2023-06-05 22:49:53
I feel good. I am very proud of our team
said Bertrand Nepveu, the founder of Vrvana, on the phone, live from a viewing session organized with people who have worked directly or indirectly with him on this technology.
It’s been six years since the Apple giant bought his fledgling company for US$30 million (CA$40.2 million) and repatriated nine members of his team, including himself, to Cupertino, California.
The entrepreneur, who left Apple in 2021, still has six employees working for the brand, four of whom do so from Montreal, due to the pandemic. This means that right now, people are putting together the final details of this immersive technology from the Quebec metropolis.
A heavy wheel as a symbol
During the Apple conference on Monday, Bertrand Nepveu was particularly proud to see one of his ideas materialized on the Vision Pro, the little wheel that moves from virtual reality to augmented reality. This is the closest from a physical point of view to the Totem, [le casque qu’on avait développé avec] Vrvana
he points out.
« It comes from a [idée] that I had one morning. I thought it would be cool to put a button which, when you turn it towards you, you [plonge] in virtual reality, then, once facing outside, [offre] augmented reality. »
That button is what impressed Jony Ive, [alors le directeur de la conception] from Apple. It’s also the first thing we were asked to patent
adds the one who works today for Triptyq Capital, a company he co-founded and which invests in entertainment technologies.
Vrvana’s Totem headset, whose appearance was polished, was also distinguished by its ability to correct in a few milliseconds – less than the blink of an eyelash – the distortion of the image caused by the optical lenses of mixed reality headsets . This technological feat is found in the Apple Vision Pro.
The entrepreneur is also delighted to see the special attention that Apple has paid to the physical aspect of his headset: One of the big problems we have with virtual reality headsets right now is that we look ridiculous wearing them.
.
« With the design of the Vision Pro, which looks like ski goggles, people won’t mind [de le porter]. »
This adds to the more human effect of being able to see the eyes of the person wearing the helmet, thanks to a holographic screen placed on the outside, which represents them, and this, in the right place.
Among the other notable features of the helmet, there are no joysticks: it is controlled with the eyes, hands and voice.
A launch in 2024
The launch date of the helmet, scheduled for the beginning of 2024 in the United States, is coming later than Bertrand Nepveu had hoped: I was expecting a Christmas market launch. But I’m not so surprised, because mass production is very complicated
.
« I know what it’s like to show a great video and have it work just as well in real life. To achieve the level of quality that Apple wants, it sure takes a lot of work. »
The businessman, who predicted a moment Macintosh
for the release of Apple’s mixed reality headset, still believes in it.
$US. It showed the potential of a computer in creation. After that, every creative wanted Apple, despite the price”,”text”:”When the Macintosh computer hit the market in 1984, it was on sale for around US$2,500. It showed the potential of a computer in creation. After that, all the creatives wanted Apple, despite the price””>When the Macintosh computer hit the market in 1984, it was on sale for around US$2,500. It showed the potential of a computer in creation. After that, all the creatives wanted Apple, despite the price
explained the training engineer in an interview with Radio-Canada in January.
« The Apple Vision Pro will inspire many people and reinvigorate the virtual reality industry. »
He hopes the announcement of its cost of US$3,500 (CA$4,700), which is a lot of money
according to the entrepreneur, will inspire people to start saving now for its release.
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