Keller understandably scotches the idea of a
large headset, noting the limited circumstances
- including “things like games and other
pieces of entertainment, or in some capacities
education” – in which general consumers could
use it. He yearns instead for something closer
to North’s Focal smart glasses, which display
phone-based notifications, including text
messages, social posts and calendar events, on a
minimal display. From the outside, these glasses
closely resemble standard spectacles.
That would be an attractive target for Apple
to hit with its own AR eyewear. Keller explains:
“Because eyeglasses are very common in our
everyday lives, people would be less hesitant
to actually use Apple’s AR glasses.” The glasses
shouldn’t mean uncomfortable distractions for
either onlookers or the wearer, he elaborates
- hence why he reckons Apple Maps-style
walking directions could work well on the
glasses, as this would spare the necessity of
repeated glances at a phone.
FROM GLASSES TO FULLY-FLEDGED
HEADWEAR... POTENTIALLY
The rumors about Apple’s AR headwear plans
have been so diverse that it’s not entirely
obvious they are all referring to the same
product. For example, back in November 2017,
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, usually one of
the most accurate predictors of future Apple
products, reported that the headset would
use its own custom operating system dubbed
“rOS” for “reality operating system”, but it’s
unclear whether this report referred to the
glasses or a more ambitious headset.