According to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo (via.), The upcoming Apple VR and mixed-reality headset could have an interesting feature 9to5Mac). Kuo claims that the headphones will be able to detect eye movements, blink and may even include biometric iris recognition.
It sounds like features drawn straight from a sci-fi novel, but it’s not as crazy as you think. Especially not for a headset that is as advanced as that of Apple.
Apple’s VR and mixed reality headphones already have a number of external sensors. Rumor has it that it was built to handle transparent AR capabilities, body detection and obstacle detection. The headset is also tuned to LiDAR, which increases the accuracy of the AR features.
But Apple clearly does not stop there. Kuo claims that the Apple headset will include ‘sophisticated’ eye tracking, which can detect exactly where users are looking and whether they are blinking. It can take the place of hand controllers.
Kuo also mentions the recognition feature for iris, which apparently will function as an equivalent of Face ID and will automatically identify the user of the headset. The iris recognition can also help verify payments through the App Store and other purchases, though Kuo is not sure if this feature will be ready in time.
Of course, none of these things are actually new. Eye detection has been a feature on some high-end VR headsets for some time, such as the HTC Vive Pro. As for the recognition of iris, it has been a feature of Samsung’s flagships for years – starting with the Samsung Galaxy Note 7. That’s all how Apple intends to use these technologies.
What is so good about eye tracking?
In previous reports, it has been claimed that Apple is working on designing its mixed reality headset powerful but also light and comfortable. These two things rarely mix in a headset, but eye tracking can help facilitate it in its own way.
If a headset can see exactly where a user is looking, all the other things on the screen are of little importance. This means that the headset can dynamically scale down the resolution and quality of everything you do not focus on. This way, the headset does not waste CPU and GPU resources on something that a user is not going to see.
In addition, the rendering of an entire screen takes up a lot of computing power at the same time. 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.
On top of that, it reduces power consumption and heat generation by not overdoing the CPU and GPU with invisible display elements. This means that Apple can also use a smaller battery and cooling system, which will help reduce the overall weight of the headset.
The Apple VR and mixed reality headphones are expected to arrive in mid-2022, and according to reports, could cost $ 1,000 or $ 3,000. Either way, it is designed to be an ultra-premium headset with AR-fit capabilities, and will serve as the forerunner of the high-tech AR Apple glasses.
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