The Apple Vision Pro made its debut in June 2023 and went on sale earlier this year, marking a significant milestone as Apple’s first major entry into a new product category since the Apple Watch. The Vision Pro has garnered considerable attention and praise for its innovative design and features, leaving many users impressed.
The success and impact of the Vision Pro have also prompted rival companies to explore similar mixed reality headset technologies. Despite Meta's founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg praising the Meta Quest 3 as being better, lighter, and more comfortable compared to the Apple Vision Pro, Meta is reportedly looking to integrate some of Vision Pro's features into its own upcoming headset.
According to a report by PatentlyApple, Meta has recently filed a patent that appears to be inspired by Apple’s EyeSight feature found in the Vision Pro.
The patent, formally titled "Embedded Sensors in Immersive Reality Headset to Enable Social Presence," suggests that Meta may be planning to either redesign its existing Quest headset or develop a new headset model incorporating this feature.
The patent details that Meta's version might include additional sensors within the face interface, potentially incorporating health monitoring capabilities to differentiate it from Apple's EyeSight.
Apple Vision Pro’s EyeSight feature is a notable innovation designed to enhance user interaction and social presence. When someone approaches a Vision Pro wearer, the headset becomes semi-transparent, allowing the user to see the person approaching while also displaying their eyes on the headset’s external display.
This feature provides visual cues about the user’s current focus or activity, facilitating more natural and engaging communication. Although it might seem like a subtle enhancement, EyeSight fundamentally transforms how users interact with their environment and communicate with others while using the headset.
While Meta's filed patent does not disclose extensive details about the company’s plans for its next AR/VR headset, the adoption of similar technology suggests a significant nod to the impact of Apple’s Vision Pro.
The integration of features akin to EyeSight could position Meta's future headsets as competitive contenders in the mixed reality market. By drawing inspiration from Apple's successful innovations, Meta is likely aiming to offer enhanced user interaction and social connectivity in its upcoming devices.
Conclusion
The influence of Apple Vision Pro’s EyeSight feature on Meta's forthcoming headset designs highlights the competitive nature of the mixed reality industry. As companies like Meta look to incorporate innovative features from successful products like the Vision Pro, it underscores the importance of unique functionalities in shaping the future of immersive technologies. The evolution of these features will likely play a crucial role in defining the next generation of AR/VR experiences.