Event Tech
A new era for events ?
CATIE OWEN EXAMINES THE POTENTIAL IMPACT OF APPLE ’ S VISION PRO ON THE EVENTS INDUSTRY
T en years after the lukewarm launch of Google Glass ( Google ’ s forsaken ‘ smart glasses ’), Apple announced the 2024 launch of its Vision Pro ‘ spatial computer ’ at the company ’ s 2023 Worldwide Developer Conference in June .
The Vision Pro is set to run its own newly developed operating system , visionOS , to render augmented reality ( AR ) and virtual reality ( VR ) versions of Apple ’ s apps such as Facetime – found through the product ’ s new App Store . With the new Store comes a host of new tools for Apple ’ s developer community to use , possibly heralding an incoming revolution for event tech .
At the Conference , Apple CEO Tim Cook said : “ Today marks the beginning of a new era for computing .” As an industry constantly looking to improve
The combination of AR and VR builds a 360⁰ version of the event around the wearer upon its virtual and hybrid options , it ’ s worth considering the impact of wearable technology on events . Is it the solution to the community-building barrier between in-person and virtual we ’ ve all been looking for ?
Mike Rockwell , Apple ’ s VP of the Technology Development Group , said : “ Through a tight integration of hardware and software , we designed a standalone spatial computer in a compact wearable form factor that is the most advanced personal electronics device ever .” Which indicates that users could potentially join a virtual event from the comfort of their living room .
The combination of AR and VR builds a 360 ° version of the event around the wearer , which could re-create the in-person attendee experience . For delegates who are limited due to location or accessibility ,
Above : Vision Pro : a useful new tool for planners ? this could be a game changer . Apple has already confirmed the use of Facetime on the device when it rolls out in the US next year , so it follows that Zoom , Teams , and more won ’ t be far behind .
The Vision Pro might also be a useful tool for event planners . With the world having gone remote , teams globally rely on video conferencing software . The inevitable adoption of video conferencing apps on the Vision Pro could add an immersive aspect to the event planning process . How long until we ’ re scrolling through floor plans and analytics Minority Report style ?
Privacy and security are a concern for planners incorporating new tech into their events , such as identification software , and this has been addressed by Apple . The company promises that the Vision Pro ’ s ‘ Optic ID ’, which scans a user ’ s iris to unlock the device , will be encrypted data inaccessible to apps – nor stored on Apple ’ s servers .
Overall , the tech community seems enthusiastic about the new gadget , with The Verge declaring it “ the best headset demo ever ”.
But , as Forbes notes , like Mark Zuckerberg ’ s metaverse the Vision Pro is not meme-immune . With its likeness to a “ giant pair of ski goggles ”, it might not bode well for the device ’ s wearability that Tim Cook himself did not wear it on stage .
With a hefty price tag of USD $ 3,499 per pair , it ’ s unlikely that we ’ ll see any goggle-clad attendees on the convention floor any time soon . But regardless , we might just be glimpsing the future of hybrid events .
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