Apple CEO, Tim Cook, believes that augmented reality can potentially become as big as the smartphone itself. In an interview with The Independent, Cook said, “I’m excited about Augmented Reality because unlike Virtual Reality which closes the world out, AR allows individuals to be present in the world but hopefully allows an improvement on what’s happening presently.”
“Most people don’t want to lock themselves out from the world for a long period of time and today you can’t do that because you get sick from it. With AR you can, not be engrossed in something, but have it be a part of your world, of your conversation. That has resonance,” Cook added.
While that is a bold claim indeed, this isn’t the first time Apple and Cook himself have shown interest in augmented reality technology. Interestingly, most rumours still suggest that Apple is still looking to enter the virtual reality space. In fact, with companies like Google, Facebook and Samsung entering the VR space, Apple has been pushed by many to enter the arena.
Apple, though, seems bent towards AR more than VR. That may end up resulting in AR glasses that have been rumoured to be in the works in Apple’s secretive research labs.