Apple Vision Pro: The Future of Spatial Computing & Immersive Experiences

Remember the first time you touched a touchscreen? The mind-blowing feeling of interacting with a device in a completely new way? Maybe through a smartphone, then the iPad (or tablet, if you’re mad), and then the smartwatches.

Over the years, we have seen that the size of the screen or the lack of the buttons can’t limit the level of interactivity you can have. And now, this statement stands more true than ever before.

At the start of February 2024, Apple released one of the most revolutionary electronic products ever, the Apple Vision Pro. Although it looks like any other VR device, Vision Pro couldn‘t be farther from it. So let’s talk about it.

What is Apple Vision Pro?

Apple Vision Pro is a spatial computing device designed to seamlessly blend digital content with the physical world. Forget flat screens and clunky interfaces. Apple Vision Pro promises a paradigm shift in how we interact with technology by introducing spatial computing. Imagine a world where digital info seamlessly overlays your real environment, not confined to a rectangular box. That’s the essence of Apple Vision Pro.

Users can navigate the device using their eyes, hands, and voice. This spatial computer lets you place the apps anywhere in your field of view and scale them to any size.

Key Features

• 3D Interface: Gone are the days of juggling windows on a screen. With Vision Pro, apps float around you in 3D, allowing you to arrange them, resize them, and access them intuitively based on your gaze.
• Unparalleled Immersion: The high-resolution displays and advanced Spatial Audio system create a truly immersive experience. When watching a movie, it feels like you’re transported into the scene, and working feels more natural with apps floating in your workspace.
• 3D Capture and Memories: The built-in 3D camera captures photos and videos that come alive when viewed on Vision Pro. Relive moments with an incredible sense of depth and presence, allowing you to virtually step back into memories.
• EyeSight and Social Interaction: EyeSight lets others know when you’re engaged with apps while maintaining your awareness of the physical world. It seamlessly transitions between showing your eyes and revealing the interface, preserving social cues.
• Powerful Performance: Dual M2 and R1 chips work in tandem to ensure smooth performance and responsiveness, even in complex 3D environments.

With the Vision Pro, Apple brings you a new and exciting way to interact with the technology. After quite a while, we have seen such a massive revolution in terms of building a bridge between the real and virtual world.

How to Use Apple Vision Pro?

Right now, the Apple Vision Pro works as an interface for the iPhone (with iOS 17.2 or later) or an iPad (with iPadOS 17.2 or later). You can also use it with a Mac (with macOS Monterey) or even Apple TV.

Using the Vision Pro, in my opinion, is just like using any other device, but of course, without any buttons or touch interface. You follow the on-screen instructions to connect to WiFi, set up a passcode, and configure the Optic ID (for facial recognition).

Then, you complete the eye calibration process to ensure accurate gaze tracking. So the device knows where you are looking at and what you are trying to interact with. And that’s it. The setup is all done. Rest of it is controlled by the main device (iPhone, iPad, Mac or Apple TV).

After that, you can start learning the basic hand gestures, like tapping, pinching, dragging, and swiping to control the apps and navigating the interface.

Here are a few key parts of using the Apple Vision Pro:

• Gaze Control: Look at an app to select it. A gaze cursor appears, letting you interact with buttons and menus.
• App Placement: Use hand gestures to move apps around your 3D space, resize them, and arrange them as desired. This creates a personalized and efficient workspace.
• Multitasking: Open multiple apps simultaneously and switch between them effortlessly by looking at them. The 3D environment allows for intuitive multitasking based on your gaze and needs.
• Interacting with Apps: Use familiar touch gestures like tapping, scrolling, and pinching to interact with app contents within the 3D space.
• EyeSight: Enable this feature to show others when you’re using apps in a way that protects your privacy while maintaining awareness of your surroundings.
• 3D Capture: Use the built-in 3D camera to capture photos and videos with depth information. View them on Vision Pro for an immersive experience or share them with others who have compatible devices.
• Accessibility: Vision Pro offers various accessibility features, including customization of control methods, text size, and display settings, to cater to diverse needs.

Bear in mind that this product is a new technology, so mastering it may take a while and quite some practice. But after you have mastered it, the capabilities are definitely going to be more extensive than you may have thought. Speaking of the capabilities, let’s see some of the ways the Vision Pro can be beyond “cool”.

How is Apple Vision Pro Beyond the Specs?

With the Vision Pro, Apple hasn’t just introduced a new gadget; but a new philosophy of human-computer interaction. It’s a shift from the flat screens to spatial canvas. It lets you bring the digital content into your physical space. This shift resembles how we naturally interact with the world, explore the apps and objects  in 3D, move them around, and manipulate them intuitively.

Here’s what I think you can do with the Apple Vision Pro.

• Revolutionize Education: Visualize complex concepts in 3D, dissect virtual models, and explore historical events in an immersive way. Although as of now, it’s too expensive for children to use it for education, it can be quite a fun learning experience.
• Enhanced Productivity: With this gadget, you can multitask like never before. There are multiple apps floating around you for easy access and seamless flow between tasks. You can switch between with just a gaze or even work on them simultaneously.
• Redefining Entertainment: Experience movies, games, and even concerts in a way that transports you beyond the screen and into the heart of the action.
• Connecting Like Never Before: FaceTime calls feel more natural with EyeSight, and collaboration tools open up new possibilities for remote work and communication.

So you see, Apple Vision Pro is an outstanding introduction by Apple into a new age of technology.

But is it for everyone?

Although it’s a significant leap forward, the Vision Pro is still in its early stages. The price stage is a little steep, but Apple says there are more than 600 apps available for it, and thousands more will be made compatible.

Whether it’s the future of computing for everyone remains to be seen. However, it’s undeniable that Apple Vision Pro offers a glimpse into a fascinating future where technology seamlessly blends with our physical world. It marks a significant step forward in our relationship with technology.Apple Vision Pro is available now on the official Apple site from $3499.