Is Apple changing the world again?
Apple Vision Pro
One of the most important technology products will be in stores (US and Europe) this week. Apple’s Vision Pro will finally be released to the public on February 2. The Apple Vision Pro headset is not a new idea however whenever Apple releases a new product we should pay attention. The device that will bring computer visuals closer to your eyes is new for Apple and will probably shake up the headsets industry.Microsoft had Hololens, Google had Goggles, Facebook is armed with Oculus (now known as Meta Quest) and Samsung brought Gear VR.
So far we have not seen much adoption however the entry of the Apple product may change how we perceive headsets.
The Apple Vision Pro will take away the need for a screen and wrap it around your face. Your hands and fingers will now become an important interface as gestures will form part of controlling the visuals presented by the headset. The device is packed with high-definition lenses, processors, and special cameras. All of this will deliver what we’ve never seen in the same product category.
In the same way that an iPhone, the Apple Watch created an opportunity for developers to create apps, the Vision Pro will also create a community of developers around the product. It’s unclear yet what will be the killer app with this device. I can foresee it becoming a tool that transforms education. It also has the potential to transform communication via video calls. It stands a chance of delivering on the metaverse promise. In a world that has questioned the feasibility of mixed reality and e-metaverse, the Apple Vision Pro offers the only hope.
The first generation of the product is likely to be a product of the elite with a cost that may translate to R80 000 for the South African market. The future version of the Vision Pro will probably be more affordable however that will take time. Its size also stands in the way of making it a lovable product.
All of these obstacles cannot overshadow the innovations that will come with this headset. It will be one of the products that will change how we interact with computers. We will slowly be immersed in the digital world. One day will probably credit Vision Pro for merging our physical world with the virtual world. As Tim Cook enjoys his last few years at Apple it will probably serve as a product that will signify his impact at the Cupertino tech giant.
For business leaders who have given up on developing solutions that will be rendered via headsets, now is the time to reconsider. The Meta/RayBan glasses are another indicator that we are entering a different space that will require different business models.
Disney has already started to design for this new world. Recently the entertainment company unveiled a new virtual reality project that solves one of the biggest problems with virtual reality, an omnidirectional modular treadmill that supports multiple users. HoloTile will enable multiple people to move around freely without the risk of colliding with each other. Disney is one of the few companies that is already aligning itself for the shift we are about to see.
As Apple delivers its new product, it’s time to develop product solutions and services that will align with this new technological development. In the past Apple products brought us companies such as Uber and built the app economy. We are about to see another economy developing around the Vision Pro. It will be an interesting technological development to watch.
AI IN CONSUMER TECH GOODS
I’ve been observing innovations that are knocking on our doors and it’s been interesting to note that they all share one thing in common, hunger for data. What’s even more interesting is that they will make our lives better if we allow them to know us. In order for an artificial intelligence hardware to effectively serve us it will need to understand our behaviour, interests, plans and even weaknesses. Once they know this about consumers they will be in a better position to advise, guide and execute our commands in line with what is good for users. This creates a dilemna for consumers as to whether they should continue to be concerned about the use of their data or to allow the use of their data.
We are now entering the AI era where it will be difficult to restrict access to your data. Consumer technology goods will become AI devices and by default work better if they are enabled access to your data. The very essence of an AI device means it functions better if over time it is customised for its user.
When an AI device has your health data, it is in a better position to make health predictions and even warn you. When your AI device knows your travel plans it is in a better position to make clothing recommendations based on future weather conditions. When your AI device can listen to you and answer based on what it hears and what it knows you are likely to grant it the right to listen and to know you even better.
It goes without saying that we are slowly reaching a point where we will willingly grant access to data for access to enjoy AI benefits. This will be good for us. It does however mean that those companies that have access to consumer data ought to improve their standards. Consumers of tech will prefer more companies that can be trusted with the protection of consumer data. This places a responsibility upon tech companies to also differentiate themselves along the lines of their stand on privacy and similar issues.
Samsung has launched products, GalaxyAI aswell as the S24 mobile phone, that pioneers AI in hardware. What I like about what I’ve seen so far is that these products will keep data in the product instead of sending it to the cloud. AI Pin and Rabbit are also some products that are promising to deliver AI benefits through their hardware.
Samsung S24 Ultra illustrating use of AI in a device….
They will do amazing things that will make life better,hopefully, while safeguarding user data. More technology products will follow their example and introduce AI in hardware and this will be good for consumers. These products are different from products we’ve enjoyed in the past.
Up to this point, technology knew very little about their users. Even though some have been collecting data such information was not used for the user. Now going forward, technology products will be our extension. Each technology product will be customised for its user. We will have to consent to this knowing very well that it will be good and at times negative. Overall, I’m positive about the future of AI in consumer tech goods, I just think that we will need more safeguards within tech companies. Self regulation and industry regulation will be necessary. We have an exciting future ahead of us which will allow us to have more time for meaningful things as technology will execute mundane things for us. We need to embrace this new era responsibly. We don’t have much of a choice if we want to still enjoy civilization.
OWNING STUFF
Over the past few days, a leading media company challenged a leading artificial intelligence company with a lawsuit over a copyright matter. The New York Times claims that OpenAI (creator of ChatGPT) has used the media company’s content without permission and paying for it. As someone who works in the media industry, I’ve been thinking about the same issue particularly when it’s time to look at the balance sheets of media companies. The New York Times may win or lose this case, however, its challenge will shake the manner in which technology companies use other people’s content. One such content is personal data and other pieces of information that will live on the internet.
Lately, I’ve been thinking about personal posts, tweets (or X’s as they say now), and other personal nuggets that will live on the virtual space. I’ve come to a realisation that as much as we gain we’re also losing by dumping our stuff online. If you don’t believe me, think about your music. Chances are you no longer have CD’s or DVD’s. You probably also don’t have your personal album with your photographs. Most people in the digital sphere store their stuff on the cloud. Our music is on Spotify, Apple Music, and other similar services. To access such content we have to pay a subscription fee monthly or annually. Failure to pay may mean the end of accessing such material. Now think again about other posts. For some who post religiously, they would have written a book or published a magazine by now.
Don’t even get me started about photographs that live on the cloud and on devices. How much of these things do we have real access to them? By now, I’m sure you get where I’m going with this line of reasoning. I think it’s about time that we start owning stuff. This is not a call to ignore minimalism, it’s my plea for us to start valuing our memories, experiences and creations. It is also not a refusal to adhere to the sustainability message which calls on us to print less stuff. I’m just pointing out that we’ve adopted practices that take away what ought to belong to us in the name of convenience. In line with this thought, I have personally decided to document and say more on my own website and less on social media platforms. I will do so while maintaining a database of stuff that I post on my website.
At the same time, I will start to print some of my best photographs (by that I mean more meaningful ones and not everything). I will accelerate on my book buying behaviour and take my foot off the pedal on audiobooks. I’ll be working on expanding my library.
In this regard I realise I’m not alone. More people are beginning to see the light and folly of everything digital. I’m realibly informed that wired earphones are making a come back aswell as other things that are more physical in nature. For now, this may sound trivial until our houses and cars are connected as well as other important things. I’m of the view that due to our adoption of digital things we have also gave up on what is due to us and other precious things. It’s time to reflect on what we’ve been doing and count (physically) our blessings. This I believe will lead to more meaningful experiences that will enrich our lives.