This weekend marks a turning point, as Apple’s Vision Pro finally launches in Australia and trust me, it’s going to shake things up. Luckily, in the right place at the right time, I got the chance to try it out in February.
While the hype surrounding this gadget is surprisingly low, the compelling story behind it is how this technology will redefine the way Australians communicate, entertain themselves and work together. As a self-proclaimed ambassador for Generation Z, I’m very excited that my childhood sci-fi fantasy will most likely become a reality in my lifetime.
That’s why you should also be excited about the future that new technology can offer us.
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What does the Vision Pro actually look like?
Remember the opening scene of FuturamaFry emerges from his cryogenic chamber to see the vast city of flying cars, spaceships and futuristic skyscrapers? That’s kind of what it felt like.
I sat down to receive my presentation, had the headset fitted and was asked to calibrate the device by touching five points on the screen.
Naturally, I reach out and start trying to touch the dots. That’s when I hear a laugh from the Apple employee.
“No, no, don’t touch, put your hands on your knees, tap your fingers and just look at the thing you want to click,” he said.
This is where I started to panic, because eye tracking makes it feel like the device is reading your mind.
“You ain’t seen nothing yet,” said the technician.
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The next level of entertainment
Now, let’s talk about entertainment. I remember my first 3D movie, SharkBoy and LavaGirla classic.
This new technology is like that, but on steroids. It’s not just about watching a movie, it’s about immersing yourself in it.
I was asked to open a specific video that looked like a movie trailer on the device.
Soon after, the Apple Store disappeared from my vision and I was transported to the soccer field of what looked like the FIFA World Cup.
But I didn’t feel like I was looking at a screen, I could turn my head left and right and see everything.
But the best part was that it wasn’t like wearing 3D glasses at all. It was really real.
It was just before I saw a football flying towards my head and I instinctively ducked my head.
The future of this experiment is so promising.
Imagine your favorite franchises shooting their movies using this technology.
Instead of watching Vin Diesel drive his car off a cliff, you could be sitting right next to him.
For gamers, the only thing I point to for the future is Steven Spielberg’s game. Ready, Player 1.
A new era of memories
One of the most interesting technologies the Vision Pro can do is shoot 3D videos and photos.
As part of the demo, they showed a video of what appeared to be a mother blowing out candles with her children. As with the other content, it felt like you could reach out and touch the birthday cake.
Now you can basically relive moments.
With the ability to create spatial memories, we are entering a new era of preserving the essence of deceased family members, childhood milestones, and once-in-a-lifetime events.
A new way to communicate in the workplace
It’s in the workplace that things get really interesting.
We’ve all had a taste of remote work thanks to the pandemic, some more than others.
But this new technology should take it to the next level.
Remember those sci-fi movies where people had holographic meetings?
We’re not there yet, but we’re close. I predict that within a few years, having fully realistic virtual workspaces will be the norm, potentially saving companies millions of dollars in office space costs.
You could be in Sydney, your colleague in New York, and yet feel like you’re thinking in the same room.
It’s not just about convenience, but also about boosting productivity and creativity by making remote work more dynamic and engaging.
While it’s easy to get carried away with shiny new features, there’s a deeper conversation to be had.
The risk of increased isolation and decreased interaction with the real world is a legitimate concern.
As we embrace these technological advancements, it is essential to find a balance.
Technology should enhance our human relationships, not replace them. I am convinced that we will not all end up like people in wheelbarrows WALL-E.
We are at a crossroads where our tools can either bring us closer together or push us further apart.
It is up to us to handle this situation thoughtfully.
Accept the possibility that this is a good thing, but remain aware of the potential pitfalls.
It is possible to have the best of both worlds if we intentionally integrate this technology into our lives.
Remember what everyone said when email was invented: they panicked.
Now that the product is launched, I encourage everyone to go to their local Apple store and try it out.
It’s important to remember that this is the worst version of technology we’ll ever have, it can only evolve! Plus, it’s a bit cumbersome.
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