VOA科学技术2024--Apple: Vision Pro Headset Enables ‘Spatial Computing’

Apple: Vision Pro¹ Headset Enables ‘Spatial² Computing³’

　　Technology company Apple's new computing device, the Vision Pro headset, became available in stores last week.

　　The device uses augmented⁴ reality technology which has been available for years. But Apple calls the technology "spatial computing." The device is worn on the head over the eyes.

　　Apple hopes the Vision Pro will be as popular as the iPhone, Apple's cellphone that came out in 2007.

　　"We can't wait for people to experience the magic," Apple chief Tim Cook said while discussing the Vision Pro.

　　The Vision Pro will also be among Apple's most costly⁵ products at $3,500. Many researchers say the high cost means the company might sell 1 million or fewer of the devices during its first year.

　　But even the iPhone was not extremely successful in its first year on the market. Apple only sold about 4 million iPhones back then. Now, the company sells more than 200 million of them each year.

　　If the Vision Pro succeeds, the term "spatial computing" might become popular.

　　What is spatial computing?

　　"Spatial computing" describes how the physical world and the virtual world of computers can work together.

　　Augmented reality (AR) and artificial intelligence (AI) are two areas of computing that help make spatial computing happen, said Cathy Hackl. She runs a new company that makes programs for the Vision Pro.

　　Hackl said, "Spatial computing will enable devices to understand the world in ways they never have been able to do before." She added that it is going to change the way humans and computers work together.

　　Apple says more than 600 newly designed programs, or apps, will be available to use on the headset right away. Apps will include television networks and video services although Netflix and Google's YouTube will not be available. Other apps will be for video games and educational services. Zoom⁶ and other companies that provide online meeting tools have built apps for the Vision Pro.

　　Vision Pro may worsen screen addiction⁷ that has only grown since the iPhone was released. It also might separate people from the real world and make them dependent on the technology.

　　Other technology companies are also working on spatial computing products. Google has been working on a video meeting product called Project Starline. It would make two people sitting in different cities feel like they are in the same room. But Starline has not been widely released. And Meta has sold the Quest headset for years. It could be considered a spatial computing device, but the company does not market it in that way.

　　The Vision Pro comes equipped with high-resolution screens that can play back three-dimensional video recordings⁸ of events and make it seem as though the event is happening again. Apple's high-priced iPhone models released in September can record what it calls "spatial video."

　　Apple's headset also reacts to a user's hand and eye movements in an attempt to make the device feel like it is part of the body. While wearing the device, users will be able to use their hands to move around and open different virtual computer screens.

　　Spatial computing "is a technology that's starting to adapt to the user instead of requiring the user adapting to the technology," Hackl said. "It's all supposed to be very natural."

　　However, it remains⁹ to be seen how natural it is to wear a headset while having dinner with another person instead of just looking at your phone from time to time.

　　Words in This Story

　　augmented reality – n. technology that adds to people's senses of what reality is

　　magic – n. a very pleasant, attractive, or exciting quality

　　virtual – adj. existing or occurring on computers or on the Internet

　　enable – v. to make (someone or something) able to do or to be something

　　addiction – n. a strong and harmful need to regularly have something (such as a drug) or do something (such as gamble)

　　resolution – n. the ability of a device to show an image with a lot of detail

　　three-dimensional – adj. having or seeming to have length, width, and depth

　　adapt – v. to change your behavior so that it is easier to live in a particular place or situation

1 pro   

n.赞成，赞成的意见，赞成者

参考例句：

• The two debating teams argued the question pro and con.辩论的两组从赞成与反对两方面辩这一问题。
• Are you pro or con nuclear disarmament?你是赞成还是反对核裁军？

2 spatial   

adj.空间的，占据空间的

参考例句：

• This part of brain judges the spatial relationship between objects.大脑的这部分判断物体间的空间关系。
• They said that time is the feeling of spatial displacement.他们说时间是空间位移的感觉。

3 computing   

n.计算

参考例句：

• to work in computing 从事信息处理
• Back in the dark ages of computing, in about 1980, they started a software company. 早在计算机尚未普及的时代（约1980年），他们就创办了软件公司。

4 Augmented   

adj.增音的 动词augment的过去式和过去分词形式

参考例句：

• 'scientists won't be replaced," he claims, "but they will be augmented." 他宣称：“科学家不会被取代；相反，他们会被拓展。” 来自英汉非文学 - 科学史
• The impact of the report was augmented by its timing. 由于发表的时间选得好，这篇报导的影响更大了。

5 costly   

adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的

参考例句：

• It must be very costly to keep up a house like this.维修这么一幢房子一定很昂贵。
• This dictionary is very useful,only it is a bit costly.这本词典很有用，左不过贵了些。

6 zoom   

n.急速上升；v.突然扩大，急速上升

参考例句：

• The airplane's zoom carried it above the clouds.飞机的陡直上升使它飞到云层之上。
• I live near an airport and the zoom of passing planes can be heard night and day.我住在一个飞机场附近，昼夜都能听到飞机飞过的嗡嗡声。

7 addiction   

n.上瘾入迷，嗜好

参考例句：

• He stole money from his parents to feed his addiction.他从父母那儿偷钱以满足自己的嗜好。
• Areas of drug dealing are hellholes of addiction,poverty and murder.贩卖毒品的地区往往是吸毒上瘾、贫困和发生谋杀的地方。

8 recordings   

n.记录( recording的名词复数 )；录音；录像；唱片

参考例句：

• a boxed set of original recordings 一套盒装原声录音带
• old jazz recordings reissued on CD 以激光唱片重新发行的老爵士乐

9 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。