Apple’s Exploring Virtual Reality
A patent filing gets approved, providing clues of Apple’s trysts with VR.
Virtual reality, in very loose sense can be explained to be like a computer-simulated experience mimicking a physical presence in the a virtual environment, created via computer-generated worlds or immersive environments, which people can explore and in many cases, interact with.
Simple, wasn’t it?
In 2012, Palmer Luckey launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise $250,000 to build development kits of a virtual reality headset called the Oculus Rift. The campaign closed at $2.4 million. In March, Facebook acquired Luckey’s company, Oculus VR, for $2 billion.
The concept fascinates many like, Google, Samsung and Sony resulting in the launch of Google Cardboard, Samsung’s Gear VR and Sony’s PS4 exclusive Project Morpheus.
Apple too, seems to have be intrigued with VR for years. In fact, Apple’s original patent application was filed in 2008, way, way before the announcement of Gear VR or Cardboard.
On Tuesday, The United States Patent and Trademark Office approved Apple’s patent for a head mounted virtual reality set titled ‘Head-Mounted Display Apparatus for Retaining a Portable Electronic Device with Display’, that uses an iPhone as the display and computing component.
The insert is built specifically to enclose an iPhone, with an optional remote that could be used to manipulate the VR experience without having to deal with headset- or phone-based inputs.
The device will display 3D content by splitting the display into two image frames one targeting the left eye and the other targeting the right eye to create the illusion of depth through what is called stereoscopic imaging.
Apple lays down different accessories and hardware features that could be built into its headset, including spare batteries for more power, physical control inputs including buttons, switches and touch enabled surfaces, a cooling system and even additional onboard memory for media storage giving the detailed description of the invention.
Many third party accessory makers like the DODOcase were keen to build a Cardboard like system for use with the iPhone.
Even though Apple has had the patent approved, it’s not an indication that we’ll see any iGoggles anytime soon. The iPhone manufacturer has filed countless patents for devices and technologies that haven’t made it into actual consumer products.
However, it is possible that they made provisions for the development of an iPhone-centric VR display so as to prevent unnecessary subsequent legal battles from other companies.
Let’s see how this pans out, if it does.
Originally published at Chip-Monks.
