When Tim Cook used Apple’s Vision Pro headset for the first time, he described it as an „aha moment„—a feeling I also experienced when I first used the device. If we are lucky, we get a few of those industry-defining moments in a lifetime, and spatial computing is shaping up to be one of them.
Spatial computing has found its feet thanks to the arrival of innovative devices that offer a huge leap in usability and many new potential use cases. These devices offer better software integration and features that include eye tracking, gesture control and voice commands.
Already, several virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality (MR) devices are jostling for our attention, including the Apple Vision Pro, Meta Quest Pro and Quest 3, HTC XR Elite, Magic Leap 2, Microsoft HoloLens 2 and RealWear Navigator 500, with more coming down the pipeline.
While many associate this „aha moment“ only with VR and AR, spatial computing includes much more than VR, AR or MR. In fact, many of spatial computing’s applications and use cases have been widely adopted. Let’s look at what this means for businesses.
A Shift In Business Cases
Over the last few years, there has been a shift from spatial computing applications being mainly focused on traditional manufacturing or industrial settings—for use cases like training, maintenance and remote assistance—to broader adoption in office settings.
Devices like the Apple Vision Pro provide high-resolution displays and spatial awareness that enable realistic virtual meetings and collaborative environments. Other potential use cases include creating prototypes without needing physical models in car design, virtual product demos and visually analyzing intricate systems like supply chains or financial models.
For example, in a recent spatial computing hackathon that my company put on, one participant—an advertising company—found that it was losing both time and money on video shoots due to miscommunication on lighting. By building a fully operable digital lighting console that the production crew could navigate on Apple Vision Pro using their eyes, hands and voice, they could alter lighting requirements on shoots to increase efficiency.
This underlines spatial computing’s growing importance as a tool for strategic, creative and smart decision making processes rather than only manual or operational functions. As these devices become smaller, lighter and user-friendly, they will become standard for many office workers.
AI And Spatial Computing
AI will significantly enhance spatial computing by improving its functionality, interactivity and scalability.
By leveraging AI technologies like machine learning, computer vision and natural language processing, spatial computing applications can become more intelligent, adaptive and capable of delivering personalized and context-aware experiences.
For example, AI algorithms can analyze user behavior, preferences and contextual data to create bespoke spatial computing experiences, such as customized virtual collaboration spaces. With generative AI, users will be able to interact with the virtual world but also get the AI agents to perform specific tasks, instructed in virtual environments and executed in real life.
In healthcare, this powerful combination can highlight important details within a surgeon’s view as they carry out a complex operation. In education, smart spatial tutors can guide students through tailored learning packages. Likewise, AI-powered spatial ads can be customized according to user preferences, creating more engaging marketing campaigns.
Why Reaching Spatial Computing’s Potential Will Take Time
Because of its potential, Gartner forecasts that spatial computing will enhance organizations’ effectiveness over the next five to seven years, streamlining workflows and significantly improving collaboration. By 2033, the firm predicts that spatial computing’s market size will grow to a massive $1.7 trillion, up from $110 billion in 2023.
However, spatial computing comes with initial challenges, which will take time to address. Here are a few of the challenges to consider:
1. The high cost of advanced hardware can be prohibitive for many—not just end-users but also developers who create the applications.
2. Spatial computing solutions often utilize multiple technologies, platforms and solutions, which can challenge integration and interoperability.
3. They can also significantly alter workflows and processes. Retailers, for example, may need to move from 2D product images to 3D models for AR displays.
4. Organizations must also work around complex regulations regarding data protection and user privacy, given that spatial computing harvests enormous amounts of personal data, including biometrics.
None of the hurdles is impossible to overcome—price tags will inevitably drop; technology will advance further—but they are worth considering at the moment.
The Immersive Future
Spatial computing is a truly transformative technology that will change our lives. Merging AI in the spatial environment, we will create new immersive experiences that will be both more real and personalized to our needs. There is massive innovation potential as the lines between the real and digital world continue to be erased.
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Foto: GETTY
