Leah Martin – This content is created by ATM journalism students at Cégep de Jonquière.
Virtual reality allows access to a fictional digital universe and is often used for video games, while augmented reality allows elements to be added to the real world. By combining the functionalities of virtual and augmented reality, mixed reality enables the addition of digital and partially fictional content to the user's real environment. Everything works through a screen built into a helmet that is physically similar to ski goggles.
Crossing technology boundaries
So far there are only two headsets that use this technology, Apple's Vision Pro and Meta's Meta Quest 3. Their uses are similar but are controlled and differentiated differently. The Vision Pro detects the movement of the user's eyes and fingers when operating and the Meta Quest 3 uses controllers instead.
According to Sébastien Bisson, head of virtual and augmented reality laboratory development at Proteus-VR, Apple's new device stands out for its market value and performance. “The Apple Vision Pro is a very high quality headset, it costs $4,500 and has the best resolution and processor available. It also utilizes multiple features such as eye tracking, facial recognition, and voice recognition.
Bisson says headsets like the Meta Quest 3 are considered mainstream headsets because of their cheaper cost and lower performance. With Apple's headset, it's the way you connect with the environment around you and the ease of use that make the difference.
On the way to new horizons
Even though Apple's Vision Pro headset isn't available in Canada yet, a device like this will be a near-essential tool for companies like Stratéolab. Located in Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, the laboratory specializes in the creation of virtual and augmented reality projects. According to Desneiges Laberge, project and communications coordinator at Stratéolab, the use of technologies such as mixed reality will open up new work and project opportunities.
“As soon as the Vision Pro is available, we will definitely get a headset to try it out […] We believe that this will break taboos and that other companies will not have the opportunity to develop very quickly,” she explains.