t is rumoured that Apple are planning to develop Augmented Reality (AR) contact lenses, although it is clearly a somewhat distant product considering Apple’s AR wearables are still to be released. However, the almost futuristic Sci-Fi insertable version which could be placed directly onto the eyeball may offer a virtual heads-up display in the not so distant future. Apple is known to research products well in advance, so it's certain that the tech team at Apple will be evaluating the potential capabilities and researching the technology that would be required for such a device.
To date, Apple’s only available AR effort has been the introduction of ARKit in 2017, which is limited to physical screens. Originally, AR objects were transient single-user experiences which asked the user to move around their smart device to locate surfaces and temporarily place AR objects, the latest implementation is much quicker and can be anchored on a world map and viewed by others. The best examples of this technology can be witnessed through the newest and most expensive Apple devices, the iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max or the 2020 iPad Pro, all of which include LiDAR scanners.
Apple is now known to be working on various wearable devices for both virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality. The Apple Glass rumour has recently been resurfaced, with the headset apparently looking very similar to a pair of regular glasses, with the ability to overlay graphics on reality, which we might see available in 2025. Another device that Apple is working on is the AR/VR helmet, which may be released as early as 2022. The device will be a much further advanced version of current VR headsets currently available on the market, with a price tag to reflect it. And now, the most innovative concept, but furthest away is the idea of AR contact lenses, which we may see sometime after 2030. However, by then, who knows how much more advanced the technology will be.
It is no secret that Apple CEO Tim Cook is a massive fan of AR technology and views it as the future. There is a growing desire from consumers for technology that is powerful, easy to use and unobtrusive. The ultimate form of the personal computer will work like magic, the familiar phrase that Apple often uses to describe its solutions. Which means that devices must respond to hand gestures and voice command while simultaneously taking into account the current surroundings and conditions.
Over the next few years we will see the processing power required to drive augmented reality devices might require something similar in size and weight to an iPhone. However as the technology becomes more powerful it may eventually shrink to the size of a contact lens. Users will be able to view information in the form of graphics overlaid onto the real world like the stuff of Sci-Fi movies or video games. Everyday life in the future may come with a heads-up display (HUD) to display information directly in the wearers line of sight.
With the advances Apple are making with AR devices, the possibility of use cases are endless, however the work required to get there is still substantial. Although the earlier versions of Apple AR products will be more limited, the future is so bright that users will have to wear shades … or possibly contact lenses by Apple.
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