The term 'Metaverse' originated in Neal Stephenson's 1992 novel, Snow Crash, where it depicted a virtual realm offering an escape from reality for characters. Stephenson's visionary concept of the Metaverse has since transitioned from fiction to (virtual) reality over the past decade. Augmented and virtual reality technologies have advanced the concept of the Metaverse, now capable of manipulating the real world and immersing users in digital experiences.
This year marked Apple's eagerly anticipated debut into this dynamic technology with the launch of its Apple Vision Pro. Apple refers to its brand of AR and VR metaverse technology as “spatial computing”, that “seamlessly blends digital content with the physical world”, using hand and eye tracking for a fluid digital experience. The technology, coming in with a hefty price tag of $3,499, hasn’t been enough to put off Apple enthusiasts, with analysts suggesting that initial sales have been between 160,000 and 200,000.
