Are the XR races starting again? Last year it felt that multiple XR firms were rushing to get ahead of the pack with a year full of hype and innovation.
That innovation still exists, of course, although, following a slow first half of 2023 for the immersive industry, a breakout AWE 2023 and Apple Vision Pro announcement brought new life to the market. Once again, industry leaders are gathering resources to get ahead.
Apple’s spatial computing vision and initial productivity focus have brought renewed mainstream interest into XR workplace tools, perhaps with a core focus on AR, MR, and assistive reality solutions.
The gates are open as the second half of 2023 approaches. Leading industry firms will try to end the year on top – as 2023’s industry innovators.
NVIDIA Champion Enterprise-Grade Digital Twins
It’s digital twin month here at XR Today. The innovative technology solution provides businesses with accurate virtual renditions of real-world locations, objects, and people.
The solution can save enterprise end-users considerable amounts of money. For example, design teams can send digital twins of products to overseas executives, allowing them to review iterations accurately without spending money and time on travel.
Technology leader NVIDIA is helping to drive the digital twin adoption revolution in the enterprise. This week, the firm showcased how technology can advance climate research.
At the Berlin Summit for the Earth Virtualization Engines (EVE) initiative, NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang explained how digital twins could unlock critical insights into climate patterns, their impacts, and the best way to approach green initiatives.
Through its Earth-2 initiatives, NVIDIA has collaborated closely with climate researchers and policymakers, supporting the integration of AI and accelerated computing into digital twin frameworks.
Moreover, NVIDIA is working with Siemens as part of the latter’s Xcelerator programme for promoting innovation of digital twin and automation technologies. The programme also looks to leverage digital twins, XR, and Metaverse technologies to reach environmental goals.
Sieman’s is personally adopting digital twins to support research into next-generation and zero-emissions all-electric aircraft.
Vision Pro Assembly Partners Reduce Forecasts Following Production “Difficulties”
Reports emerged early this week that highlighted how some of Apple’s assembly partners are reducing forecasts surrounding the production of Vision Pro devices.
Apple’s overseas manufacturing partner Luxshare Precision Industry Co is reducing its initial product assembly to 400,000 units, down from Apple’s 1 million unit forecast. Moreover, Luxhare was also internally expecting to produce 18 million units annually in the coming years.
On the other hand, two of Apple’s component manufacturing partners are also reducing expectations to a different number, with Apple only requesting enough components to produce roughly 130,000 to 150,000 units. Moreover, Apple expressed dissatisfaction with its Sony and TSMC suppliers when it hosted WWDC 2023.
According to quotes from those close to the subject, Apple faces manufacturing “complexity”, leading to “difficulties” in production. Notably, the Vision Pro’s micro-LED and curved, outward-facing lens is causing significant production hurdles.
Finally, last month, XR Today reported on the discovery of a bill of materials (BOM) analysis – that consultancy Wellsenn XR found – which highlighted that the materials used in the Vision Pro cost roughly $1,590, almost half the cost of the $3.499 device. The report also revealed some of Apple’s assembly partners, including some of those the firm is expressing dissatisfaction with.
Xreal to Take on Apple
Yesterday, Xreal debuted Apple Macbook integration for its Nebula operating system (OS) – following the Nebula for Mac service debuting as a Beta in November 2022.
Nebula for Mac allows users to connect an Xreal product to a Macbook computer to stream immersive content up to 102 inches in size on immersive screens. The Macbook integration enables Apple users to enhance productivity using virtual screens as second monitors via Xreal brand immersive hardware.
By operating a MacBook computer with Xreal Air devices, users could leverage the Nebula infrastructure to turn their MacBook into an AR-ready mobile workstation – similar to Apple’s recently unveiled spatial computing vision.
Following its beta release, Xreal’s Nebula OS comes with a collection of new features allowing MacBook users to get a spatial computing experience today – ahead of the Vision Pro’s pricey debut in 2024.
In a survey conducted by Streetbees, the group found that 50 percent of questioned individuals aware of the Vision Pro are excited about the device, and a further 27 percent intend to buy it. The StreetBee study also found that Vision Pro’s price point leads to 54 percent not wishing to purchase the product.
The numbers could suggest a sizeable swingable consumer base that is interested in spatial computing but also deterred by Apple distribution methods – this may give Xreal a perfect chance to swoop in as a serious spatial computing player and Apple competitor.
Moreover, Xreal said in an earlier report that it is close to shipping 200,000 units. It is unclear how close the firm is to the landmark sales figure. However, in May, Xreal confirmed around 150,000 shipments. This is a far greater number than Apple’s slashed production forecasts.
SenseGlove Nova 2 Haptic Glove
New hardware is coming. This week innovators in immersive haptic feedback hardware, Senseglove, opened pre-orders for its Nova 2 product, the sophomore follow-up to the firm’s first haptic device.
The Nova product portfolio comprises of gloves which direct pressure-based feedback to the palm and hands of a headset operator.
The firm first debuted the initial model of the Nova device at CES 2021, with global shipments opening for the product in May 2022.
The firm is debuting the Nova 2 product as an enterprise-grade tool to increase immersion in training, research, and multi-player use cases.
The wireless product allows headset users to realistically interact with and receive haptic feedback from a virtual object, with the advanced device imitating an object’s feel relative to its shape and stiffness.
The Nova 2 also provides some of its haptic feedback via an “active strap” that applies pressure to the palm of a user.
The device also provides accurate finger tracking, replicating real-life finger and hand positioning in a virtual space.
SenseGlove is currently running pre-orders for its product starting at €5,999.
