Blending the physical with digital

The highly anticipated Apple Developer Conference WWDC23 came and went. As expected, the main buzz of the event is the Vision Pro AR headset —?which comes with Apple's first spatial system (visionOS), a new R1 chip, and a hefty $3499 price tag.

"... with Vision Pro, you're no longer limited by a display; your surroundings become an infinite canvas." —Tim Cook

• You can navigate the visionOS simply by looking at apps, buttons, and text fields — and make a selection by pinching your fingers together in the air.
• You can look at the microphone button in the search field and speak to dictate text. You can also use Siri to open/close apps, play music, etc.

Based on what I have read so far, it looks like the initial use cases will likely come from enterprises and institutions. Imagine education, healthcare, manufacturing, or even banking.

With that being said, however, I can only imagine how much fun it could be watching Formula 1 or Star Wars with the Vision Pro. I suppose as long as we don't have to think about the cost for a family of four devices, and how awkward it might be with four people sitting around — each wearing a headset. (I did jokingly ask if this was one of the reasons why Apple rolled out Buy Now, Pay Later so people can afford the devices.)

Some initial reactions

All jokes aside, here are some first reactions from those who have tried the headset.

First, from Joanna Stern | The Wall Street Journal on the user experience: "The Vision Pro is different from any other headset I’ve tried because of how easy it is to toggle between seeing the real world and the digital world."

"It feels like Apple stuck a giant Apple Watch on my head — in a good way."

Perhaps more telling is what Joanna wrote in the end.

Apple is differentiating itself with an experience that is fully grounded in reality. This is not virtual reality where you escape your surroundings. Instead, it’s all about bringing the digital world to your real world.

Another interesting read is from Matthew Panzarino | TechCrunch : "I came away convinced that Apple has delivered nothing less than a genuine leapfrog in capability and execution of XR — or mixed reality with its new Apple Vision Pro."

And the eye tracking and gesture control? It is near perfect, according to Matthew.

This is just the beginning

Remember the skepticism when Apple first released the iPhone in 2007? People dismissed it as a niche —?because who would want to carry an expensive mini computer with no keyboard?

But we know how the rest of the story goes. Not only did the iPhone design become an icon —?the device has also enabled the creation of many new businesses from ride hailing to mobile banking.

So while the price point for Vision Pro is a bit hefty, and there are still some challenges to be solved, I do look forward to the innovative ideas that it can stimulate.

"Meet the customers where they are" may have just taken on a new meaning.

For those who missed the keynote, you can watch it here.

If this is a topic that is of interest to you, make sure you follow Dr. Martha Boeckenfeld and read her recent post: The world is your canvas.

Don't forget to pick up a copy of Chris Duffey 's new book: Decoding the metaverse. And stay tuned for a new episode of One Vision, where we chat about his new book and more.

Meanwhile, Theo Priestley — as always — leave us with some deep thoughts.

This is also a good time to read up the minibook by Cathy Hackl and Lily Snyder — A Wearable World: Your Guide to the Post Smartphone Future powered by AI, AR, and Spatial Computing.

____

This week on One Vision ...

AI is becoming a crucial part of our personal and professional lives. With increased adoption, the need to address data bias and privacy is more urgent than ever. In this episode of One Vision, I chat with Laura Kornhauser and Deniz A. Johnson from Stratyfy , on their journey from bias detection and mitigation, to driving greater financial inclusion and mitigating risks for financial institutions.

There is always going to be bias in the data. The question is not so much so if the data is biased; but more so on how it is biased. It is not a set and done deal, according to Laura Kornhauser .

Increasingly, regulators will require more transparency on how decisions are made by algorithms, control on how such such powerful technologies will be utilized —?and ultimately, how individuals and small businesses will be impacted. Innovate responsibly: Do not run fast and break things.

Give this episode a listen and let us know what you think.

"When AI meets IQ: Responsible innovation matters"

____

In other news ...

I am thrilled and grateful to be included in American Banker 's inaugural Most Influential Women in Fintech. It is an absolute honor to be included with all the amazing women in the industry.

I will be attending the Digital Banking Conference and Awards Dinner in Boca Raton, and I look forward to reconnecting with some of my colleagues and friends there.

____

Recently, I wrote about cloud adoption in financial services industry for AT&T Business . You can check out the full article here.

____

Wait .. you made it to the end!!

So here is a teaser: Stay tuned for something super exciting from Arunkumar Krishnakumar and myself. It may have something to do with a topic I just moderated at the recent Finovate Spring. Hang tight!

____

Beyond Good is available now on Amazon, Barnes & Noble,?Bookshop.org, Kogan Page and anywhere books are sold. You can check out what others are saying about our book?here.?

If it resonates, please leave us a review on?Amazon?or goodreads.com.?

Thank you!

****

As always, thank you for reading. If you enjoy my posts ...?

?? Ring it on my profile so you don't miss the next one.?

? Subscribe to this LinkedIn newsletter?"The FinTech Prose"?and share it with your network.?

?? Hit like and comment to let me know your thoughts.?

? Drop me a review on my book Beyond Good on?Amazon.