De cara al futuro: la promesa de Apple Vision Pro y el camino visionario por delante para AR

Imagine a world where the boundaries between the physical and digital realms seamlessly fade away. Where immersive tech integrates Augmented Reality (AR) into our daily lives, reshaping our actual reality. Well, you won’t have to imagine much longer, as we’re one step closer to an integrated reality that blends virtual and physical.

Tech innovators like Apple have made great strides in this area, the most recent being the much anticipated Apple Vision Pro. But are these products just buzzy gimmicks or the latest and greatest tools in our arsenal?

This week on Catalyst, Launch by NTT DATA’s Lead of Emerging and Immersive Technologies Scott Campagna joins Clinton to discuss the evolving landscape of wearables, delving into the prospects of the Apple Vision Pro. Check out the highlights below, then dive into the full episode to learn more about the challenges, opportunities, and exciting outlooks for wearable technology.

A glimpse into the future

When you envision AR tools, what images come to mind? Is it akin to a bulky Iron Man helmet, or a clunky pair of goggles? Think again, because today’s AR technology is making the shift toward more discreet and accessible formats to help encourage this seamlessness between realms. But bridging the gap between futuristic ideals and current technological constraints is still a challenge. While many tools on the market offer an impressive 'pass-through' experience, there's still a journey ahead before we achieve true AR immersion.

A step in the right direction

Announced at Apple's 2023 Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC23) and finally brought to market in February 2024, Apple Vision Pro is still bulky, but shows what the future could look like. The headsets passthrough video offers contextual information without needing to turn to a smartphone, while making it challenging to distinguish between the real world and augmented reality. However, the ultimate goal is to remove the 'video' element of the experience and enable users to interact with reality directly. This is the future of AR, and we’re excited to see more development in this area.

Widespread adoption obstacles

A significant obstacle to widespread adoption could be the fear of looking silly while wearing VR goggles. We’d like to say that’s subjective, but walking around the city in goggles is still…niche. Overcoming perception issues will be critical to Apple Vision Pro’s full integration into daily life. Addressing current limitations such as bulkiness and external battery packs should also help with the silly factor. It’s worth noting that other more subtle AR tools exist in the market, but you sacrifice some power and capability for style.

Minimalism vs. immersion

Can form and function coexist, or will one eventually dominate the wearables market? We say there’s room for both! There’s loads of potential for both in the wearable technology landscape - the minimalist AI-driven devices, and the immersive spatial computing experiences. The key is understanding and aligning each with its unique goals. From Humane Ai Pin's pursuit of an app-less future to immersive tools like Apple Vision Pro, the key lies in defining and delivering value wherever and however.

As always, don’t forget to subscribe to Catalyst wherever you get your podcasts. We release a new episode every Tuesday, jam-packed with expert advice and actionable insights for creating digital experiences that move millions.