What you should know
- The Apple Vision Pro, a unique VR headset, is set to release soon and is expected to be one of the best in the market.
- The Vision Pro is designed to be user-friendly, removing the need for controllers and allowing navigation through gaze and gestures.
- Despite the lack of controllers, the Vision Pro is targeting high-end professionals who often use tools, which in the VR world are gained through controllers.
- Apple has submitted a patent showcasing two potentially innovative VR controller devices for the Vision Pro: a wand that breaks into two batons and a stylus-multitool.
Full Story
The Apple Vision Pro is on the cusp of release, and we’re all buzzing with anticipation. Will it be one of the best VR headsets? Probably. But the real question is, how’s it going to achieve that?
Apple’s first headset is a bit of an oddball in the VR world. I mean, let’s face it, most VR headsets feel like they were designed by robots, for robots. The Vision Pro, though, is all about the human touch.
For instance, Apple ditched the need for controllers with the Vision Pro. Instead, users can navigate the headset using just their gaze and gestures. Sounds like something straight out of a sci-fi movie, right?
But here’s the thing. We were so caught up in the “futuristic” part that we overlooked something crucial. The Vision Pro is aimed at high-end professionals. And what do these pros use? Tools. In the VR enterprise world, these tools come in the form of controllers. So, what’s Apple’s game plan?
Well, a new patent might give us a clue about what’s coming next.
Now, let’s be clear: the Vision Pro is rumored to support controllers. Which ones exactly? That’s still under wraps. But it’s likely to be compatible with some of the more appealing third-party VR controllers. But this is Apple we’re talking about. They must have a first-party solution brewing, right?
We can’t say for sure, but Apple has filed an intriguing patent. Just a heads up, though: patents don’t always translate into products. But hey, a little daydreaming never hurt anyone.
This patent features two potentially groundbreaking VR controller devices, possibly designed for the Vision Pro. First up, a wand that splits into two batons (I’m calling it!). Second, a stylus-multitool.
The iWand (you heard it here first, Apple!) seems to be a conceptual device with two knobs that can be used in a variety of ways. Picture a scroll wheel on a high-end PC mouse: you can click it, scroll it, and even press it sideways for different outcomes. And the magic trick? It breaks off into two iBatons, which seem to be mini versions of the same thing. This could make navigating 3D design objects a breeze and even allow for games like Beat Saber.
But if we’re talking about a real multitool, the stylus takes the cake. It looks like a pen, but the plan is for users to equip it with different tips for varying results. Why physical tips instead of software and MR-based ones? Beats me. The cooler part, though, is that it appears to be loaded with sensors. These could help the Vision Pro map and overlay MR graphics, giving the stylus a lot of flexibility.
One of the patent pages also mentions an “illustrative head-mounted device having support structures configured to support a display and sensors such as a gaze tracker and forward-facing camera.” There’s a lot to digest here. Could this mean the Vision Pro might get even more add-ons, providing new features and functions? Possibly. But for now, these are just ideas on a patent sheet.
Fast forward to February 2, when the Vision Pro hits the market. We’ll put it to the test and see if it’s missing any of the features these concept devices seem to suggest.
