Today is the general availability of the Apple Vision Pro, and there are a lot of notable developments in spatial computing because of that.
Zoom has announced that users can attend virtual meetings using the Apple Vision Pro, a spatial computing headset, starting today. The integration of Zoom on Apple Vision Pro aims to provide a seamless collaboration and communication experience, with features such as Personas, Spatial Zoom experience, and real-world pinning. Additional features like 3D object sharing and Zoom Team Chat support will be added later this spring.
Microsoft is bringing its suite of Microsoft 365 apps, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Loop, and Microsoft Teams, to Apple’s Vision Pro headset. Users can also access an AI-powered version of Copilot for tasks like drafting and summarizing documents and creating PowerPoint presentations with voice commands. While Microsoft Teams will support Apple’s “persona” and offer features like emoji reactions and chat participation, Microsoft Mesh integration will not be available at launch.
And speaking of Microsoft, the company has unveiled its 3D Mesh integration for Microsoft Teams, offering legless avatars and pre-built 3D office spaces for virtual work meetings. The integration allows users to access 3D avatars and navigate corporate spaces using a Meta Quest headset or a PC. Companies can customize the spaces with logos and videos, and games and spatial audio features are available.
The Washington Post dives into privacy on the device. The headset collects significant data, including tracking people and rooms in three dimensions. Privacy researchers have flagged concerns about who gets access to the collected data and the potential invasion of privacy.
Unity has launched its support for Apple Vision Pro, providing spatial experiences and XR content for Apple’s visionOS. This marks a significant step in spatial computing, allowing developers to create immersive apps and games using Unity’s PolySpatial technology. The support includes templates, samples, and resources for building unique spatial experiences. Notable projects in development include Lego Builder’s Journey, Audi’s immersive digital display, and a VR meditation app called Tripp.
TeamViewer has partnered with augmented reality startup Almer to adopt their latest headset, Arc 2, for remote support. The Almer Arc headset allows collaboration with remote individuals and provides relevant information for pointing out objects in reality. This partnership will enable TeamViewer to expand into untapped opportunities with industrial companies while Almer can scale its operations and advance AR adoption.
Apple isn’t the only player in town. Visor is a fully standalone AR/VR headset designed for work use cases. It features ultra-high resolution 4K micro-OLED displays, a 3-hour extended battery, and wire-passthrough capability. Immersed is offering Visor Plus membership, which includes a substantially reduced upfront price, Immersed Pro features, customizable workspaces, extended battery, priority support, and more. The goal is to make Visor accessible to a broader audience and provide a premium experience for professionals. Immersed plans to offer demos to product reviewers and start delivering Founder’s Edition Visor in mid-2024.
Why do we care?
From a productivity perspective, we have Zoom and Microsoft leaning into the technology, too, and Unity is going to provide significant developer opportunities.
The launch of Apple Vision Pro and the developments around it signify a major shift towards more immersive and interactive computing experiences in both personal and professional spheres – to come. You have time to consider the range of opportunities for businesses to enhance collaboration, productivity, and engagement as the vision of the future becomes clearer. The Vision Pro is essentially a developer kit… so treat it as an evaluation.
