The biggest issue for any spatial computing, and VR or mixed reality hardware, is that you still have to strap a giant computer to your head.
When I got a chance to try out Apple’s Vision Pro headset several weeks ago, there was one big difference between what I wore and the display models shown off by Apple.
The official photos and videos showed a sleek over-the-eyes wearable that strapped around the back of the wearer’s head with a wide, comfortable-looking band, like a set of ultra-premium ski goggles.
The version of the Vision Pro I had a chance to wear added something to the physical package, a second headtrap that went over the top of my skull. It was there to provide additional support and better balance the weight of the headset on my head.
Why the difference between the public visuals and the private demo hardware? The Vision Pro is far from complete, and demo sessions very often use under-development or incomplete hardware, and in my many years of reviewing tech products, there have often been differences between our initial look at a new product and the final shipping version.
But that doesn’t address the big issue here, which is that virtual reality (or as Apple calls it, spatial computing) headsets are essentially big head-mounted computer-plus-monitor rigs.
