YouTuber Mark Rober Talks Working at Apple on VR Headsets in Self-Driving Cars

[MacRumors]

YouTuber and engineer Mark Rober has discussed his experience working for Apple's Special Projects Group, where he authored patents involving virtual reality in self-driving cars.

Back in 2018, it was revealed that noted YouTuber and former NASA engineer Mark Rober had been quietly working for Apple's Special Projects Group on several projects related to virtual reality. While Rober has since left his position at Apple, the company has continued to update and pursue patent applications based on his team's work.

Rober has now openly discussed his work at the company on Marques Brownlee's Waveform podcast, talking about Apple's feelings on Rober continuing his YouTube career while working at the company and how his work was uncovered by the press. He discusses his research, which explored uses for VR headsets in an autonomous vehicles, such as to prevent motion sickness and show simulated virtual routes, how Apple supports employees that generate ideas, and the implications of inventing concepts at the company.

Article Link: YouTuber Mark Rober Talks Working at Apple on VR Headsets in Self-Driving Cars

 

[iBreatheApple]

just reading the title…. Uh, is he gonna get in trouble? Watching video now…

Edit: questions answered

 

[HappyDude20]

Is it legal for him to openly discuss this?

I’d say congrats MacRumors for posting this but it was really Mark Rober who did.

 

[nvmls]

Didn't even watch, but you are welcome for the comment.

 

[HappyDude20]

Is it legal for him to openly discuss this?

I’d say congrats MacRumors for posting this but it was really Mark Rober who did.

I spoke too soon. Saw the video and he can definitely discuss it considering the patents are public.

So this is pretty much official now that AR glasses are coming from Apple.

 

[IanL]

I spoke too soon. Saw the video and he can definitely discuss it considering the patents are public.

So this is pretty much official now that AR glasses are coming from Apple.

While I agree that an Apple AR headset is very likely coming, Apple patents a *lot* of technologies and products that never see the light of day. Just because they have a patent on something doesn't mean they ever go through the process of putting it into production -- they just want to make sure the IP they develop is protected if they ever do

 

[Ashbash75]

Remember the old saying "Those that can't do, teach"? Now it seems those that can't even teach, turn into a "content creator" 🤣

 

[szw-mapple fan]

Remember the old saying "Those that can't do teach"? Now it seems those that can't even teach, turn into a "content creator" 🤣

Good educational content creators can teach a whole lot more people better and more effectively than those who teach students offline.

 

[Morgenland]

False recruiting by Apple: Narcissistic traitors and busybodies should never be hired. This jack betrays his former team. I wish he feels legal consequences and no chinese girls.
After all, he covers a strategic project America (not just Apple) tries to maintain its technological edge.

In China, this kinda boy would be immediately in prison.

 

[flofixer]

Interesting when he talked about the VR headsets being the size of sunglasses. Maybe he has seen some prototypes.

 

[UltimateSyn]

Somebody archive this video. If he’s telling the truth then it won’t be up long. Also wouldn’t be surprised if he sees legal action.

Edit: Listening now, nevermind. He seems to be doing a good job of only openly discussing what's described in the public domain patents that he co-authored.

 

[Macalway]

In the future everyone will be a traitor for 15 minutes.

 

[satchmo]

And here I thought he was just a glitter bomb maker.

 

[Ashbash75]

Good educational content creators can teach a whole lot more people better and more effectively than those who teach students offline.

Depends on what you are teaching but I agree up to a certain degree. Just read the comments on any you tube channel. Many comments go unanswered as they have all mighty cash making view/click!

 

[oneMadRssn]

Apple better have some ground-breaking innovative applications here, because as it is now I have zero interest in VR.

 

[ponzicoinbro]

VR.

Inside an autonomous car.

On public roads.

With traffic.

Tech companies can’t even release laptops and monitors without glitches.

 

[citysnaps]

While I agree that an Apple AR headset is very likely coming, Apple patents a *lot* of technologies and products that never see the light of day. Just because they have a patent on something doesn't mean they ever go through the process of putting it into production -- they just want to make sure the IP they develop is protected if they ever do

As I've mentioned previously in other posts... Apple has been collaborating with Stanford University's VR/AR laboratory for at least six years. Add in ARKit, some prototypes recently shown at Siggraph, etc and it's pretty clear that there will be an upcoming release.

 

[jav6454]

This guy is about to be hit with so many lawsuits due to NDA breaches.

Even with public IP, there is always a risk.

 

[Enlightened Doggo]

This story is certainly bringing out some strange takes. People who discuss their very civilian work are not traitors. Workers don't owe corporations their lives, and executives don't deserve credit for personal accomplishments.

 

[IanL]

As I've mentioned previously in other posts... Apple has been collaborating with Stanford University's VR/AR laboratory for at least six years. Add in ARKit, some prototypes recently shown at Siggraph, etc and it's pretty clear that there will be an upcoming release.

As I mentioned, I don't disagree that there's an upcoming release. My contention is just with the idea that just because there are patents that that inherently implies that the patented technology will become a product (or that any possible impending product is coming out soon just because we see patents for it).

 

[cateye]

This story is certainly bringing out some strange takes. People who discuss their very civilian work are not traitors. Workers don't owe corporations their lives, and executives don't deserve credit for personal accomplishments.

It's because there's a significant audience that draws a great deal of their identity from a for-profit corporation. From that comes a dissonance and hostility when faced with the alternate viewpoint that corporations deserve not one inch more of servitude than what is defined by a bill of sale. I willingly pay for Apple products and get every penny of my money's worth. If Apple wishes me to play internet white knight, casting former employees to the wolves for imagined insolence long after their employee relationship has ended, they can pay me instead. Doing so for free is madness.

 

[CarAnalogy]

Why do all Youtube preview images have to be so off the charts cringy and ridiculous? It's so off-putting.

 

[Hyperchaotic]

While I agree that an Apple AR headset is very likely coming, Apple patents a *lot* of technologies and products that never see the light of day. Just because they have a patent on something doesn't mean they ever go through the process of putting it into production -- they just want to make sure the IP they develop is protected if they ever do

Yes, I've worked for several large companies that campaigned internally for patents. The engineers were asked to always consider if anything was patent-able and there was engineering and legal staff to help. If we submitted a patent application we got a bonus and if it was approved we got a second bigger bonus.

Patents could be related to our current work but didn't have to be, it could be anything coming into our heads slightly related to the industry.

 

[CarAnalogy]

VR.

Inside an autonomous car.

On public roads.

With traffic.

Tech companies can’t even release laptops and monitors without glitches.

I think the end-game vision is that there won't be any more human controlled traffic. The cars talk to each other / the roads / the traffic control system and the humans just ride inside virtual reality eggs.

Considering how humans drive now and how many people die each year in car accidents, the bar is very very low. The hardest part will be machine drivers sharing the road with human drivers. Kind of a chicken and egg problem. Can't get the people off the road until autonomous driving is a near perfect replacement, but can't get there with a bunch of humans still on the road.

 

[IanL]

Why do all Youtube preview images have to be so off the charts cringy and ridiculous? It's so off-putting.

Because user and view stats support that those kinds' of thumbnails/preview images bring in more clicks than less-cringey and ridiculous ones.

I don't know *why* that's the case, but it is and I can't really fault content creators from embracing that to draw in more views