Apple Reinvents Personal Computing. Again.
And Again.
Welcome to the age of Spatial Computing!
It is speculated that the company will debut its much awaited XR headset at its Worldwide Developers Conference on June 5th.
June 01 20234 mins read
Circa 1983, Apple launched Lisa. The cover page of its brochure proudly stated: ‘Apple invents the personal computer. Again.‘
Lisa was a personal computer with a Graphical User Interface (GUI) and a mouse. Prior to the Lisa, machines relied on text-based interfaces and keyboard input. Anyone who wanted to master personal computing had to invest up to 40 hours doing so. With Lisa, Apple promised to cut this down to 20 minutes.
And even though a high price-point caused Lisa’s commercial failure, Apple’s bold proclamation on its brochure proved true. Lisa’s successor, the Macintosh, borrowed the same GUI, and went on to revolutionize the personal computing industry. The Macintosh was a resounding success, and its popularity gave wings to several ubiquitous software products including Adobe’s Photoshop, and Aldus PageMaker (now InDesign), which were designed specifically for it.
the age of Spatial Computing
Now, nearly 40 years later, we find ourselves on the cusp of yet another reinvention of the personal computer, once again by Apple. It is speculated that the company will debut its much awaited XR headset at its Worldwide Developers Conference on June 5th.
Though the company hasn’t even confirmed the launch of the headset, expectations and rumors abound. By all accounts, it seems the headset is poised to kickstart the next wave of computing: the age of spatial computing.
Spatial computing removes the biggest barrier of the man-machine interface that has long plagued mankind—the need to use a 2D interface for a 3D machine to function in our 3D world. For too long, humans have had to adapt and learn to work with computers. Apple’s AR Device will bring the power of computing to where it rightfully belongs—our hands.
It’ll bring forth a world where a sculptor would design creations just as they would in real life, a sound editor would manipulate 3D waveforms, and industrial designers would work and prototype in 3D. If Apple’s device succeeds in taking AR and VR mainstream, it would eliminate the need for consumers to have several electronic devices. Why buy a TV when it can be projected in AR? Why buy a gaming console when you can immerse yourself in a game’s world?
This goes beyond simple replacements or alternatives to existing technologies. Yes, many AR and VR devices already exist. Several of them work well functionally. However, we are still bullish on Apple’s ability to transform industries through their new product releases. Why? Because the company has proved this ability time and time again.
Apple Computers - Over the years
It started with the personal computing revolution. Almost 20 years after that, Apple transformed the music industry with the release of the iPod. Several MP3 players already existed in the market back then, but it was the iPod that put thousands of songs into the pockets of millions of consumers. And few years after that, the company launched its latest revolutionary product: the iPhone.
The iPhone was initially marketed as three products in one- an iPod, a music player, and a bridge to the internet. A year later, this jumped to fifty products as Apple launched the App store. Apps turned the iPhone into a gaming arcade, a calculator, a video player, a photography studio and a lot more. It changed the way people shop, read the news, scan documents, and organize their lives- it set the status quo that persists to this day.
Apple VR / AR Headset
Well, unless and until Apple shakes things up again. That’s why its headset release is such a big deal. It isn’t just like another iPhone upgrade- it is a launch with the potential to redefine an entire product category AND several industries.
Truly capable AR eyewear will usher in a new economy of digital assets, such as AR Pets, AR Fashion, and AR Digital Identities, with alternative looks and outfits visible only to others wearing an AR device. AR filters are going to get a new meaning altogether, such as abilities to mask/filter/censor out contents of the real world that you don’t want to see. The device’s VR capabilities will lead to a new era of productivity for designers, product managers, engineers, gamers, movie producers…pretty much everyone.
Apple has been developing its XR device for almost a decade now, and has acquired some hi-tech XR companies including NextVR and Akonia Holographics to aid in its quest. Considering these investments and the tech giant’s track record, it seems reasonable to expect something truly groundbreaking.
Witnessing computing shift from rooms to desks to bags to pockets and now to our eyes- it’s an exciting time to be alive.
The final page of Apple’s Lisa brochure reads
"Now that you know where the world's going, consider the advantages of getting there first."
Once you’re done considering, reach out to us at hello@xrlabs.co, and we’ll get you there.
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