Apple has launched its Apple Vision Pro "spatial computer" device, opening up new opportunities for enterprise collaboration.
The Vision Pro is a mixed reality headset that blends digital content with the physical world, allowing users to remain present with friends, family and colleagues in real life while interacting with apps projected through the equipment. visionOS, described in Apple's announcement as "the world's first spatial operating system", enables users to coordinate with a fully 3D interface controlled with natural inputs, including a user's hands, eyes and voice.
Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, commented:
Just as the Mac introduced us to personal computing, and iPhone introduced us to mobile computing, Apple Vision Pro introduces us to spatial computing. Built upon decades of Apple innovation, Vision Pro is years ahead and unlike anything created before — with a revolutionary new input system and thousands of groundbreaking innovations. It unlocks incredible experiences for our users and exciting new opportunities for our developers."
The Vision Pro includes an ultra-high-resolution system involving 23 million pixels across two displays. Apple's silicon is implemented in a dual-chip design to build immersion, so the experience feels like it's being created in front of the user's eyes in real time.
What Does This Mean for Enterprise?
The Vision Pro signals compelling opportunities for businesses.
Apple's announcement stressed that the Vision Pro "frees apps from the boundaries of a display so they can appear side by side at any scale", enabling users to "be even more productive, with infinite screen real estate, access to their favourite apps, and all-new ways to multitask".
The Vision Pro is supported by Apple's Magic Keyboard and Magic Trackpad. Users can build a wireless workspace by integrating the Vision Pro with their Mac and can create a large 4K work display within their Pro headset.
The Vision Pro's FaceTime deployment takes advantage of spatial computing and spatial audio so that everyone on a call is reflected in life-size tiles and speaking as if from where they are positioned.
Users wearing a Vision Pro headset during a call are a "Persona", a digital avatar which reflects face and hand movements in real-time and allows users to collaborate on presentations. The Avatars are more accurate at reflecting the user than the cartoon-like avatars we've come to expect on other platforms.
