How we watch movies has changed a lot over the years. Originally we would have to seek movies out at a community screening. Then television allowed us to watch films at home. Physical media then allowed us to watch films without needing to rely on scheduling. Streaming followed, allowing even more flexibility and now reality headsets are starting to make impressions.
Today we are looking at Apple’s Vision Pro. We will look at its positive and negative points and see if it represents the future of home media viewing.
What is it?
Apple Vision Pro is described as a VR/AR headset. It works by feeding video of the world through cameras on the front of the headset to internal displays. In this feed of the real world, users can then interact with applications in a way that makes them appear to have a presence in physical space. Essentially, allowing applications to be mapped into the real world.
Changing Home Viewing?
So what possibilities does Apple Vision Pro have for watching media at home? Well, the introduction video outlines how users can create huge display windows, or use virtual reality cinema rooms to watch media in whatever space is available. And with technology that allows for more detailed picture quality, and impactful sound that allows users to have a more cinematic home experience. Its portability also helps to make cinematic experiences more accessible for people who cannot get to the cinema.
Additionally, the device has voice control and eye sensors. Which can allow some disabled users quicker access to media.
With the availability of features that enable a more immersive experience, for example, inbuilt compatibility with 3D films with already added depth that makes the experience more noticeable and the capability to experience 360-degree photography and VR, Vision Pro can help to foreground immersive experiences more in the minds of viewers and filmmakers.
Or A Gimmick?
However several flaws will hinder the Vision Pro from becoming the go-to for home media viewing. The obvious first point is that the $3499 price needed to access it is absurd. Especially as it only enables one person to experience it. This won’t be a problem for people living on their own, but for people who want to watch something as a group, Vision Pro offers nothing. Unless you watch through online devices together. Which is a lot to go through to watch something together in the same room.
Additionally, there are accessibility faults as well. For example, if you need glasses Vision Pro is only really vision-friendly if you buy prescription lenses separately. Which again racks up the price point for users. There is also the problem that wearing something mildly heavy on your head for long periods will cause discomfort. If you are sat up the Vision will weigh down on your neck. If you are reclined the pressure of the strap and headset can still be uncomfortable, which is not fun if you like to watch films for long stretches. To say nothing of the discomfort that can come from staring closely at a screen for an extended period.
The Vision Pro also has a relatively short battery life (around 2.5 hours). This means that it doesn’t cater to binge watchers unless it’s plugged into mains power. Additionally, users’ comfort can be impacted by cables restricting movement or by not having a plug socket within 1.5 metres of a comfortable space.
Also, there is no way to connect external sources on your headset through a HDMI cable. Meaning, if something is unavailable to stream then you might be unable to access it on Apple Vision Pro. Thereby artificially limiting what Vision Pro users can use the device to watch.
Conclusion
Overall, the Vision Pro has great potential to bring cinematic and immersive experiences to home users. Its accessibility features for disabled users make it a valuable media-accessible resource. However, it still has some accessibility blind spots. It also runs into many inherent issues that make it unsuitable for communal media-hungry consumers, with its current pricing also a huge entry barrier. It looks like it’s still going to be a while before reality headsets take over home entertainment.
Also Read: The Technology Inspired By Star Trek
