Introduction to Apple Vision Pro
Apple has recently launched its mixed-reality headset, referred to as the Vision Pro, which the corporate claims will revolutionize the best way we interact with computers and apps. This raises an interesting query: what does the Vision Pro mean for the long run of cycling? Could it signal the start of a brand new era in mixed- or virtual-reality indoor training? Might we at some point use mixed-reality headsets while riding outside? With Zwift confirming plans to check the Apple Vision Pro, let’s dive into the small print.
What is Apple Vision Pro?
The Vision Pro is a mixed-reality headset that runs on Apple’s recent visionOS operating system. It uses a spread of cameras and sensors to trace the user’s eyes, hands, and voice, allowing it to overlay apps, windows, and virtual desktops in a 3D interface over a live video stream or ‘passthrough’ of the actual world. This is different from virtual reality headsets, which block out the actual world and immerse users in a completely virtual environment. Apple has also distinguished the Vision Pro from augmented reality headsets, which incorporate computer-generated content into the actual world.
Can Apple Vision Pro be Used with Zwift?
The Vision Pro is compatible with iOS and iPadOS apps, and Zwift has confirmed that its app should work fantastic on the device, even though it hasn’t been specifically optimized for visionOS. Other iPad-compatible apps, akin to Rouvy, Wahoo SYSTM, and TrainerRoad, also needs to be compatible. Zwift’s co-founder and head of product, Jon Mayfield, has acquired a Vision Pro headset and shall be experimenting with using Zwift on the device soon. Zwift has explored virtual reality prior to now, demoing a prototype VR app at Eurobike in 2017, however the foremost challenge has been the shape factor of current VR headsets, which might get too hot and steamed up during intense workouts.
How Else Might Apple Vision Pro Change Cycling?
Beyond its potential use with Zwift, the Apple Vision Pro could integrate into cycling lives in various ways. For example, it may very well be used to browse cycling web sites or hearken to podcasts in a virtual environment. Additionally, it’s possible to assume a future where cyclists use augmented reality to take care of their bikes, with AI-assisted instructions overlaid on the components. Perhaps at some point, we’ll see a version of the Vision Pro designed specifically for outdoor cycling, replacing the necessity for bike computers with a real heads-up display. While Apple doesn’t appear to have considered the needs of cyclists in designing the Vision Pro, it’s possible that future versions or recent augmented reality devices shall be more suitable for cycling.
Conclusion
The Apple Vision Pro is an exciting development on the earth of mixed reality, and its potential applications in cycling are intriguing. While it’s still early days, and the hardware will not be quite ready for high-intensity sports like cycling, it’s clear that firms like Apple and Zwift are invested in exploring the chances of mixed and virtual reality. As the technology continues to evolve, it’s going to be interesting to see the way it changes the best way we experience and interact with cycling, each indoors and outdoors.
