Apple’s next mixed reality headset will be equipped with an advanced eye-tracking system, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said, tonight in a note to investors that was seen by MacRumors.
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The eye tracking system will have a transmitter and receiver that can detect and analyze eye movement information, providing users with images and information based on algorithms.
Apple’s eye tracking system includes a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitting end provides one or more different wavelengths of invisible light, and the receiving end detects the change in invisible light reflected by the eyeball and judges the movement of the eyeball based on the change.
Kuo says that most headgear devices are operated by handheld controllers that cannot provide a smooth user experience. He believes there are several advantages to an eye tracking system like the one Apple will use, including an intuitive visual experience that interacts seamlessly with the external environment, more intuitive operation that can be controlled with eye movements and reduced computational load in the form of resolution reduced where the user is not looking.
There is no word yet on whether the Apple headset will be able to support iris recognition, but Kuo says that based on the hardware specifications, an iris recognition feature should be possible. If this can be implemented, Kuo hopes that users will be able to use it for a “more intuitive Apple Pay method” when using headphones.
This is not the first time that we have heard rumors of an eye tracking system. The information said earlier that the headset will have advanced eye tracking capabilities, along with more than a dozen cameras to track hand movements.
Kuo said earlier this month that Apple would launch its mixed reality headset in “mid-2022”, with the headset being followed by augmented reality glasses in 2025.
Previous rumors have indicated that the headset will offer VR / AR features, as well as other mixed reality headsets on the market. The headset will include Sony Micro-OLED monitors to provide a “transparent AR experience” as well as a VR experience.
Bloomberg said the headset will be a “virtual reality device”, offering a 3D environment for games, watching videos and communicating. AR functionality will be limited and Apple plans to include powerful processors to handle gaming resources.
The headset is expected to be “portable” and lighter than other helmeted VR devices on the market, but it will have a premium price and can cost around $ 1,000 in the United States.