Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) are creating a miracle in various sectors across the globe. These technologies have taken user experience to the next level in simulation applications, education, gaming, healthcare, eCommerce, and more. Businesses are rapidly hiring top AR and VR development companies in the United Kingdom (UK), Canada, Germany, and more, to adopt and leverage AR and VR in their business apps for enhanced customer experience and profitability.
For a mesmerizing AR, VR, and mixed reality experience, the users must use appropriate headsets with high-precision images and sound quality. Apple is coming up with its new AR and VR headset that will soon rule the world with its top-grade features and exceptional user experience. Let’s see why this new Apple AR and VR headset, to be introduced soon, is already making headlines globally.
The News:
- Evidence suggests that when we learn through AR and VR, rather than simply reading dry facts, we can improve our knowledge retention by 75 to 90%.
- According to the latest market intelligence data, the global VR headset market grew by 241.6% year-on-year in the first quarter of this year.
- 71% of shoppers claim that they would shop more often if they could use AR, and 45% believe AR saves time.
- Boeing leveraged AR to cut production time by 25% and lower error rates to nearly zero.
- The AR market is expected to reach USD 97.76 billion in 2028; it’s clear that augmented reality is the future for many industries.
- By 2024, around 75% of mixed reality (MR) apps will be delivered by smartphones.
- With the forthcoming launch of its new headset, Apple is all set to make a big splash in the AR and VR space.
- According to Statista:
- The global augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and mixed reality (MR) markets reached USD 28 billion in 2021 and will rise to USD 250 billion by 2028.
- By 2030, VR and AR might impact up to 23 million jobs. Virtual reality and augmented reality could boost the global economy by USD 1.9 trillion by 2030.
- The healthcare and medical devices sector witnessed the most disruption by immersive technologies at 34%.
- AR and VR headsets are projected to have massive sales of over 30 million units annually by the end of 2023.
How did we get here?
#1. Why Do We Need Headsets for AR, VR, and Mixed Reality?
To understand why users need reliable headsets to experience AR, VR, and mixed reality, we need to learn what these technologies are.
Virtual Reality
Virtual reality (VR) is a simulated, 3-dimensional experience or view of the real environment through software and technology; for example, taking a virtual 360-degree tour of a real estate property you intend to buy from the comfort of your home. VR applications have been used for years, most commonly in gaming.
Augmented Reality
Augmented reality (AR) integrates or overlays digital information with the real-world environment in real time. It thus enhances both virtual and real-world elements by merging them; for example, IKEA, the famous global furniture brand, allows prospective customers to visualize the company’s products in the customers’ room through its AR app.
Mixed Reality
Mixed reality (MR) is a combination of AR and VR. It is an interactive, enhanced version of the real environment through software and technology. It embeds or superimposes virtual elements, objects, or images on the real world, enabling the user to visualize such elements and himself within such an environment without being present there; for example, MR enables surgeons to utilize immersive 3D models of anatomical parts to understand, rehearse, and prepare for complex surgeries.
How Does a Headset Enhance AR, VR, and Mixed Reality User Experience?
VR, AR, or mixed reality headsets are head-mounted devices designed to provide users with an immersive 3-dimensional AR, VR, and mixed reality experience. These headsets cover the users’ eyes and ears to help immerse the user into the virtual world, preventing distractions from the users’ actual surroundings. While it is possible to experience AR through smartphones and mobile apps, VR and mixed reality require the users to interact with the virtual environment through headsets, sensors, and controls.
Moreover, to offer a fascinating and realistic user experience in AR, VR, and mixed reality, it is essential to have a reliable headset with high-quality tools, features, images, and sound. Today, many top brands offer VR, AR, and mixed reality headsets, including Oculus Quest 2, Sony PlayStation VR, Microsoft HoloLens 2, and more. Apple is soon entering the race, planning to overtake all its competitors with its new headset. Here is what the Apple AR/VR headset offers.
#2. Top Features of Apple AR and VR Headset That Make It Stand Apart
Apple will release the new AR/VR (and MR) headset by early 2023. Users are desperately waiting to experience this yet another feature-packed, best-in-class offering from Apple. Here are the distinctive features of this new headset that will astonish users and take them into an immersive and unforgettable world of AR, VR, and MR.
Design
A primary concern in AR/VR headsets is the product's weight. It vastly impacts the users’ comfort level with the headset, affecting overall user satisfaction for the “reality” applications as users cannot wear heavy headsets continuously for a long duration.
Apple’s new headset uses lightweight materials and fabrics to keep the overall product weight minimum. It leverages very slimly and lightweight pancake lenses. The initial version is expected to weigh around 300 gms to less than a pound. Besides, the headset will operate on a built-in battery.
The headbands to hold the headset on the users’ heads will allow size adjustments to suit varied head sizes and provide a comfortable fit. Moreover, the headset design shows a curved visor on the front. It will leverage spatial audio technology to enable users a 360-degree or 3D sound experience.
New Operating System
Apple further plans to amaze the users by developing an innovative operating system for this new Apple mixed reality headset, called realityOS or rOS. With new OS and software being created exclusively to match the needs of the Apple AR/VR headset, users can expect to get a lot more surprises and something that they would have never witnessed before.
Display
A high-end display is the crux of AR, VR, and MR applications. Without this, the experience would not appear genuine. The Apple mixed reality headset will offer thin and small displays that are highly power efficient. Moreover, the headset includes micro OLED (organic light emitting diode) displays that offer a faster response time, enabling a rich AR, VR, and mixed reality experience. The headset display will be very high resolution (8k) compared to other popular AR/VR headsets available in the market.
With a combination of such technologies, the users can expect to get a foveated display that will track the users’ eye, focusing on high-resolution images in the direction of users’ eye gaze and displaying low-resolution peripheral images for a more immersive mixed reality experience.
Processors
The Apple headset will operate on powerful processors, maybe two, and will have two chips. News reports indicate that the headset will use a custom-designed, powerful Apple Silicon Chip or M2 chip.
Cameras and Sensors
Creating a lifelike experience in VR, AR, and MR applications is impossible without high-quality cameras and sensors. The new Apple mixed reality headset is expected to include 13 to 15 cameras. Almost half of these will be for augmented reality experience, while others will be used for environmental detection, biometrics, eye detection, and more. Such an extensive camera system will ensure in-depth and accurate mapping. The cameras facing outwards will also support hand-tracking.
Moreover, the headset will leverage LiDAR (light detection and ranging) sensors that use remote sensing to collect measurements. These sensors will enable a high-resolution 3-dimensional view of the environment and enhance user experience.
Controls
For a perfectly immersive experience, users must interact with AR, VR, and MR environments. For this, reality headsets offer user controls that help users utilize their hands, fingers, eyes, and more to control virtual elements. To offer the best product, Apple plans to include varied controls in the new AR/VR headset. These controls will enable the headset to accurately and promptly respond to the users' eye movements, hand movements, finger gestures, and more.
Apple mixed reality headset controls will also include a virtual keyboard to enable typing in the air and finger-clip or ring-like sensors that users can wear on their fingers for hand-tracking and movement detection, apart from devices like virtual reality gloves, watches, etc.
Pricing
Apple is ready to create magic in the AR/VR world through this new headset. As discussed above, Apple is utilizing the best features, tools, hardware, software, and more, not compromising on anything to ensure a perfect user experience more than ever before. With such stunning features, users can assume that the Apple mixed reality headset cannot be priced very low. Rumors suggest that the headset could be priced up to USD 3000.
What’s Next
Businesses have realized that to stay ahead of the competition, they need to keep innovating and offer something more than their competitors. Adopting cutting-edge technologies is the most efficient way to attract customers and lead the race. Among many other technologies, augmented reality, virtual reality, and a merger of these two called mixed reality have collectively transformed how users and prospective customers interact with brands.
Headsets are head-mounted devices that enable users to leverage the 3-dimensional AR, VR, and MR experiences and get the best out of these. Apple is yet again in the news for the forthcoming launch of its new, high-end mixed reality headset that will support both AR and VR, consequently MR. As discussed, this ingenious Apple product will offer world-class features by utilizing the best software, hardware, OS, and much more. So, get ready to witness this new Apple headset’s exceptional and stunning mixed reality experience.
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