My Experience with Apple Vision Pro: Redefining Reality and the Implications for Tomorrow

Apple’s Vision Pro is here. If you know me at all, you can already bet that my preorder was in as I anxiously awaited release day. I watched all the videos and demos. I knew (or at least I thought I knew) what awaited.

Before we dive into my experience with Vision Pro, let’s talk about what sets this technology apart. It's not just another gadget – I have lots of those. As I thought about its many implications, I realized it's not merely about the device itself, but the ripple effects it creates for how we work and how we live. Apple has created a new playground for our future. Their overarching influence in the tech space is undeniable. They put ideas into existence and test the realm of possibility – opening the doors for developers worldwide to drive toward even more innovation.

Vision Pro is a testament to Apple's ability to push the boundaries of what's possible. From its applications in healthcare to its implications for the future of work, the possibilities are seemingly endless. Imagine a world where doctors can conduct remote consultations through augmented reality or one where we won't need to type anymore; we'll simply talk to our devices, seamlessly dictating our thoughts into communication. It’s also encouraging to think about all the beautiful, unintended consequences this technology will bring to improve our lives, our health, our well-being.

Of course, amidst my excitement – I felt like a kid waiting for the Toys“R”Us catalogue to come in the mail so I could eagerly circle everything I wanted – was the weight of concern for what this technology means for us as individual, creative human beings.

Is all this innovation inhibiting independent thought and imagination?

At what point does my voice being intertwined enough with my AI voice where I just accept it’s “close enough” and the blurred line disappears?

Can we strike a balance between convenience and creativity with augmented reality at the helm?

Or are we destined to become the humans in one of my favorite movies, WALL-E? You know, the scene where the humans sit on a conveyor belt of recliners with screens covering their faces, completely numb to the physical world around them? … Eek, too close for comfort, that one.

These thoughts and so many more entered my mind as I waited for release day.

It's Here

The day arrived. I rushed to the Apple Store for my appointment to pick up my Vision Pro. What struck me most when trying out the device for the first time is its otherworldliness. I can’t understate the reality and the immersion. It's a bizarre, future thing that’s hard to fully grasp until you’ve tried it. Even though I watched all the videos, it can’t compare to having it on yourself.

But for all its marvels, Vision Pro is still very much a first-generation product. It's the most amazing yet janky thing I've ever encountered. Its weight presses on my cheeks, a constant reminder of its physical presence in an augmented reality.

It's a strange sensation, this feeling of being present in my home office and yet simultaneously immersed in a virtual world. I place an app in my office – I see it there hovering above my desk. I get up and go to the kitchen for a snack. The app stays put in my office until I return. It's truly redefining my perception of space.

For all the possibility it presents to revolutionize our lives, I’d be remiss not to mention the fun parts, too. Take the “Encounter Dinosaurs” experience available on the device. Listen, I’ve heard the argument as to whether this is all virtual or augmented reality. Honestly, doesn’t really matter. A dinosaur just came at me. A dinosaur just interacted with me. It’s the most surreal experience I’ve ever had in my life.

A photo of this blog in my Vision Pro – very meta, I know.

There’s a lot more for the device to learn and do, and it will be many iterations before Vision Pro is up to the standards of the Apple products we know and love today. Critics will be critics, but this device isn’t just a device. It represents a world of possibility, pushing the industry forward for a reimagined future. (Remember the widespread skepticism when the iPhone was first announced?)

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: 2024 is a pivotal year. Where we sit now in February versus where we’ll be on December 31st will be drastically different. And I can’t wait to see what comes next – likely through my Vision Pro lenses.