Apple VR

More on Doug Bowman:
https://research.cs.vt.edu/3di/user/123

About 3DUI:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3D_user_interaction

Conference:
http://www.3dui.org
 http://www.forbes.com/sites/theopriestley/2016/01/22/apple-makes-a-further-push-into-augmented-and-virtual-reality-with-new-hire/#1f5b308a5a47

As reported in FT.com, Apple has recently hired Doug Bowman, a leading US virtual reality researcher, as it increases its push to explore virtual and augmented reality interfaces. Bowman has previously focused on 3D interface design and has conducted research on virtual reality immersion. He was also part of the team responsible for designing the Virginia Tech Cube, which served as a VR research vehicle.

Bowman’s hire cements recent acquisition activities by Cupertino as it explores immersive and interactive interfaces and virtual assistants. Apple AAPL +0.00% quietly acquired a small UK artificial intelligence outfit in 2015, based in Cambridge and called Vocal IQ, in which many believe is a play to just enhance Siri’s capabilities. Vocal IQ, a speech-related artificial intelligence company, says its technology is a core component to the delivery of the Internet of Things. The software, based on more than a decade of research, offers users the ability to talk more naturally with their smart devices.

Apple believes this is the future of interaction with the objects we take for granted today, not just consumer items such as smartphones, tablets, TVs. The entire environment around us is up for grabs. The vision of talking to your computer like in Star Trek and it fully understanding and executing those commands are about to become reality in the next 5 years, not just explicitly but ambiently.
As reported by Dave Altavilla on Forbes earlier in 2015, Apple had also acquired Metaio, an augmented reality firm. “The most natural, immediate application for Metaio technologies would be with Apple’s iPad line. Tablet platforms have the light-weight portability you need for carrying a 3D mapping-capable device but also have enough mechanical area to house the additional circuitry and camera technology required to implement the design, not to mention the additional CPU and graphics horsepower required.” suggested Dave.

Apple joins a growing group of consumer tech companies exploring AR, VR and Holographic technologies as the future of interaction and interfaces that we will all be using in years to come. It’s only recently emerged that Amazon has patented holographic technology it sees for home use, where they believe a ceiling-mounted node could be used to track the movement of all people in a room and a projector would then use this data to create glasses-free holograms that could be controlled using your hands. Apple has also patented screen free, gesture controlled holographic inputs as far back as February 2011.