Spatial Computing: 3D Interactions, VR Headsets, and More
Remember the iPhone’s announcement in 2007? It felt nostalgic when Apple announced the coming of its much-awaited Mixed Reality headset - the Apple Vision Pro - earlier in June this year.?
Post this announcement, many experts published a series of articles explaining how Apple is planning to surpass Meta in the VR headset race. (Well, it just might!)
Another common factor across these articles was the repeated use of a relatively new term - spatial computing. Even Apple, in its introduction of the Vision Pro, referred to the headset as a spatial computer.??
So, What is Spatial Computing?
Is it just a fancy name for a VR Headset? Well.. no.?
Spatial computing is not an esoteric concept, at least for industry experts. It’s been vaguely used in the 3D industry for many years. Some have even interchangeably used it with the Metaverse (they aren’t entirely wrong, though).
If you search online, you’ll find multiple iterations of its definition. But if we stick to the basics, spatial computing is the process of blending virtual and physical worlds using technologies like:?
Spatial computing aims to let users virtually interact with digital environments and 3D objects while eradicating the line between physical and virtual spaces.?
Apple’s Vision Pro, for instance, overlays conventional iPhone apps onto users’ physical surroundings and allows them to navigate these apps using gestures, voice commands, and neural signals.?
Why is Spatial Computing Gaining Momentum with Modern-Day VR Headsets?
Ever since Meta, formerly known as Facebook, stepped into the virtual world, there has been a quest to make digital experiences more accessible. Whether it’s Microsoft’s HoloLens 2 or Meta’s Quest Pro, tech giants have attentively tried providing immersive experiences to the end users.?
But, so far, we have only seen VR headsets fundamentally relying on virtual reality to curate these experiences, which makes it less appealing to a broader customer base. As visually stunning as they might be, these experiences throw users into a simulation and take away the necessary sense of reality.?
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Spatial computing ventures into Mixed Reality to overcome this obstacle and make users’ interaction with the 3D world more realistic. Users can co-exist in physical & simulated environments. This facilitates immersive social interactions, even when people are sitting at distant locations.
Let’s understand this with an example.
Consider ‘X’ to be a remote organization with employees working from different corners of the world. In their monthly performance review meeting, stakeholders can ditch conventional Zoom calls and immerse themselves in a virtual conference room.?
Inside this room, they can overlay digital elements (documentation) onto their physical surroundings, control the movement of their 3D Avatars, interact with one another (shaking hands), and use gesture controls to navigate the overall space better.??
The Demand for Hyper-Realistic 3D Representation of People, Products, and Everything Else
As spatial computing becomes mainstream, businesses will have access to new ways of engaging their customers. However, to integrate spatial computing into existing business models, it’ll be imperative to have an accurate three-dimensional representation of the physical world.??
Let’s say an e-commerce business wants to set up a virtual showroom that users can access from anywhere. In addition to a virtual space, it’ll also need hyper-realistic 3D replicas of its product lineup that shoppers could try virtually.?
For a more immersive experience, the business can also devise 3D Avatars of sales representatives that could help customers navigate the showroom and find the right product.?
Enter: A Team of Skilled 3D Artists.
A team of proficient 3D artists like Ikarus3D will play a vital role in bringing these concepts of virtual worlds to reality.?
Spatial computing can only be implemented when there’s a precise virtual representation of real-life elements. 3D artists bestow the required expertise to create such three-dimensional representations and virtual elements that give people a gateway to immersive experiences.?
Future Advancements in Spatial Computing?
While Apple’s Vision Pro may look like a big leap toward spatial computing, the broader perspective makes it a mere steppingstone.?
It’s up to engineers and developers to transform these initial iterations of the technology and devise astounding experiences. It’s also safe to say that future spatial experiences will not entirely rely on bulky headsets like the Vision Pro or Meta’s Oculus Quest Pro.?
Down the line, we can see narrowed down and more ergonomically feasible versions of these headsets (ideally, wearables) that are more convenient to carry around and can be used in realistic setups without any hassle.?