Apple vision pro
The Apple Vision Pro promises to revolutionize our interaction with the digital world.
This post touches on its hardware in relation to Industrial Design principles. There are plenty of articles and videos covering more information about the Vision Pro, I've linked some at the bottom.
At first glance, the Vision Pro exudes minimalism. The large glass goggle front, light aluminum trim and light fabric headband look soft and uncluttered, particularly after viewing any other VR headset. Richard Howarth, VP of Industrial Design at Apple, said their goal was for it to not feel "too techy." It was designed with many flexible materials, soft textures and soft forms to make it more approachable.
The Light Seal is the plastic and foam covered in plastic that forms to your face. If you scan your face with an iPhone or iPad before ordering a Vision Pro, it will be custom fit to you. It’s attached via magnets for easy removability to clean, but it can be tricky to not detach it while wiping the smudge-prone glass front.
There are two buttons on top: the left button takes spatial videos and photos, and the one to the right is the Digital Crown which pushes to open Home View and rotates to switch between virtual environments. The left button slightly protrudes its surface to be easy to find while wearing the headset. The Digital Crown protrudes even more and incorporates a grip to guide users to rotate it.
Audio Straps are on either side of the device delivering spatial audio to your ears. The speakers are housed within pill-shaped forms which follow the soft form aesthetic Apple was striving for. A downside is that it's loud enough for someone nearby to listen to what you're listening to, so you'll want to pair to wireless earbuds when taking a private call.
Two fabric headbands are included. The Solo Knit Band, which is demonstrated in videos most often, has a dial to adjust its length. The ripple pattern on its back allows for stretching and improves breathability. The Dual Loop Band looks closer to traditional VR headset straps where one wraps around the back of your head and the other over the top of your head. It seems like the Dual Loop Band is more comfortable but people are criticizing the weight of the headset resting mostly on your face.
Another major criticism is the power cord running to an external battery. Meant to reduce the weight of the headset, it could also be seen as an added safety measure from a malfunctioning battery exploding near your head. Regardless, the battery has a USB-C port to charge or to use the headset for long periods of time while it's plugged in, so there are two wires running from your pocket.
There's praise and criticism online that all have good points. As more users share their experiences, we'll certainly find a valuable case study in how this design may shape our experiences with technology.
Insightful Apple Vision Pro links:
Wallpaper* interview with Apple design team article.
