Report: Apple Continues to Explore Health Capabilities of Vision Pro

[Surf Monkey]

As I mentioned above, I’m self employed. I don’t understand this constant need to judge other people’s lives as though you know or understand us.

I’ve been an independent contracting graphic artist working from home for over 20 years.

AVP will allow me to attach a Bluetooth keyboard and use Apples native apps like Pages, Numbers & Keynote, Safari & Freeform which is where I do most of my work. So yes, I will be able to use it as I use my laptop.

Again, that it doesn’t work for you doesn’t mean it won’t work for me.

So you think Pages and Numbers, Keynote and Safari are the killer apps for AVP?

 

[Surf Monkey]

TBH, conversations with myself are often far more productive than those with co-workers. Limiting interaction with co-workers (deliberately or through a self-employment situation) is not inherently unhealthy any more than having those interactions is inherently healthy. I think a “healthy” lifestyle involves all aspects of your life, especially what you do OUTSIDE work.

Humans are social animals. Isolation does not come naturally to them. As a creative I thrive on the feedback of my peers and coworkers. Sure, some offer little of value to the project at hand, but that’s just part of any work place or working context.

 

[Surf Monkey]

Again and again, there are numerous people on Mac Rumors who are so intent on hating the AVP that they have to denigrate anyone and anything that might remotely feel positively toward the AVP.

This is unfair. A similar argument can be made in the other direction: “Apple faithful will love and line up behind anything and everything Apple shoves in front of them regardless of quality, usability, necessity or lack there of, of said product and will relentlessly trash anyone who has anything critical to say no matter how valid or invalid.” But it isn’t productive to make because it isn’t true any more than your version of it is.

 

[Surf Monkey]

Did I say that? No. But I have a very specific use case that in my estimation will enhance the work I do.

Can you just accept that some of us like the AVP without having to ridicule us?

I haven’t ridiculed you. Criticising the product is not criticizing or ridiculing you.

 

[Surf Monkey]

The irony of much of this "social isolation" criticism is that I want the AVP precisely FOR social isolation.

The work I do requires me to be in an extreme state of Flow. When I'm working I NEED to be isolated. Disruptions harm my ability to do the work I do.

I'm hopeful the AVP helps me with this.

And, again ironically, the project I'm working on is specifically focused on how to better improve social connections in our lives.

No one has disputed this. If you crave isolation, good for you. I wasn’t talking about you specifically. I was talking about consumers generally.

As far as “sad” goes, your description sounded sad to me. I’m sorry you found that offensive.

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

I hope they explored the health of eyes eyeballs being positioned right in front of a display

 

[nocsi]

Anyone tried using Vision Pro while driving yet?

 

[subjonas]

sitting down in isolation is not good for your health

In excess. Always standing and having people around you is not realistic, and probably not good for your health either—in excess. You need both—it’s a fact of life. The thing everyone is ignoring is that the real issue is balance, because that takes individual responsibility which is not popular to talk about in this day and age.

 

[subjonas]

I hope they explored the health of eyes eyeballs being positioned right in front of a display

I’m gonna go out on a limb and say they did, because of financial motivation alone. They would have researched before potentially wasting millions of dollars in R&D, not to mention the millions they would lose in lawsuits if it turns out to be a real issue.

The fact is photons are photons, whether directly from a source or bouncing off objects before entering the eyes, whether they originate from a distance or up close. It doesn’t inherently change. What potentially damages eyes are things like brightness and intensity, and how a screen forces your eyes to focus unnaturally. Brightness/intensity can be adjusted to whatever is healthy, and so can focus. Something people don’t realize about headset displays is that you aren’t focusing on the display itself like you do a phone screen. You are looking past the display into a 3D world (pass through real world or virtual). It’s different from looking at a normal screen which only has a fixed focus. For that reason a headset might even be potentially better for eyes than a normal screen. It would of course be contingent on several factors.

 

[victorvictoria]

What makes you think I don't get exercise? Spell of tech? I'm hardly unique working on my computer and watching movies. But hey, glad to see that you have my best interest at heart.

I worry about ALL people who only mention work and couch. You can watch TV on a treadmill or stationary bike, too!

 

[Surf Monkey]

In excess. Always standing and having people around you is not realistic, and probably not good for your health either—in excess. You need both—it’s a fact of life. The thing everyone is ignoring is that the real issue is balance, because that takes individual responsibility which is not popular to talk about in this day and age.

The success or failure of this product hinges on individual responsibility?

 

[subjonas]

The success or failure of this product hinges on individual responsibility?

No

 

[Surf Monkey]

I’m gonna go out on a limb and say they did, because of financial motivation alone. They would have researched before potentially wasting millions of dollars in R&D, not to mention the millions they would lose in lawsuits if it turns out to be a real issue.

The fact is photons are photons, whether directly from a source or bouncing off objects before entering the eyes, whether they originate from a distance or up close. It doesn’t inherently change. What potentially damages eyes are things like brightness and intensity, and how a screen forces your eyes to focus unnaturally. Brightness/intensity can be adjusted to whatever is healthy, and so can focus. Something people don’t realize about headset displays is that you aren’t focusing on the display itself like you do a phone screen. You are looking past the display into a 3D world (pass through real world or virtual). It’s different from looking at a normal screen which only has a fixed focus. For that reason a headset might even be potentially better for eyes than a normal screen. It would of course be contingent on several factors.

Except that “photons are not photons.” When you look at the world around you the light comes to your retina from all different directions. It’s scattered and refracted and reflected etc. before it hits your eye. A screen on the other hand is emitting the photons in a unified direction. Additionally your eyes don’t have a refresh rate… but a screen does. We already know that phone and computer screens can cause eye heath issues. Is it safe to assume that placing a screen a few millimeters from your eye is 1) the same as looking at the real world 2) safe for extended exposure? The differences between an image of reality and reality itself in terms of how your eye and brain process them extend well beyond these examples. And this isn’t even to mention the IR emitters that point at your face too.

Has Apple actually considered all of this and accommodated for it? Has anyone solved these issues? We’ll have to wait and see…

 

[subjonas]

Except that “photons are not photons.” When you look at the world around you the light comes to your retina from all different directions. It’s scattered and refracted and reflected etc. before it hits your eye. A screen on the other hand is emitting the photons in a unified direction.

Photons hitting at an angle vs head on—it’s an interesting proposition, I don’t know how much difference there is to our eyes between a photon at an angle vs a weaker photon straight on. But either way, I don’t think your conclusion is at all a given. 1) screens don’t emit photons in a unified direction, that’s why we can see them from many viewing angles. I think that would be a laser. And 2) I’m not sure our pupils are big enough that it would make a significant difference. The headset displays are larger than our pupils, so photons will be hitting our pupils at all angles regardless.

Additionally your eyes don’t have a refresh rate… but a screen does.

True, but there is a point at which the brain can’t appreciably distinguish refreshes. Not sure what that number is. If the display is not fast enough, then yes breaks will be required.

We already know that phone and computer screens can cause eye heath issues. Is it safe to assume that placing a screen a few millimeters from your eye is 1) the same as looking at the real world 2) safe for extended exposure? The differences between an image of reality and reality itself in terms of how your eye and brain process them extend well beyond these examples. And this isn’t even to mention the IR emitters that point at your face too.

Has Apple actually considered all of this and accommodated for it? Has anyone solved these issues? We’ll have to wait and see…

It’s good to ask these questions and get answers. You’re right, we won’t know anything for sure until we get data.

 

[X38]

I don't absolutely love it. In fact, I've offered in writing more than once that it could turn out to be a big pile of...

I lean positive on the concept because of how much time & money Apple has put into it. It is my experience that Apple usually puts out good tech stuff. Can they make mistakes? Of course they can. But their track record is above average and I'll let that bias me a bit to the positive on this brand new product from Apple after 6+ years in development.

Rather than jump to a conclusion that it IS a pile of..., I reserve judgement until I can see it and try it myself. Right now, it's still mostly vapor, into which we can imagine any amount of negative of positive. I certainly see some very positive potential in it- like the ability to have a desktop-sized screen or two wherever I might try to get work done on a laptop.

However, I readily acknowledge some of the negatives:

• It IS something on people's faces.
• It WILL be a weird thing to see for at least a while out in the wild (as is all new, very visible things)
• 2-hour battery life seems towards pitiful.
• The cord to connect headset to battery seems to have great snag potential.
• That rumors say they can't even make very many implies small uptake even if they sell every unit they make... and small numbers do not excite developers.
• Price seems VERY high, even for Apple vs. fairly popular competitors already established (very iPod-like when it launched vs. established competitors).
• Will heavy usage lead to acne issues, blemishes, sustaining marks on a face?
• Vpro hair (like bed head) on removal?
• Etc. (there's plenty of tangible, plausible fuel for pessimism)

Obviously, I can readily take a pessimistic stance too. There's clearly a number of apparent features & benefits I do NOT love.

But, I can then switch lenses and see obvious, sizable benefits too. For me that any-size screen, anywhere I want to get some laptop work done is HUGE... a very obvious solution to a very tangible problem for me. As is, many tech makers are trying to find ways to put bigger screens in mobile use scenarios with Folds and Rolls. I see this as an Apple crack at the same without the crease & mechanical wear... and far larger screens than the 2X or 3X potential in unfolding/unrolling pocketable tech.

Working on an ultra-wide desktop most of the time, an ultra-wide laptop screen without the weight and size of a same-sized physical laptop is VERY APPEALING to me. So against my issues with 2-hour battery life, price, cord, thing on my face, etc. I can see many positives too.

If you were to read a good cross-section of my posts, you would see that I'm neither extremist Apple fan nor extremist Apple pessimist. I should come across as clearly somewhere in the middle... as objective as I can be, solely biased to viewing all through a CONSUMER (not a stockholder) lens. Sometimes, that has me faulting some Apple decisions and products and sometimes I'm praising. But I'm never an extremist.

And for products that do not interest me at all- like Apple Watch- I waste no time in threads about Watch, as there's nothing for me there and I don't expect to save anyone from owning something that doesn't interest me. To the millions and millions who own and love an Apple Watch, good for them. I'm glad it exists for them.

I don’t necessarily completely agree nor disagree with all that you have said, but I respect the thought you have put into your perspective and your efforts to communicate it. Most especially, I respect your nuanced, sincere, and open minded commentary and find it useful and worth my time to have read.

I only wish there this forum could have more thoughtful dialogue such as yours and less of the herd mentality, snarky posts from mindless attention sluts trying to out troll each other.
For some reason, AVP articles seem to be a particularly strong attractor for useless, repetitive, and uniformed posting that just gets in the way of actually interesting, productive discussion about something that has potential to become a rather significant topic.
Thank you.

 

[svish]

Good to know. But some of the rumoured features will definitely take many years to be released.

 

[Damian83]

What’s next? Apple exploring penis enlargement capabilities of vision pro? 🤦🏻‍♂️