photo credit: Mackenna Miller
App icons were floating in my kitchen, and I clicked through my messages, without even moving my fingers, only my eyes, all while cutting some apples in my kitchen, still seeing my surroundings and reading my texts.
That is what a user of the latest Apple Vision Pro would experience. This new piece of technology was released on Feb. 2 for $3,302.00, according to the Apple Store, and is taking the media world by storm, in both good and bad ways.
The Vision Pro, contrary to popular belief, is not a traditional VR device, and it has a wire connecting it to the charger that users keep on them. I find this highly outdated and defeats the purpose of most of Apple’s technology. Apple is well known for its AirPods and Magsafe charger, which are both wireless, so it’s confusing that it came out with a VR that has a wire. The wire is also not too subtle, and if the user were to wear the Vision Pro in public, the wire is obvious as it’s dangling from the user’s face to wherever the charger is.
The overall look of the Vision Pro tends to look like scuba diving goggles, and it seems to attempt a sleek look, but I just don’t see it. Overall, the design looks a little cheap and doesn’t give off the usual sleek look that Apple is known for. However, Apple did stay true to its sleek wire look, and the wire that connects the Apple Vision Pro to the charger block does, in fact, look like the usual sleek Apple look.
However, what the Apple Vision Pro has achieved is groundbreaking in the VR field. Until now, I haven’t seen a VR that keeps one’s surroundings, while projecting apps. Most of the VR helmets that have been popular over the years have been simulations, taking users to roller coasters, concerts or even space.
The Apple Vision Pro is more like an iPhone or an iPad but on someone’s face. The Vision Pro uses its own VisionOs operating system, as well as basic Apple apps, all while projecting this in users’ real time location, according to iMore.
The VisionPro also uses an eye-tracking system to know what users will click before they “click” it in the air, by tracking eye movement instead of fingers. This feature is cool, and as far as I know, has never been attempted in a VR headset before.
However, it comes with a lot of flaws, especially in the case of watching a movie or show and figuring out how to skip to a certain part of the movie or show. While it may have some drawbacks, overall, the device is a cool new system.
While the Apple Vision Pro has a lot of groundbreaking technology in the VR headset field, this technology will help cultivate more lazy behavior. Many Americans are already more dependent on technology, pulling up their phone calculator to do simple mental math, or just depending on phones for minor tasks.
The Apple Vision Pro, being eye controlled, makes things even easier; now people don’t even need to move their fingers, just their eyes. While this may seem cool, in the long run it would lead to more media consumption and dependency on technology.
Overall, I would not personally buy the Apple Vision Pro. It is severely overpriced; while I do understand that it implements many innovative features, it also is tacky and impractical.
Wearing the Apple Vision Pro in public seems more like setting oneself up for social embarrassment, instead of looking cool, like one would seem with a new iPhone. The battery and connecting wire also seem impractical to have dangling around while trying to relax, and the ever-lingering fear that the user might damage the wire or the battery block.
The Vision pro is also the catalyst for even more human dependence on technology, which is also harmful. So, I would personally pass on the Apple Vision Pro, as it is very clearly in its Beta stage.
