Just a couple of days before the official launch of the Vision Pro, some insiders have already gotten their hands on the headset. And naturally, first impressions ensue: I mean, we’d be excited to open the box and play around with Apple’s spatial computer as soon as possible too.
But while everyone is trying to figure out if the Vision Pro is one of the best VR headsets ever or not, there seems to be one thing on which almost everyone agrees on: some features of the Vision Pro need more work, chief among which are Persona and EyeSight.
And this ties neatly with an Apple patent from way back in 2017, which RoadToVR remembered just in time. Given the alleged state of Persona and EyeSight on the Vision Pro and what the competition — primarily Meta via headsets like the Quest 3 — is doing with the concept of a virtual avatar, I’ve got to ask:
Can customization save these features on the Vision Pro?
So, the Vision Pro is a pretty unique piece of technology and as such I wouldn’t blame you if you don’t quite remember what Persona and EyeSight is, so let me help you out with that:
EyeSight is the Vision Pro feature that brings out your eyes on the frontal display of the device, aiming to help you remain connected to those around you while wearing the headset.
Persona is what Apple calls the virtual avatar it creates for you via the Vision Pro. It can represent you in meetings within and beyond the Apple ecosystem, and it might even get to do more once it goes out of the Beta testing phase it is currently in.
So, what are the resounding opinions from the tech community on these — maybe not groundbreaking, but still unique — features of the Vision Pro? Honestly, the perfect word is “grounded”.
We can’t say for ourselves yet, since our unit is still on its way, but from what we’ve seen, everyone thinks that Personas have a heavy uncanny valley vibe that really highlights how much of a work in progress the feature really is.
A solid representation of the Persona conundrum on Vision Pro, courtesy of the WSJ.
My favorite example is how long hair just remains static, as if a part of a 3D model from a game made in the 90s. It just sits there, awkwardly unmoving, like a hunk of plastic.
And EyeSight? Well, it’s based on Persona, so some of the issues translate over, but more than that: it just doesn’t get enough time to shine. That, or, it makes so little of a difference that wearers — and those around them — maybe just don’t take it into account in the way Apple intended.
But what about this patent then? Before we go over it, this is your obligatory reminder to take it with a few grains of salt, as patents don’t always lead to products.
Salt applied? Good then. It’s about customization. It illustrates a headset’s external display showing not only human eyes, but also ones in an animalistic style or even an anime one, which I’m sure will be a hit with some communities.
An example image from a patent that Apple submitted in 2017.
So here’s my question: when Persona comes out of Beta and the feature becomes a bit more capable — maybe even featuring hair movement — could Apple actually let you customize the resulting model? After all, Meta already does that and it even has a store based on the feature, allowing you to purchase customization items separately.
Here’s my two cents: if Apple actually allows users to slightly customize their Personas, even at the cost of practical realism, that may not only lead to more desirable outcomes — because users would be able to control what goes where and how, in my mind at least — but also in better feedback for the scanning algorithm itself, which Apple can then use to further improve the feature.
Will that end up being the case? Time will tell. And we’ll make sure to let you know what we think of Persona and EyeSight in their current condition as soon as we get our own Vision Pro unit.
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Stan, also known as Stako, is a smartphone enthusiast who loves exploring the limits of Android customization. His journey with mobile tech began with the Nokia 5110 and evolved with devices like the BlackBerry 9350 Curve and Samsung Galaxy A4. Despite his love for Android, he holds equal respect for Apple, considering the iPhone 4s as a significant milestone in mobile tech. Stan started his writing career early, contributing to MetalWorld, and harbors a passion for creative writing. Beyond smartphones, he's interested in photography, design, composition, and gaming, often preferring solo projects to hone his objective thinking. He's also an avid student of open-source technology and consoles, with a special fondness for the Pebble Watch, Arduboy, and Playdate.
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