Harald Haraldsson

Director, XR Collaboratory

Harald Haraldsson, lecturer at Cornell Tech and director of the XR Collaboratory, specializes in augmented reality, virtual reality and interaction design. He says it will be interesting to see how a 3D user interface will enable improved workflow.

Haraldsson says:

“The tight integration of the Apple Vision Pro with an existing ecosystem of applications and services is something we haven’t seen before in an AR/VR headset. Prior headsets have mostly relied on standalone applications created with game engines. The novelty here will be companion apps and extensions of existing 2D applications, particularly when these fully utilize the third dimension and go beyond a floating window presentation. It will be especially interesting to see applications for creative professionals, such as designers, architects, musicians and content creators, and how a 3D user interface will enable improved workflows, and in some cases entirely new products for this market segment.

“As an interaction designer in this field, it will be exciting to see how the conversation develops as more people become familiar with the experiences enabled by 3D user interfaces, as well as their inherent challenges. Beyond the usual ergonomic issues due to device weight and comfort, completing basic tasks such as selecting and manipulating objects, navigating menus, and entering text, can become an unpleasant experience if the interaction techniques do not meet the user’s expectations.

“The moment I hear people on the subway debating different 3D interaction techniques, I will know the industry has entered the next phase. The launch of the Apple Vision Pro will certainly push in that direction.”