Since the presentation of the new Apple VR/AR Glasses Apple Vision Pro is Spatial Computing on everyone's lips again. For XR connoisseurs, the term is nothing new. But what exactly does it mean? Get ready to discover the exciting world of Spatial Computing to explore!
With the release of the Apple Vision Pro, the age of spatial computing could now be dawning.
The term "spatial computing" was first coined in 2003 by Simon Greenworld, a British software developer and visionary. Simon Greenworld defined spatial computing as "the interaction between man and machine in a three-dimensional space". His innovation makes it possible to use software to seamlessly integrate the computer's user interface into the three-dimensional physical world, thus detaching interaction with the computer from a static physical location.
Greenworld believed that the traditional way we interact with computers is inefficient and unnatural. He argued that we should design computers to integrate into the real world and provide us with an immersive and natural user experience.
Greenworld's vision of Spatial Computing was inspired by developments in Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented reality (AR). VR allows users to immerse themselves in a completely artificial environment, while AR projects digital information into the real world.
The foundations of spatial computing are based on augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies. AR extends our real world by integrating digital content into it, while VR immerses us in a completely artificial environment. Spatial computing combines these technologies and opens up a new level of Immersion and interaction.
Spatial computing enables collaboration and communication regardless of physical location, promotes the merging of digital and real worlds in industrial applications and optimizes workflows in various sectors such as design, industry and medicine. It also has the potential to create productive working environments in smart offices and comfortable living spaces in smart homes by using contextual data for automatic adjustments.
Spatial computing and virtual reality are two technologies that are often confused with each other, but there are some important differences between the two. Virtual reality (VR) is a technology that gives users the opportunity to step into a completely immersive experience. virtual world immerse yourself. This virtual world is often accompanied by a VR goggles that covers the user's entire field of vision. Spatial computing, on the other hand, enables users to see and interact with digital content in the physical world. Compared to the personal computer, which works with traditional input devices such as a keyboard and mouse and has no direct spatial relationship, spatial computing enables interaction via gestures, voice and gaze control as well as the seamless integration of content into three-dimensional space. This content can be displayed on a smartphone, tablet or AR glasses.
There are many advantages over conventional digital interaction technologies. One of the biggest advantages is that it offers a seamless and immersive user experience. Users can see and interact with digital content in the physical world as if they were part of the physical world. This enables companies to create unique and immersive to create user experiences that inspire and retain users. Another advantage is that it offers the opportunity to place digital content in the physical world. This can be useful to draw users' attention to specific products or services.
Spatial computing is based on a range of technologies and devices that work together to provide us with an immersive and interactive experience. These include data glasses such as the Microsoft HoloLens 2 and the Meta Quest 3that serve as an interface between us and the digital world. These glasses allow us to see virtual objects in our real environment and interact with them.
Another important component of spatial computing are depth cameras such as the Microsoft Azure Kinect and the Intel RealSense D450. These cameras capture the depth of the real world and enable devices to seamlessly integrate virtual objects into the real world. By combining data glasses and depth cameras, we can see and interact with digital content in our physical environment.
Other technologies such as controllers also play a role, Hand tracking and Eye tracking play an important role in spatial computing. Controllers simulate physical objects and provide a haptic interface for interaction. Hand tracking enables us to interact with the environment in a natural way by recognizing our hand movements. Eye tracking captures the movements of our eyes and enables more intuitive control of the virtual environment.
The basis of spatial computing is the real-time 3D rendering capability of the devices. This technology requires high computing power, as all visible objects need to be redrawn up to 60 times per second. Various approaches are used to meet these requirements, including powerful gaming PCs, standalone headsets and cloud rendering solutions.
Azure Kinect depth cameras
Depth cameras such as Azure Kinect and Fento Bolt are essential for spatial computing as they capture precise 3D data that is used to recognize and interact with the physical environment in real time. These cameras enable the creation of detailed digital models of the environment, which are essential for applications such as AR, VR and robotics.
How it works: Depth cameras emit infrared light and measure the time it takes for the light to return from objects (time-of-flight technology). This allows them to determine the exact distance to any point in their field of view. The resulting data is processed into depth images or point clouds, which represent a detailed 3D model of the captured environment.
Various companies have specialized in spatial computing and are driving the development of this technology. Here are some of the leading companies in this field:
Microsoft is a pioneer in the field of spatial computing and offers HoloLens 2, one of the best-known AR glasses on the market. HoloLens enables users to see and interact with digital content in their physical environment. Microsoft continues to invest heavily in the development of spatial computing technologies and has developed a powerful depth camera with Azure Kinect.
Meta (formerly Facebook) has launched the Oculus VR platform has contributed significantly to the popularization of VR. The company continues to develop VR and AR technologies and recently announced its vision of the Metaverse a digital environment in which people can interact with VR and AR devices. Meta strives to fully exploit the potential of spatial computing and create new opportunities for social interaction and collaboration. The latest device from the company Meta the Quest 3 is often compared to the Apple Vision Pro in terms of its features. However, the comparison is not entirely accurate, as the Quest, at €550, is a much cheaper product than the Vision Pro, which costs over €3000. Although both devices have similar features, you can't expect the much cheaper Quest 3 to be on a par with Apple's premium model.
Google is another company that has invested in the field of spatial computing. With projects such as Google Glass and ARCore, Google has developed innovative AR technologies. The company is also working on integrating AR and VR technologies into its various products and services to create immersive and interactive user experiences. However, Google has exited the hardware business following the failure of the Google VR Daydream glasses withdrawn. Google Daydream was a competitor product to the cell phone VR system Samsung Gear VR was intended. However, it could not keep up with the software diversity of the Samsung Gear VR.
With the introduction of the Apple Vision Pro, Apple has established spatial computing as part of its product strategy. The Apple Vision Pro is a VR/AR goggle that focuses on productivity and creating a virtual 3D work environment. Apple has a reputation for innovative and user-friendly technologies and is expected to play a significant role in the further development of spatial computing.
The future of spatial computing is promising, as more and more companies and industries are recognizing the potential of this technology. It is expected that there will be even more applications and uses in the coming years. One area that could be further developed in the future is the integration of spatial computing into everyday objects such as glasses and smartwatches. This could make spatial computing an integral part of our daily lives.
In addition, technological advances are expected to further improve the performance and usability of spatial computing devices. New display technologies, more powerful processors and advanced tracking systems will enable us to create even more realistic and immersive experiences.
Overall, spatial computing offers an exciting future with endless possibilities. It has the potential to revolutionize the way we interact with digital content and create new immersive and interactive experiences. From the entertainment industry to education, healthcare and industry, spatial computing is expected to play a significant role in many sectors.
Are you interested in developing a virtual reality or 360° application? You may still have questions about budget and implementation. Feel free to contact me.
I am looking forward to you
Clarence Dadson CEO Design4real
