Stepping Out of the Cave: Enter the Era of Spatial Computing

Plato’s allegory of the cave, first told in his work, "The Republic," presents a group of prisoners chained in a cave, facing a wall since birth. These prisoners witness the dance of shadows cast by objects carried along a walkway, illuminated by a fire behind them. Having no exposure to the outside world, the prisoners accept these shadows as their only truth.

But when one of the prisoners is freed, Plato describes the painful enlightenment process. The freed prisoner is initially disoriented, then gradually comprehends that the so-called reality was a mirage. This story perfectly depicts the human journey from ignorance to knowledge, urging us to seek a deeper understanding of reality beyond immediate perceptions.

Fast forward over two millennia to today, and Plato is starting to sound like a prophet. Enter the world of “spatial computing.”

The landscape of mixed-reality headsets is still in its infancy, and while some are adamantly against such an invention fearful of looking like a dork while wearing it, one thing is certain: when Apple enters a category you better believe dorks will be turned into princes.

But unlike the popular belief that Apple would be competing with Meta’s Quest, their headset innovation was destined to have higher aims: their very own MacBooks. While Mark Zuckerberg is playing with cartoon characters in a fictional world with the hopes of furthering his vision of bringing people together, Apple, as per usual, appears to be the adult in the room.

Enough with the game-like avatars that serve no purpose but to feel like you’re an early adopter. Apple’s Vision Pro brings real people into the Augmented Reality experience. And while there are elements of Virtual Reality to it, the initial demos are depicting adults using it like a computer - a spatial computer might I say (bravo Apple marketers, you did it again).

While most are horrified with the price tag on the Vision Pro, there are a few points of reference that are being overlooked. Its price shouldn’t be compared to the Quest goggles - this is being positioned as a “spatial computer”, meaning it has the right to compete with other fancy laptops. Secondly, this is version 1.0, and I cannot wait for what the next 5 years will bring in this space. Much like the first iPhone, spatial computing may seem like just a rebranding move; however, the significant investment by Apple suggests a more strategic one—a calculated risk in a space brimming with potential, and a shield against Meta's existing monopoly.

Augmented Reality headset shipments are projected to grow seven-fold in the next 5 years (while VR headsets, which currently dominate the market, are forecasted to slow down its growth trajectory). And similarly to the Apple Watch, which took five iterations to finally catch on (with the addition of health monitoring), and the iPhone which was originally seen as an over-priced smartphone that wasn’t taken seriously until its fourth iteration, I suspect that the Vision Pro goggles will likely take less time than that to go mainstream.

Whenever Apple makes a move, the world watches. Apple’s entry doesn't just validate a category—it revolutionizes it. By integrating geeky tools with their operating ecosystem, Apple creates products that attract everyday consumers. It's not just about the product; it's about selling an exclusive lifestyle, an allure that makes you want to be part of the club (and if you happen to be watching the fireworks from outside the park, it’s only a matter of time before you join in).

So, while spatial computing is currently an esoteric domain for developers and gamers, Apple's entry promises to make it mainstream. Imagine logging into a Zoom meeting, where every participant is present through their spatial computing devices, immersed in a work environment only limited by creativity. Suddenly, the traditional keyboard seems prehistoric.

But, before we get too excited here let's not forget the final part of Plato’s allegory. The enlightened prisoner, after experiencing the world outside the cave, returns to liberate his peers. Yet, his tales of the outside world are met with skepticism and hostility. As we stand on the precipice of this new computing era, many of us may relate more to the prisoners than the enlightened explorer.

Our society today has a “technology fetish.” Just scroll Twitter for 5 minutes and you’ll see tech bros promising to transform your entire life if you just sign up to their tech newsletter and courses on AI. Whenever something new and exciting is created, the vultures come in droves. Get rich quick schemes, false promises, the ticket to freedom. It’s all too predictable.

We often forget that humans of today aren’t that different from their ancestors of thousands of years ago. We resist change, we are limited by our five senses, we are plagued by our irrational anxieties, all proving again and again that no matter how many fancy new toys we get, our levels of happiness and life satisfaction always come back down.

So, while the future of spatial computing is bright and promising, the idea of strapping on goggles and diving into an enhanced world can feel a bit overwhelming right now. It may take time to adjust, just as the freed prisoner took time to adjust to the sunlight. Yet, as we step out of the cave and into this new era of mixed-reality computing, we are bound to discover truths far more incredible than the shadows we once perceived as the end all and be all.

But until then, you can find me eating popcorn comfortably in my cave.

PPA