Earlier this year rumors surfaced regarding Apple developing augmented reality features for the eventual use in glasses. Now, a leaked document may have accidentally shed light onto Apple’s prototype AR glasses for the first time.
This new report from Gizmodo states that they have their hands on a safety incident document that was accidentally distributed to Apple employees. This document mentions a prototype device that had caused eye strain for those testing it:
An incident report compiled by an Environment Health and Safety contractor working for Apple mistakenly sent to hundreds of Apple employees and leaked to Gizmodo includes tantalizing clues about some of the new products the notoriously secretive tech company may be cooking up. The report includes over 70 different incidents.
These ‘incidents’ appear to have taken place in February or March, supporting the timeline for prototype testing of AR glasses.
Although there is no concrete evidence as of yet, the report suggests that Apple have been testing headsets designed to overlay a 3D image into your eye:
After BT4 user study, user advised study lead, that she experienced discomfort in her eye and said she was able to see the laser flash at several points during the study. Study lead referred her to optometrist and secured prototype unit for analysis.
And another report dated March 2 refers to another injury:
Employee reported eye pain after working with new prototype, thought it may be associated with use. He noticed that the security seal on the magenta (outer) case had been broken and had thought the unit may have been tampered with.
There were also a number of strange incidents referred to in the report, one which details an Apple employee opening a box of Apple Pencils that seemed to have some bad batteries:
Employee was opening a box of used Apple Pencils in [room number redacted]. As soon as she opened the box, a strong odor emanated from within the box. The employee, who is familiar with lithium battery odors, identified two Pencils as the odor source. She suspected the Pencils were leaking electrolytes.
Whatever the case may be, it’s certainly no secret that Apple are working on Augmented Reality tech and many are hoping that this is something that we might see in the forthcoming iPhone release.