Apple recently released the first SDK for visionOS, which offers a glimpse into the upcoming spatial computing experience called Vision Pro. With the Vision Pro developer guidelines, Apple gives developers valuable guidance to provide the best possible user experience. In this article, we take a look at the guidelines and discuss some interesting aspects of the Vision Pro ecosystem.
Third-party Vision Pro apps are expected to play a crucial role in increasing the device’s appeal. Apple encourages developers to provide the best user experience and gives them advicehow they can achieve this. In the area of fitness apps in particular, Apple emphasizes "visual comfort" and warns against overwhelming movements. These guidelines raise interesting questions, since Apple itself has not yet introduced any fitness applications for Vision Pro.
Realistic experiences and passthrough function
A key focus of the Vision Pro developer guidelines is on creating realistic experiences. Apple recommends anchoring content in virtual space rather than connecting it to the user's head to enable natural interaction. Shadows and occlusion also help with depth perception, but should be used sparingly. visionOS offers a number of tools to create a natural world, such as automatic window resizing. Another interesting feature is the passthrough feature, which allows AR and VR content to be blended into the real environment. Developers are encouraged to experiment with different levels of transparency and let users choose the level of immersion. Additionally, visionOS offers the ability to use "ornaments" to keep buttons and controls easily accessible without covering the content.
The Future of Apple Vision Pro
With the release of the first visionOS SDK and the Vision Pro developer guidelines, Apple is giving a taste of the upcoming spatial computing experience. The inclusion of third-party apps will play a key role in increasing the appeal of Vision Pro. Developers should pay attention to the guidelines to ensure an optimal user experience, especially in terms of visual comfort and realistic experiences. The passthrough function enables the seamless integration of AR and VR content into the real environment. With visionOS and Vision Pro, Apple is on the way to shaping an exciting future of spatial computing. (Image: Apple)