So am I supposed to walk around town like this now?
A few weeks ago, Apple unveiled the Apple Visio Pro, a ground-breaking device that was tipped to revolutionize human interaction with the environment, other people, and our newfound friends — intelligent machines
Everyone was expecting a lot since it was an Apple product, and Apple is synonymous with cutting-edge design, high-quality technology, and, most importantly, innovation.
Reviewers who tested the device before it was released had some absolutely amazing things to say! For a few of them, this was the most incredible piece of technology they had ever seen.
Before the launch, the stakes were quite high, matching the steep $3500 price tag for this sophisticated piece of gear.
Following the Apple Visio Pro headset’s formal launch, a group of passionate Apple fans hurried to purchase it, hoping to own a piece of the future. It is now known that, within a week or less, the majority of them returned the same headset.
The remarks that accompanied these returns were the strangest aspects of them. To summarize a few of them: -
“Awesome piece of tech, but I got a headache after a few hours.”
“Phenomenal!! but I couldn’t keep it on for a long time. It’s a strain on my eyes.”
“Nice experience, but not a lot I can do as most of the apps I usually use are not here yet.”
Even while it seemed like everyone was impressed by the technology, a lot of people were not happy that the user experience — which was what first made the iPhone and iPad so popular — had been quietly overlooked in favour of technological advancements.
For instance, with spatial computing, Apple has recently unveiled its newest paradigm. Spatial computing is not a new technology; nonetheless, Apple was the first to provide a game-changing product riding on this technology to the market before any of its competitors, which has now ignited a virtual reality gold rush.
In short, spatial computing makes it possible to wear a headset and perceive your surroundings as though they were through a lens. The ease with which icons and pictures may emerge on the screen, allowing you to access information about the items in your range of vision and even interact with them in certain ways by just moving your fingers around, is a crucial aspect of this experience.
It really does hold the promise of completely changing the way we live. All of reality — augmented reality, virtual reality, and actual reality — are combined into one potent gadget.
However, there are two problems with this device or similar devices.
The Solvable problem — Cost
It is far more expensive at $3,500, than the iPhone or iPad, putting it in the range of the wealthy or even the business-class, gadget-wielding yuppie. Although it is possible to reduce costs, Apple, being the company that it is, might not be able to sufficiently offset the premium services that the brand offers at such low prices.
This is where the Zuckerberg train rolls into the station.
Nearly seven times less expensive than an Apple headset, Meta’s own Meta Quest 3 VR headset retails for less than $500. The performance of these two headsets has previously been compared on YouTube by a few tech enthusiasts.
To put it simply, Meta Quest is an Apple Visio Pro at a lower cost, but it is limited in its capabilities. Though it might be a more accessible product for the general public, it isn’t as good as the Vision Pro.
So all said and done, price is a factor that could be worked out.
The Lifestyle Problem
This is the game-changer! These headsets are equipped with fully miniaturized circuitry that includes analog, CPU, and even DSP chips. A large amount of processing power is required for the headset to render an image for you to see, and this power is located on a sizable gadget that is only a few inches from our brain.
In recent years, we humans have spent thousands on Bluetooth headsets to reduce the impact of holding our powerful cell phones close to our heads while conversing. In fact, the majority of people these days use noise-canceling headsets to answer calls, keeping their phones safely away from their heads.
Why? Well, there are documented medical concerns about keeping your mobile phone (one of the most sophisticated pieces of gadgetry invented) close to your head for extended periods of time.
By using a complete VR headset, we’re putting a gadget that likely has far more complex circuitry closer to our brains.
Have we considered the long-term effects this will have on the human body?
Think again; suddenly, this doesn’t sound like such a good idea!
No wonder people report headaches after just a few hours!
Whether humanity will adopt this way of life entirely is the more important question, though.
Today’s psychologists blame technology for severing human relationships, engulfing us in a cyber-cocooned world of short texts, emojis, and icons, thereby morphing us into a species that sometimes feels more comfortable interacting with a device than with a human.
Will this technology ultimately lead to a fully virtualized world in which we can seamlessly transition between the virtual and the real world?
Hopefully, Elon Musk’s Neuralink will be able to build the necessary interface to connect these goggles to our brains!
Yes, indeed! Perhaps the unexpected benefit from this would be enhanced humanity.
I suppose I may finally be able to download a karate course, a helicopter flying program, and some compressed copies of Renaissance paintings into my enhanced brain!
The matrix is just around the corner!!
