Apple’s Augmented Reality Headset Could Make a Big Mark in 2020

Could Apple’s augmented reality (AR) headset be the next big thing?

Representational image of a person experiencing augmented reality.

(Photo Courtesy: Microsoft) 

Apple seems to have given virtual reality (VR) a big, hard pass. Well, that’s what a recent Bloomberg report suggests, which also claims that its iPhone-centric augmented reality (AR) headset could make its debut sometime in 2019, likely to reach everyone by 2020.

Now that time frame is quite possible, mostly because Apple wouldn’t want to take a gamble on something as delicate and technical as AR, which needs to be integrated for the product to deliver from the word go.

The reason behind Apple taking its own sweet time to build the product has been put down to the use of an entirely new operating system for AR, that is also supposed to get its own display. Does that mean this AR headset would work without pairing up with your iPhone? Looks possible, alright.

Apple has been openly advocating for AR for quite sometime now, and even at the launch of iPhone X, we saw how they’re slowly, but gradually, building up the ecosystem with developer tools like AR Kit, which was announced at the WWDC 2017.

Also Read: Apple’s Augmented Reality May Be a Goldmine for App Developers

The report adds that other than design touches to the AR headset, Tim Cook and Co are also figuring out how the user will operate this device. All options from gesture to Siri-based voice command are being considered, with the intention to make it compatible with the Apple app store for content. Not sure how they plan to make iOS apps compatible with the new operating system though.

The Cupertino-based giant is currently in the midst of testing out AR capabilities with Oculus Rift, which could boost its understanding to make the rumoured AR headset very much similar to those in the market.

The AR headset is mostly expected to be pushed for healthcare and educational purposes to start of, and later ramp up its production capacity to meet consumer demand.