Apple pitched its Vision Pro headset as a revolutionary device for everyone, but the scientific community has other ideas. New research analyzing the first wave of Vision Pro studies reveals an unexpected trend: the medical field has embraced the technology with unprecedented enthusiasm, while other disciplines remain largely on the sidelines.
A recent systematic review examined every scientific paper about the Vision Pro from its June 2023 announcement through early 2024. The findings paint a striking picture: medical applications dominate early research, accounting for 62.5% of all scientific publications about the device.
The medical focus spans multiple areas. Surgical teams are exploring the Vision Pro’s potential for precise procedure planning, using its high-resolution displays to visualize complex 3D anatomical models. Ophthalmologists are investigating its applications for visual impairments. Medical educators are developing immersive training simulations that could transform how future doctors learn.
But it’s not just about medicine. A smaller but significant body of research explores psychological applications, particularly in therapy and emotion recognition. Legal scholars are tackling the privacy implications of the device’s sophisticated biometric tracking. Communication researchers are studying its potential for immersive remote interaction.
Yet the research landscape reveals surprising gaps. Despite the Vision Pro’s obvious potential for fields like design, prototyping, and user experience research, these areas are notably absent from the current scientific literature. Gaming applications, whether for entertainment or serious training purposes, have also received little attention.
The researchers highlight practical challenges that need addressing. The device’s weight and battery life limitations could affect its usefulness in extended medical procedures. Privacy concerns around biometric data collection remain significant hurdles.
This early research focus could have lasting implications. Initial scientific studies often shape development priorities and funding decisions, potentially steering the Vision Pro’s evolution toward medical applications at the expense of other innovative uses.
The findings suggest we might be witnessing an unexpected pivot in spatial computing. While Apple designed the Vision Pro as a multipurpose device, the scientific community’s intense medical focus raises an intriguing possibility: could this “computer for everyone” evolve into a predominantly medical tool? With languishing sales, and an uncertain future, it would be hard enough to predict, but Apple isn’t known for niche products these days. It is just too big a company to scale that way. And there’s the problem.
Reference
Burlando, F., Chen, B., & Barresi, G. (2024). Una rivoluzione nella Realtà Estesa? Review della primissima letteratura scientifica riguardante Apple Vision Pro e le sue implicazioni. https://iris.unicampania.it/handle/11591/547244
