July 23, 2024 – In a surprising move, Meta has filed a patent application revealing its intention to integrate a version of Apple’s controversial “EyeSight” feature from the Vision Pro into its own line of virtual reality headsets. This announcement by Meta has garnered significant attention within the tech community, particularly given the mixed reception and potential discontinuation of the feature by Apple itself.
According to industry insiders at 9to5mac, while it’s not unexpected for Meta to keep a close eye on competitors like Apple and draw inspiration from their innovations, the decision to replicate a feature that has garnered negative feedback and is rumored to be phased out by Apple comes as a shock.
Vision Pro’s “EyeSight” technology, which debuted with much fanfare, aimed to address a significant challenge in VR headsets – social isolation. By scanning users’ faces and projecting virtual eye images onto external displays, Apple claimed it had bridged the gap between virtual and real-life social interactions. However, the reality fell short of expectations, with many users criticizing the discrepancy between the advertised capabilities and the actual experience, with some even labeling the feature as pointless.
Rumors suggest that Apple may scrap the “EyeSight” feature altogether when introducing a more affordable version of its VR headset, the Apple Vision. Nonetheless, Meta appears undeterred, as evidenced by its patent application titled “Embedded Sensors in Immersive Reality Headsets for Enhanced Social Presence.” The patent further indicates that Meta is contemplating a redesign of its flagship Quest headset to accommodate this functionality.
In an attempt to differentiate its offering, Meta highlights that its implementation of the feature may incorporate health sensors within the facial interface. This strategic move underscores Meta’s ambition to not only replicate but potentially improve upon the original concept, capitalizing on the flexibility afforded by patent law, which safeguards implementation methods rather than ideas per se.
Meta’s decision to pursue this path underscores the intense competition within the VR market, where companies are constantly vying for an edge through innovation. As the landscape evolves, it remains to be seen whether Meta’s replication of the “EyeSight” feature, coupled with its potential integration of health sensors, will resonate positively with consumers or face similar challenges as its predecessor.
