The next Apple VR and mixed reality headset may have an interesting feature, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo (via 9to5Mac) Kuo states that the headset will be able to track eye movement by blinking, and may even include biometric iris recognition.
These seem like resources extracted directly from a science fiction novel, but they are not as crazy as you might think. Especially for a headset as advanced as Apple’s.
Apple’s VR and mixed reality headset should already come with a series of external sensors. Rumors say they are built to handle transparent AR, body tracking and obstacle detection capabilities. The headset is also configured to feature LiDAR, which will increase the accuracy of the AR capabilities.
But Apple clearly doesn’t stop there. Kuo says the Apple headset will have “sophisticated” eye tracking, which will be able to detect exactly where users are looking and whether they are blinking. This could replace portable controllers.
Kuo also mentions the iris recognition feature, which is supposed to function as an equivalent to Facial ID and will automatically identify the headset user. Iris recognition can also help to authenticate payments through the App Store and other purchases, although Kuo is unsure whether this feature will be ready in time.
None of these things are really new, of course. Eye tracking has been a feature in certain state-of-the-art virtual reality headsets, like the HTC Vive Pro, for some time. As for iris recognition, this has been a feature of Samsung’s flagships for several years – starting with the Samsung Galaxy Note 7. It’s all in the way that Apple plans to use these technologies.
What’s so good about eye tracking?
Previous reports state that Apple is working on the design of its mixed reality headsets to be powerful, but also light and comfortable. These two things rarely mix in a headset, but eye tracking can help make this easier in your own way.
If a headset can tell you exactly where the user is looking, then everything else on the screen is of little importance. This means that the headset can dynamically decrease the resolution and quality of everything you are not focused on. That way, the headset doesn’t waste CPU and GPU resources on something the user won’t see.
In addition, rendering an entire screen at the same time consumes a lot of computing power. This is especially true if the Apple headset offers an 8K screen. The smaller the area, the less computing power you need, and that means Apple can get away with using less powerful components.
In addition, by not overloading the CPU and GPU on screen elements that will not be seen, it reduces energy consumption and heat generation. This means that Apple can also use a smaller battery and a cooling system, which will help to reduce the overall weight of the headset.
The Apple VR and mixed reality headset is expected to arrive in mid-2022, and reports say it can cost $ 1,000 or $ 3,000. Either way, it was designed to be an ultra-premium headset with AR pass-through features and will act as the precursor to Apple’s high-tech AR glasses.
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