WWDC 2023 Preview: Will Apple's VR Devices Open an Immersive Internet Era?

Editor's note: Apple's plans to unveil a virtual reality (VR) headset at the 2023 Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), which kicks off in a few days, is getting a lot of attention. This article comes from compilation. The author wrote in the article that Apple’s motivation for entering the VR market is unclear, but it is generally believed that Apple has the ability to change this field and bring unique value to users. Although past VR products have performed poorly in the market, people have recognized the great potential of VR in the field of training. It is likely that Apple sees the potential of VR technology and hopes to improve users' digital experience and create more immersive and engaging content by launching VR devices and augmented reality glasses.

Image source: Generated by Unbounded AI tool

Many people are skeptical that Apple will be able to launch its own VR headset, and different people may hold different opinions. There's one reason, though, that might lead us to believe that Apple has broken that barrier -- and that's Apple's announcement of a brand new product at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in 2023.

As the world's largest technology company, Apple only enters new territory with confidence when it believes it can change the landscape of industries and bring unique value to the world in the process.

It is not difficult to guess that Apple will release a new device at the 2023 Worldwide Developers Conference on June 5. What's not clear, though, is why Apple did this, and what it has discovered over the past decade that Google, Samsung, Sony, Facebook/Meta, and even many others haven't, to the point that none of them It can logically give the world a reason to fall in love with VR.

Apple's announcement on June 5th could be fascinating, but it's also limited. Like the first-generation Mac, iPod, iPhone, and Apple Watch, which can be intriguing for their functional possibilities but relatively limited in their initial capabilities, this upcoming so-called Reality Pro ( The specific product name needs to be reconfirmed) The shape may not be completely groundbreaking as the final picture drawn by Apple for the time being.

While VR has struggled in recent years, we've seen some bright spots in it. For example, the impact of VR on training is rapidly expanding. According to a study by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), the use of VR during training is nearly four times more efficient than traditional classroom training, the concentration during training is also about four times that of online learning, and the confidence to apply skills after training A 275% improvement and a 3.75x increase in emotional connection to what was learned.

Under the continuous impact of artificial intelligence on the future employment situation, this kind of training effect is likely to be favored by more people in the next few years. Therefore, it is inevitable that many working people will accept such occupational retraining.

It's not unreasonable to think about it carefully, after all, VR can really bring such an immersive experience. The difference between its fully immersive experience and the usual experience of browsing the web or watching videos is obviously huge, because new messages often pop up on the phone, or someone around you may suddenly ask you a question, let alone the experience on the table. The snacks also have considerable temptation.

The question now is, in what areas will this immersive experience create a new generation of experiences?

Is Apple's VR headset similar in design to the HTC Vive virtual reality headset? Image credit: Jason Hiner

This may be the big picture that Apple is seeing and thinking about, and it may be for this reason that Apple has decided to create a headset, a pair of augmented reality glasses that belong to the future, and an A more immersive and engaging ecosystem for VR experiences on both phones and tablets.

It is worth mentioning that Reality Pro will not replace the devices we currently use every day, and may not become one of the devices we use every day, but it will become something that people want to experience more deeply. Think about the most important aspects of your work or life, and what if you could participate in these experiences in a deeper, more involved way?

For example, real estate agents no longer have to travel throughout the city all day. Instead, they can provide customers with a virtual viewing experience of the five best-matching houses within an hour; Quickly browse three package options including hotels, restaurants, and tours through a headset that is passed around; sports enthusiasts can use the headset to get the thrill of watching a game live, and can also Sit in a front row seat that you can’t afford in real life; even, someone who wants to find a job in a highly specialized field can put on a headset and participate in a training program that feels like a one-on-one, one-on-one, Receive tutoring from world-renowned experts.

The Internet has already provided us with the first layer of many of the above experiences, and virtual reality is opening a new stage for us. Now, Apple will focus on usable and flawless hardware, and of course, highly impactful consumer storytelling.

So when Apple announces the much-anticipated headset at WWDC 2023, it might not make much sense to see the move as Apple's entry into the VR market, but instead, it should be seen as A new signal that a new generation of immersive internet will take our most precious digital experience to a new level.

Translator: Junichi