Apple made its first major headline of the year last week when the tech giant announced a release date for the Apple Vision Pro, its first major foray into virtual reality hardware.
The high-priced, high-powered headset is expected to be a huge seller, despite its hefty price tag of more than $3,000.
Before Apple jumps into the market, however, let's take a look at the history of VR headsets, starting with the early days.
Virtual reality headsets have come a long way since their early days as bulky, expensive contraptions. Today's headsets are more affordable, comfortable, and powerful than ever before. And with Apple's recent announcement of its new VR headset, the future of VR looks brighter than ever.
Here's a brief look at the evolution of VR headsets:
- Virtual reality headset history - The early days: The first VR headsets were developed in the 1960s, but they were primarily used for research and military applications. These early headsets were incredibly heavy and uncomfortable, and they required powerful computers to operate.
- Virtual reality headset history - The homebrew era: In the 1990s, VR enthusiasts began building their own VR headsets using inexpensive components. These homebrew headsets were still relatively clunky, but they made VR more accessible to the public.
- Virtual reality headset history - The commercial era: In the early 2000s, commercial VR headsets began to hit the market. These headsets were more polished and affordable than homebrew headsets, but they were still relatively niche products.
- Virtual reality headset history - The mobile era: In 2014, Oculus released the Oculus Rift, the first VR headset designed to work with smartphones. The Rift was a huge success, and it helped to usher in the mobile VR era.
- Virtual reality headset history - The mainstream era: In 2016, Facebook acquired Oculus for $2 billion. This acquisition sent a strong signal that Facebook believed in VR's potential to become a mainstream technology.
- Virtual reality headset history - The Apple era: In 2023, Apple announced its new VR headset, the Vision Pro. The Vision Pro is expected to be released in 2024, and it's rumored to be one of the most advanced VR headsets on the market.
Apple's entry into the VR market is a major sign of the growing popularity of VR. Apple is known for its sleek design and user-friendly products, so its VR headset is likely to appeal to a wide range of consumers.
So, what does the future hold for VR headsets? It's hard to say for sure, but it's clear that VR is becoming more and more mainstream. As VR headsets become more affordable and comfortable, more and more people will be able to experience the magic of VR.
Here are some of the ways that VR headsets are being used today:
- Gaming: VR gaming is one of the most popular applications for VR headsets. VR games allow players to immerse themselves in virtual worlds and experience games in a whole new way.
- Entertainment: VR is also being used to create new forms of entertainment, such as VR movies and TV shows. VR concerts and other live events are also becoming increasingly popular.
- Education: VR is being used in schools and universities to teach students about a variety of subjects, from history to science to engineering.
- Business: VR is also being used in businesses for a variety of purposes, such as training employees, designing products, and marketing products and services.
The future of VR headsets is bright. As VR technology continues to advance and VR headsets become more affordable and accessible, VR is likely to become an even more important part of our lives.
