Apple Steps into the Virtual World With Its Upcoming Devices

Apple steps into the virtual world with its upcoming devices. Through a sequence of business transactions, Apple has now a significant number of specialists working on developing augmented and virtual reality systems, and some of them are allegedly creating a device with options that may one day contend with the established products, like the Facebook Oculus Rift.

This information on Apple’s upcoming AR and VR projects was published this week by tech journalists, which said that the organization has been developing prototype designs since September 2015. News also said that Apple acquired a firm named Flyby Media, one of the AR ventures that has previously collaborated with Google’s experts.

Apple’s focus on augmented and virtual reality does not come as a surprise, as a series of products and patent programs fall straight into those areas. But the information that the organization has supposedly played around with developing model components for future devices that could go against Microsoft Hololens, Oculus and Google Glass, could seem unexpected.

The details also come at a short time after Apple’s officials were asked about their opinions on the VR and AR domains. In the brief press declaration made during the company’s business call, the representatives said that these areas are “cool” and that these will not be niche gadgets as they are developed.

When it comes to project acquisitions, Apple bought last year the German AR company Metaio, and in 2014 the US company also acquired PrimeSense, which worked with Microsoft during the first-gen Kinect components for its Xbox 360. However, probably the most famous example of augmented reality is the Google Glass.

Lastly, in Nov 2015 Apple announce that it purchased the motion capture company Faceshift, whose techniques are able to add human-like movements on the faces of digital characters. The company also has a number of patents over a wide range of AR apps, such as transparent screens, mobile mapping services and iPhone-based virtual shows.

One especially interesting idea detailed a smart phone that can recognize physical things in real life using computer perspective. Rumors first popped up last year indicating that Apple created a small group of experts who were given the job of trial tasks in the areas of VR and AR.

But this week’s news would mean that from last year, Apple’s group dedicated to the upcoming technologies has grown significantly, whether only via business purchases or otherwise. AR is a system of digital data overlaid on the real world, enabling useful features like immediately available navigation indications in the customer’s area of view.

Image source: Rt.com