In a possible hint at an exciting future venture for Apple, CEO Tim Cook has revealed that he is more interested in augmented reality than the more immersive virtual reality.
Speaking to ABC News‘ Robin Roberts on Good Morning America today, Cook said that, while both augmented and virtual reality are “incredibly interesting”, he reckons that the former could be a better commercial bet, as it better allows users to remain “present”.
While augmented reality imposes digital imagery on top of real-life video, virtual reality creates environments from solely digital imagery. Apple has yet to release any augmented reality products of its own, despite the huge success of hit AR game Pokémon GO this summer – but, judging from Cook’s comments, Apple could be quietly working on something big for the space.
At a school in New York City’s Harlem area, Cook told Roberts that augmented reality “gives the capability for both of us to sit and be very present, talking to each other, but also have other things – visually – for both of us to see. Maybe it’s something we’re talking about, maybe it’s someone else here who’s not here present but who can be made to appear to be present.”