VISION ON

Is Vision Pro the future market leader, or just an overpriced gimmick? We look at the history and future of virtual and augmented reality

- IAN OSBORNE

THE PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE OF SPATIAL COMPUTING

VIRTUAL AND AUGMENTED reality have been sci-fi V staples for years. Virtual reality puts you in an alternate world, where you can look, move and interact as if you were really there (think Star Trek's holodeck). Augmented reality overlays computer generated graphics and information over the real world, so you see both through your glasses or on your screen (like in Pokémon Go). These concepts have a longer history than you realize in the actual world too.

Over the last few years, the technology has matured to the point where it's ready to change the world. We're promised immersive games, with the player at the center of the action. Video chats could be transformed, with the participants sitting around a virtual table in a virtual living room or office, probably drinking virtual coffee. Your augmented reality glasses could be used to find directions, which could then be superimposed on the street as you walk or drive. And if promoters replaced a seat at a concert or sporting event with a 360-degree HD camera, they could sell that seat hundreds of times over to virtual reality enthusiasts all over the world.

Here we look at the past, present and future of virtual and augmented reality. Where it came from, where it's going, and how Apple fits into this space.

The Past

VR and AR have been around longer than you think