Meta and Apple focus on comfort to drive spatial computing forward

Meta has dedicated many years to making virtual reality the next frontier in computing, and recently, Apple has entered the fray with its own headset.

However, a significant barrier preventing many users from fully embracing the otherwise impressive Meta Quest 3 and Apple Vision Pro is comfort. As a result, both companies are exploring new options to enhance the wearability of their headsets.

In the last few weeks, both Meta and Apple have filed patents that describe innovative head straps and mechanisms for wearing these devices. For instance, Apple is working on a head strap that offers multiple adjustment options, allowing users to personalize the amount of pressure applied to different areas of their face and head.

Meanwhile, Meta aims to create a strap that can be tightened using a pulley system. Although Meta’s explanation is somewhat convoluted and quite complex, the essence is that it represents a significant improvement over the current strap that comes with Quest headsets.

Comfort is likely the primary reason many consumers remain unconvinced about VR. While the visual experience is impressive, if you find yourself sore and sweaty after just 30 minutes, you’re probably not going to invest in it. It’s so unappealing that Apple even changed the straps used in in-store demonstrations to entice customers to consider the Vision Pro.

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Additionally, the social awkwardness of wearing a headset in public likely contributes to Meta’s efforts to develop AI-powered AR smart glasses.

According to Bloomberg’s Apple insider Mark Gurman, even the Vision Pro represents a compromise; Apple originally aimed to create lightweight AR glasses, but the technology at the time fell short.

However, Apple is still pursuing this goal and is now aiming to compete with the Meta-powered Ray-Ban smart glasses, which do not feature a display. As a strong advocate for VR, I sincerely hope it becomes the future of computing.

However, unless we can integrate all that technology into a pair of glasses, it’s unlikely to materialize. Therefore, while these new head straps are a positive development, they merely represent another compromise.