AR / VR

Porting an existing application to Apple Reality Pro opens up new dimensions of user interaction and engagement. But this process has its inherent challenges and demands a deep understanding of XR development. Learn what are the key technical considerations and necessary skill sets when porting an app to Apple's headset.

Technical Considerations in XR Development

The first step to successfully porting an app to the Apple Reality Pro headset is understanding the specific technical considerations involved in XR development.

Device capabilities

The Apple Reality Pro is rumored to ship with unique features like high-resolution OLED 4K screens, eye-tracking technology, and a dozen cameras and sensors. Developers must understand these capabilities to fully utilize the potential of this device in XR projects.

Interaction methods

The device will likely use a unique interaction mechanism involving hand movements and eye direction. Any app ported to this platform needs to be reconfigured to support these input methods.

AR/VR transition

The headset is said to feature a toggle that can smoothly transition between AR and VR modes. Developers need to consider how this transition will impact the user experience and functionality of their apps.

Performance considerations

Given the advanced features of Apple's headset, apps must be optimized to maintain high performance while delivering immersive experiences. This involves a careful balance between graphics and performance.

Sample Workflow: Porting a Design XR Application for Engineers to Apple Reality Pro

Let's consider an engineering design and prototyping app as an example. Here's a step-by-step workflow on how the app can be ported to Apple Reality Pro.

Analyze and plan

Review the current app structure, features, and performance. Identify which aspects can be directly ported and which need to be adapted or rebuilt for the Reality Pro.

Prepare for interaction method shift

Plan for the transition to the Reality Pro's hand movement and eye direction controls. This may involve redesigning the user interface and modifying the interaction logic of the app. Interaction method is critical to the XR application’s use case. For example, precision-demanding tasks in the experience, will most likely work better with a controller than hand gestures.

Utilize device capabilities

Determine how the app can leverage the device's AR and VR capabilities. For example, the app might present 3D models in AR for a more immersive design experience, or allow users to navigate 3D blueprints in VR.

Optimize performance

Adjust the app to ensure optimal performance on Apple Reality Pro. This includes optimizing 3D models and graphics, managing resources, and ensuring a smooth transition between AR and VR modes.

Apple’s push toward an immersive mixed reality headset marks a growing trend for tech companies to embrace XR hardware with a view of the future in mind. And while much more hardware sophistication is necessary to create immersive XR glasses that are comfortable to wear for long stretches of time, headsets provide a necessary landmark to give tech companies intel about usage and data for successive iterations based on their IP patents.

Meta, Apple, Snapdragon, Vuzix, are inching ever closer to a future where smartphones are replaced by versatile XR glasses with an intuitive interface and a range of practical use cases. Even though we’re still years away from what can be viably used as a smartphone replacement, businesses can now start thinking about the shift to this new paradigm of interacting with and consuming information to create unfair advantage and cater to early adopters.

Apple Reality Pro Headset: The Lowdown

Apple's upcoming mixed-reality headset is set to make a big splash in the market with a suite of software and services that cater to a range of interests, from fitness and collaboration to gaming and entertainment. According to insiders, the headset will debut at WWDC in June with a $3,000 price tag.​​

Apple is working hard to release a robust set of applications and XR experiences at launch. The company is also focusing on optimizing its existing apps, including Safari, FaceTime, and Apple Books, for the new headset. Additionally, Apple is developing a version of its Fitness+ service that will allow users to exercise while watching an instructor in VR.

The company is also looking to make viewing sports a more immersive experience by offering games from Major League Soccer and Major League Baseball on its TV+ platform. And to further enhance the entertainment experience, the TV app will allow users to watch video in different virtual environments.

The headset will reportedly feature a dial that will enable users to switch between virtual and augmented reality. When in virtual reality mode, users will be fully immersed in their apps, while AR mode will allow them to see the real world around them.

How Apple’s Headset Could Improve Businesses?

Enhanced communication

Apple Reality Pro could enable more seamless and immersive communication between team members, partners, and customers. For example, remote workers could use Apple Reality Pro to participate in virtual meetings, view shared content, or collaborate on projects in real-time.

Improved customer experiences

With the ability to provide real-time information, virtual overlays, and other immersive experiences, Apple Reality Pro could transform how customers interact with businesses. For example, in the retail industry, Apple Reality Pro could enable customers to try on virtual clothing or view product information in a more engaging way.

Increased productivity

In industries such as manufacturing, construction, and healthcare, Apple Reality Pro could improve productivity by providing workers with real-time information and virtual assistance. For example, workers could use Apple Reality Pro to view schematics, identify parts, or receive step-by-step instructions for completing tasks.

New business models

With the ability to provide unique and immersive experiences, Apple Reality Pro could enable businesses to create new revenue streams or business models. For example, entertainment venues could use Apple Reality Pro to provide immersive experiences to visitors, while museums or historical sites could use the technology to provide virtual tours.

Better data visualization

Apple Reality Pro can present data in more engaging, intuitive, and interactive ways. For businesses, this means improved data visualization and, by extension, better-informed decisions. In fields such as finance, logistics, and operations, data-driven insights could be transformed into 3D models or overlays, making complex data sets more comprehensible and accessible, and thus aiding strategic decisions.

Efficient supply chain management

In the logistics sector, Apple Reality Pro could be used for quicker and more accurate inventory management. Warehouse workers could locate and track inventory in real-time using visual cues, which would speed up operations and reduce errors.

Augmented reality (AR) wearables have been growing ever more sophisticated in recent years, with many tech giants releasing their own devices. Apple, one of the most innovative consumer technology companies, is set to reveal its Apple Reality Pro headset in June 2023. Apple Reality Pro will be the first milestone for Apple into the mixed reality headset world (and one of many on the company's journey toward AR glasses). Let’s explore the steps involved in AR app development and how much it costs to build an Apple Reality Pro application.

What Is the Cost of Building an Apple Reality Pro Application for Meditation?

To give you a rough estimate of the cost of developing an Apple Reality Pro application, we need a sample app to work with. Let’s focus on a fully immersive meditation app built from scratch.

Some project assumptions:

• An immersive meditation application with biofeedback, audio, progress tracking, and stunning visuals.

The app could feature:

Immersive environments

The AR meditation experience should provide high-quality, customizable 3D environments that can transport users to different calming and inspiring settings. Examples include serene beaches, tranquil forests, or peaceful mountaintops. The level of detail and realism in these environments should be adjustable to suit individual preferences.

Spatial audio

The application should include high-quality, spatial audio to provide an immersive soundscape that complements the visual environment. This may include nature sounds, ambient music, or guided meditations recorded in binaural audio to create a sense of presence and depth.

Guided meditations

It could be beneficial to include guided meditation sessions led by experienced meditation instructors. These sessions should cater to different experience levels and meditation styles, such as mindfulness, loving-kindness, or body-scan meditations.

Personalization

The application should allow users to customize their meditation experience, including the environment, audio, meditation type, session length, and even the voice of the meditation guide.

Adaptive experiences

Incorporate AI-driven features that adapt the meditation experience based on the user's preferences, mood, and progress over time. This could include adjustments to the environment, soundscape, or guided meditation content.

Compatibility

Ensure the application is compatible with various headsets, glasses, and platforms, allowing users to access the meditation experience regardless of their device. With the growing AR ecosystem, this point can be tricky to estimate because every device has a different SDK. There are solutions aiming to patch this, e.g., Snapdragon Spaces™ XR Developer Platform, and giving developers tools to build cross-platform AR experiences, such as StickiesXR built by us in collaboration with Snapdragon.

Real-time biofeedback

Integrate with biometric sensors (e.g., heart rate, breathing, and skin temperature) to provide real-time feedback on the user's physiological state. This information can help users better understand their stress levels and relaxation progress during meditation sessions.

Social integration

Allow users to share their meditation experiences, join group meditation sessions, or connect with friends for motivation and support. Social integration can also happen organically via social media channels such as Discord, Twitter, or Facebook.

Progress tracking

Offer an easy-to-use dashboard for tracking meditation progress, including session frequency, duration, and improvements in stress levels or focus. This should include visualizations and insights to help users understand their meditation journey.

Accessibility

Designing the application with accessibility in mind, including features such as voice commands, adjustable font sizes, and support for users with visual or hearing impairments. In our internal R&D department, we've built a mobile app for museums that gives people with hearing impairments a better viewing experience.

Steps to Build an Apple Reality Pro App

Depending on the application type and project stage, the exact steps may vary. The below is a short overview of the steps for AR app development from scratch in a lean and MVP-oriented approach.

1. Conceptualizing and planning
2. Designing
3. Developing
4. Testing with QA
5. Launching the MVP
6. Analyzing the feedback
7. Iterating and improving
8. Scaling and expanding

Note: These steps are for an AR app that will be expanded in the future. For event-oriented apps and projects with a short life cycle the path will be somewhat different.

When designing live mixed reality events where augmented reality and virtual reality blend to create artistic experiences, many things can go wrong. Hardware can fail, software can glitch, and the ever-present stress is prone to causing human error. And while you can be careful and plan for every contingency, live events that rely on technology are rarely issue-free — something will always go wrong. But with a solid risk management checklist, you can minimize issues and decrease their severity.

We’ve worked out the best practices below during a live event we hosted at Infinity Festival 2022 with our _Yond experience built in six weeks.

One User = One Support Person

We knew that the experience itself required a relaxed but curious state of mind. Technical issues would quickly spoil this mindset. To make sure that a problem was solved quickly, we assigned one support person to each user.

Whenever a tech issue happened or a person simply needed assistance, there was always someone readily available to help. Of course, this is hardly scalable advice for bigger events, but the more tech support people you have at the event, the better the user experience.

Multiple Devices at Hand

Although there were only two people taking part in the experience at any given time, we had four additional devices ready. This was extremely helpful when a device crashed and, instead of rebooting and reconfiguring, we could simply hand the user a “fresh” device with the experience already running. This significantly reduced the potential negative user experience.

To improve the process of device handling, set up a process for arranging the devices in a pre-defined order. Then when users enter the event briefly explain what is what. Have an additional person who checks, restarts, and cleans the devices.

When our product strategist Kasia got an email from Wendy Posner, little did she know how the following 6 weeks would shake up her day-to-day activities. An invitation for Nomtek to collaborate on the 2022 Infinity Festival in Los Angeles meant recognition for our team’s experience in augmented reality, but then something dawned on Kasia: nothing short of a “wow effect” would do the job, and with only weeks to prepare the experience that meant only one thing. A grind.

What Is Infinity Festival?

Infinity Festival Hollywood is one of the world's most renowned events where Hollywood collaborates with Silicon Valley giants to explore stories with nuanced interaction between tech, art, and life.

Among the 2022 speaker lineup were VR storyteller Elijah Allan-Blitz, the creator of “Remembering,” starring Brie Larson; Head of LA Labs at Epic Games Connie Kennedy; and VP of Lucasfilm Vicki Dobbs Beck, who spearheads immersive storytelling.

Being invited to an event this size and industry impact is an honor and incredible recognition — one that can only be reciprocated by a presentation of similar magnitude.

Yond at Infinity Festival 2022

Augmented reality glasses and headsets have come a long way in recent years. While we're still rather far away from AR glasses that would pack great power enclosed in ordinary spectacles, the devices are getting more and more sophisticated. Let's take a closer look at the best AR glasses and headsets currently available, breaking down their key features and capabilities.

By 2028, the AR market is expected to cross $97 billion. With Apple’s rumored AR glasses (headset more likely) slated to launch in 2023, we’re seeing an increased interest in augmented reality glasses by global tech players. The arms race in the AR tech scene is very much on.

What Are AR Glasses?

AR glasses are an electronic device designed like everyday eyewear that adds a layer of digital information to the real world. In short, AR glasses overlay your vision with contextually accurate information such as messages, navigation, heart rate, and other custom data fields that you have set up on your smartphone or watch.

The added layer of visual information serves to induce a feeling of immersion that stretches beyond the real world. That’s why many metaverse pundits believe fully immersive AR glasses are one of the prerequisites for the metaverse to become the new face of the connected world. That said, we're still in the rathery bulky AR headsets era, not lightweight glasses, and even they don't yet deliver that smooth and visually stunning experience users expect.

And while we’re yet to experience true augmented reality smart glasses, over the years, many companies took their jabs at building the technology. Most of those devices rely on HUD (heads-up display) technology that doesn't render a 3D image within your vision but simply displays content on the lens.

But even this approach combined with sleek design can turn AR glasses into functional devices with many business applications.

In fact, Gartner predicts that almost 50% of all field service tasks will be completed using some help from AR remote assistance software solutions by 2025. Industry trends also reflect that there will be 1.73 bn active AR devices by 2024.

Learn more about the differences between augmented reality and virtual reality.

Apple Glasses — The Highly Anticipated AR Device 

The news about Apple releasing AR glasses first surfaced with Apple's acquisition of the AR startup Metaio in 2015. At that time, there were several stories about the patent for the potential Apple Glasses. But the real fun began in 2019-2020 when Apple started discussing it more seriously. 

Apple Glasses became a solid story with the launch of iOS 14, with hints of Project Starboard and rumors of a glassOS. 

Apple Glasses will look like regular glasses (with a built-in display) that users can control using gestures. The prototype looks like high-end luxury sunglasses with a thick but elegant frame.

According to a Taiwanese publication, DigiTimes, Apple has already entered the second development phase, but it might take a few more years for the public release. Multiple sources on the internet have floated many rumored details and specs of Apple Glasses: 

• Comes with plastic or metal frames
• Truevision display on both lenses 
• Gesture-controlled commands in sync with Apple Watch 
• Works on Starboard/RealityOS
• Option to add prescription lenses

Also, potential features and applications have come to the speculation pool: 

• Place and interact with virtual object in physical environment using LiDAR and ARKit
• Complete tasks without touching the phone using App Clips right from the glasses 
• Secure video and facial recognition for access and control
• Take immersive phone calls and dab in remote collaboration apps

Initially, and as analyst Jeff Pu claimed, Apple Glasses were to launch in late 2024 alongside Apple’s VR/AR headset. However, Apple Glasses have for the time being been deprived of a release date, and Apple’s VR/AR headset (dubbed Apple Reality Pro) is likely to be released in June.

Tentative release date: unknown

Expected price: unknown