When talking about the future of VR headsets or AR glasses, it’s easy to say the obvious – Improved resolution and field of view (FOV), better ergonomics, more advanced tracking and faster feedback, etc. This is true with nearly any technology that goes through evolution. But there are some possible future features that are less discussed or thought about.
AR/VR hybrid “XR Headsets”
A lot of modern VR headsets have a “passthrough” feature. Passthrough refers to a feature that allows users to see the real world around them while wearing a VR headset. This is typically achieved with cameras on the VR headset that puts the camera view on the headset’s display. Future headsets by expectation will be both “AR glasses” and “VR headsets” . We combine tech over time. The smartphone is a clock, calculator, camera, and far more. It makes sense we’ll combine AR tech with VR tech as a spectrum of extended reality.
Street View cars replacement
XR Headsets could potentially be used to capture and create virtual tours and other experiences in a similar way to Street View cars. One potential advantage of using AR glasses instead of Street View cars is that they would be able to capture images and information in a more flexible and dynamic way. Instead of having to plan and coordinate the movements of a Street View car, users wearing AR glasses could capture images and information in real-time, as they move through a space. This could allow for more spontaneous and dynamic virtual tours and experiences. Updates for Google Maps would be far more recent, detailed and more expansive (not confined to roads).
The New Smartphone
These headsets won’t just have the benefits of today’s headsets. We largely use them for games, but in the future they will be a suitable replacement to the little rectangles in our hands. We can currently explore the web with a Meta Quest Pro, but it’s far easier still to use a smartphone for apps. These future XR headsets could free up the user’s hands and attention, allowing them to focus on other tasks or activities while still accessing digital information. Users can interact with virtual information while walking, driving, or performing other activities that would be difficult or impossible to do with a smartphone. It’ll also count your steps
Brain-Computer Interfaces
There are some emerging technologies that have the potential to enable more direct forms of brain-computer interaction, such as brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) and neural implants. However, these technologies are still in the early stages of development and are not yet widely available. Thinking commands would be easier than speaking or typing them.
Internet of Things (IOTs)
Virtual reality (VR) headsets and the internet of things (IoT) are two technologies that are likely to become increasingly interconnected in the future. The IoT is a network of connected devices and sensors that can communicate and exchange data with each other, allowing for the automation and control of physical systems and objects. Like say a coffee machine that can start making your coffee as it senses you waking up in your bedroom. One of the ways in which VR headsets could potentially work with the IoT is by providing users with new and innovative ways to access and control IoT devices and systems. For example, users could use VR headsets to access and control IoT-enabled appliances, vehicles, and other objects in their homes and other environments by simply pointing to the item to bring up an AR menu of options. This could allow for more intuitive and immersive ways to interact with the physical world.