1.4 lbs with many users complaining of neck soreness and discomfort, so expanding the battery pack is not a viable option. The integration of physical and digital worlds raises privacy and security concerns as well. Apple and other industry giants banking on public adoption of mixed reality headsets will need to convince their consumers of its privacy protections and safety. Apple has tried to combat these concerns with an exhaustive safety manual requesting their product is only used in “controlled indoor or outdoor spaces [7]." The headset is not supposed to become commonplace on city streets or subways, or even when driving a car, as some viral videos have shown. Public use is definitely an issue that local governments will have to tackle until the technology is advanced enough to be used in these ways.
Apple is marketing its product as a way to more comfortably enjoy movies, TV shows, and all our favorite entertainment apps, but the price tag it currently commands fits more for the market of people who would use it for work. They are branding it as spatial computing because they believe it enhances people’s productivity dramatically by allowing them to use many different applications in the same field of view. However, most tech reviews of the Vision Pro simply equate the headset to having two monitors in addition to a laptop. Samuel Axon used the Pro for a week in his job and while he found it very exciting and cool, he ultimately decided that “it’s not yet at the stage where most of us will want to fully embrace spatial computing as the new way of working [8]." Popular review sites like CNET and The Verge reach similar conclusions that while flashy, the Vision Pro just isn’t ready to replace traditional work setups.
There is clearly a lot of room for growth in this first model, but Apple certainly recognizes this and will adapt it well in the following iterations. They are proven producers of premier products and I firmly believe that this line will be no different, so let’s brainstorm a few fixes that they will likely make. To start, improving the ergonomics and comfort of the headset could encourage longer usage periods without discomfort. Refining the headset's weight distribution, padding, and adjustability to fit a wider range of head sizes and shapes would go a long way to reaching their goal of widespread adoption. Using lighter materials and incorporating adjustable straps that distribute weight can make the headset more comfortable for extended wear, even if it sacrifices some of the aesthetic appeal. The user interface (UI) and navigation system present a crucial area for enhancement as well. Making the UI more intuitive by simplifying menus and employing more natural interaction methods, like voice commands and improved gesture recognition, could reduce the learning curve and frustration faced by users today. This approach would make the device more accessible, especially to users who are not as tech-savvy, like elderly adults and younger children. Apple must make these changes while maintaining a somewhat modest and non-alien-looking design as this is crucial for mainstream adoption. I think this could involve customizable elements or modular accessories that allow non-professional users to personalize their headsets for a more comfortable look.
By addressing these areas, Apple can enhance the Vision Pro's appeal and functionality, making it a more compelling option for both personal and professional use. Focusing on comfort, intuitiveness, mobility, performance, and aesthetics will be key to encouraging widespread adoption and ensuring the device meets the diverse needs and preferences of its users.
While visiting my older brother in New York City this past weekend, I made a trip to the flagship “Big Apple” Apple store in the Oculus underneath the World Trade Center. In-person, the Vision Pro seems a lot more modest than it’s portrayed in articles like this one or promotional videos. The headset frankly looks a lot less futuristic than Meta’s new Oculus or Sony’s PlayStation headset pictured below. My prediction is that Apple will try to keep future iterations as modest as possible to encourage mainstream adoption and use in public settings. Corporate offices will never adopt the headset to increase productivity if their headset is offensively alien-looking. Unlike the fully virtual Oculus and PS4 VR versions, the Pro is designed to blend our digital and physical worlds so minimally intrusive hardware is needed. After being able to wear the headset for a few moments, I had similar reactions to those that many other reviewers have shared. As it is currently engineered, the Pro is difficult to teach and not intuitive at all. I also would personally only use the headset while seated in a controlled environment. The spatial placement of apps was impressive and much better than any virtual reality headset I’ve worn, but it still felt slow and frustrating as a user.
Though it may be surprising and oddly specific, I think the most market-ready ability of the Pro is being able to closely inspect 3D projections with both of your hands free to zoom or swipe. In New York, I pulled up a human skeleton where I could use my fingers to pull the arm closer to my face which allowed me to more closely examine veins and tendons in extremely high-definition. This is one area in which experts think the Vision Pro is ready to make an immediate impact in research and teaching simulations. The headset allows the user to visualize and interact with hologram-like projections to a level never seen before, so surgeons could have pertinent patient information overlaid during the procedure or students could conduct a mock surgery on a human projection. Researchers and professors are incredibly excited as they think it will allow them to better analyze any image they encounter from X-rays to MRIs and any other kind of screening [9]. Another exciting avenue scientists will explore is Vision Pro’s advanced eye-tracking technology. The quality of the eye-facing sensors is so high they might be capable of picking up conditions such as vertigo, or even early signs of a stroke or dementia [2].
Despite the many challenges faced by Apple's first attempt, the Vision Pro lays the groundwork for what could be an extraordinary future for spatial computing. The device's limitations are extensive, but they provide a roadmap of areas ripe for innovation. As Apple gauges feedback and shortcomings of this product, I can only assume that future efforts will be exponentially more robust. Given its many shortcomings, I do not believe we should view the Vision Pro as a milestone of spatial computing, yet it is certainly a stepping stone. The path forward requires addressing issues of accessibility, intuitiveness, and security, to reach a future where digital and physical realities are seamlessly integrated, offering endless possibilities for innovation and new interactions.
All content is the intellectual property of the Virginia Undergraduate Business Review.
REFERENCES
[1] Apple. (2024, February 28). How to safely use your Apple Vision Pro. Apple Support. Retrieved April 11, 2024, from https://support.apple.com/en-us/118507
[2] Axon, S. (2024, March 4). I worked exclusively in Vision Pro for a week—here's how it went. Ars Technica. Retrieved April 11, 2024, from https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2024/03/i-worked-exclusively-in-vision-pro-for-a-week-heres-how-it-went/
[3] Bary, E. (2024, January 22). Apple Vision Pro may have sold out, but one analyst has a 'major concern'. MarketWatch. Retrieved April 11, 2024, from https://www.marketwatch.com/story/apple-may-have-sold-180-000-vision-pros-but-one-analyst-has-a-major-concern-3fc0af64
[4] D'cruze, D. (2023, June). Apple working on a cheaper version of Vision Pro; here's how it might turn out. Wikipedia. Retrieved April 11, 2024, from https://www.msn.com/en-in/money/other/apple-working-on-a-cheaper-version-of-vision-pro-here-s-how-it-might-turn-out/ar-AA1cqjTA
[5] Evans, J. (2024, April 9). Yes, Apple’s Vision Pro is an enterprise product. Wikipedia. Retrieved April 11, 2024, from https://www.computerworld.com/article/2086660/yes-apples-vision-pro-is-an-enterprise-product.html
[6] Miller, M. (2024, February 9). I used the Apple Vision Pro for my 8-hour work day, and it left me wanting more. ZDNet. Retrieved April 11, 2024, from https://www.zdnet.com/article/i-used-the-apple-vision-pro-for-my-8-hour-work-day-and-it-left-me-wanting-more/
[7] O'Callaghan, J. (2024, March 5). ,. , - YouTube. Retrieved April 11, 2024, from https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-00387-z
[8] Richter, F. (2024, January 19). Infographic: Apple's constant search for the next big thing. Statista. Retrieved April 11, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/chart/17862/apples-annual-revenue-by-operating-segment/
[9] Wrenn, E., Hughes, N. C., & Fearn, N. (2024, March 21). Is Devin AI the end of software engineers? Here's what experts say. Techopedia. Retrieved April 11, 2024, from https://www.techopedia.com/is-devin-ai-the-end-of-software-engineers-heres-what-experts-say
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