Blog | The ‘uncomfortable thrill’ of Vision Pro that you don’t know until you experience it yourself

Being a parent comes with its challenges. For me, the hardest part is when my child refuses to eat a food he has never tasted before. He begs me, tears streaming down his face, to please eat it. Adults are not always open to new things. The same goes for unfamiliar technology. iPhone users, when was the last time you used an Android device properly?

Last week, I had the opportunity to try out Apple’s mixed reality headset, the Vision Pro. It was released in the US in February, but it was only recently made available for demo and purchase in the UK, where I live. Everyone will have their own opinions about the Vision Pro, which will be publicly announced in June 2023, but how many of you are ready to experience it for yourself?

The Vision Pro demo was absolutely amazing. It’s hard to explain with a proper comparison because it’s such a different experience than using an Oculus or any other VR product on the market. I can explain the basics like eye tracking and finger tapping to navigate the interface, but it’s hard to accurately convey what it feels like when you first use it and how that feels as you get used to the device. You have to experience it for yourself to know.

Personally, I was surprised by the complexity of the fitting process. It was really tricky to set the optimal light seal and headband. Although they said they could help with the facial scan, my first seal had to be replaced. It was harder than I thought to tighten the straps to distribute the weight comfortably on my forehead and cheeks, and it took a lot of time to check various elements until everything fit me perfectly. The effort and patience to create the best usage environment for the demo was impressive.

The Vision Pro is worth the wait. Thanks to the carefully calibrated fit and high-quality hardware, the Vision Pro offers an unfamiliar yet completely immersive experience. I gasped, laughed, and looked around like a tourist several times during the demo because the Vision Pro’s ability to make the user feel like they’re inside the medium is outstanding.

The stranger’s spatial home cinema could feel artificial (1995 release <스트레인지 데이즈>Anyone who has seen it will know what I mean), the effect was so strong that it made me wonder what it would be like to reproduce my own memories in this format. It was also strangely heartbreaking.

Hollywood will also be most interested in the advancement of spatial video experiences. The demo included thrilling up-close encounters with dinosaurs and rhinoceroses, and some are already calculating whether this type of superhero film makes economic sense. 2D movies also look great in the Vision Pro’s virtual cinema, and it could even be useful for long-haul flights, if you bring a headset and AirPods Pro.

For those who can no longer afford to attend large concerts, this format could be the next best option. And as for watching sports through spatial computers, it may be a long-term prospect, but the potential is enormous. All of this work requires time and significant investment, but Vision Pro offers an incredible opportunity to bring events to more people instead of selling a limited number of tickets.

In terms of media, the Vision Pro is a winner. But it’s also important to deal with unfamiliar aspects of AR/VR devices, such as the control method. I had help from an Apple expert. Without help, I would have been confused by the interface. Over the years, moving from iPod to iPhone, iPad to Apple Watch, encountering new devices has always felt like a natural and intuitive evolution, but the Vision Pro is completely new.

To select an icon on the Vision Pro, you have to look at it and tap your index finger and thumb together. These two elements were particularly stressful at first. I’ve always had a soft spot for eye-tracking technology, as it inexplicably feels distracting and dystopian. I also had some anxiety about gesture recognition, which stems from my tendency to fidget and worry about doing things wrong. There’s still a subtle sense of anxiety about having my hands and eyes constantly monitored.

But this problem was quickly resolved. By the end of the demo, my stress was greatly reduced and my excitement about the immersive media elements did not easily disappear. I would like to emphasize that it is very important to experience Vision Pro firsthand because you cannot know what you will like and what you will not like until you try it yourself. It is also difficult to predict whether the effect will be temporary or not.

I hope my review has helped you understand the Vision Pro a little better. More than any other Apple product, the Vision Pro is something you really have to try out and see for yourself.
editor@itworld.co.kr