When Apple teased its Vision Pro headset last year, it also teased out the term: “spatial computing.” The Vision Pro itself became available this year, and we’ve been experimenting to see what all the fuss is about—and to try to understand what spatial computing might be able to achieve in various contexts.
Our initial take: this is the real deal. And while much of Apple’s marketing has focused on consumer uses, the most exciting potential we see is for enterprise applications. Here’s a look at three use cases we’ve uncovered for industrial organizations, where the Vision Pro’s high resolution, collaboration capabilities, and unique functionality could lead to game-changing applications.
1. How spatial computing can make training safer
Mobile apps have enabled industrial organizations to make on-the-job training and education much easier and more accessible: with training apps, workers can complete modules in short segments during their down time. They can quickly look up safety information. They can get reminders to update a certification before it lapses.
Spatial computing unlocks a whole new world of training. Thanks to the Vision Pro’s ability to create high-definition hybrid worlds, it’s now possible to teach workers how to use heavy machinery without any of the risks of operating real-world models.
Here’s how: the Vision Pro lets you create realistic 3D projections (how realistic? In one demo, everyone kept ducking to get into the cab of a nonexistent vehicle we were projecting onto empty floor space).
The training implications are significant: rather than having workers study a book or even watch videos, you can have them operate virtual equipment to experience firsthand why, say, overloading a forklift is dangerous or what happens if they don’t secure a robotic arm properly after servicing it.
The experience is just like doing the actual work—minus the risk.
For industrial companies, this means employees can do more sooner, learn the job faster, and operate more safely at all times.
And think of the potential for distance training: you could have one trainer at headquarters guiding workers at multiple facilities through use of equipment, with virtually no risk of bodily injury or property damage.
Related: Industrial organizations: scale operations to enhance employee productivity and reduce burnout
