How the Apple Vision Pro is Changing the Sports Entertainment Scene
On February 2, 2024 Apple released its groundbreaking new technology called the Apple Vision Pro. For those who are unfamiliar with this product, it is essentially a virtual reality headset that allows you to call, text, stream, use the internet, and many other things all while on the go or in the comfort of your own home. Starting at $3500, the Apple Vision Pro provides its users with what seems like limitless possibilities in the modern era of technology. One main sector that will see a benefit from the Apple Vision Pro is the experience of viewing sports. With the Apple Vision Pro, users will be able to stream a game from anywhere they please as if they are watching the game live at the stadium. I believe that this will revolutionize the way society watches their sports, given that people actually buy it. Front Office Sports states, “Sports offerings within the Vision Pro will include live and archival games in 4K resolution, interactive statistics, and three-dimensional enhanced data visualizations—all controlled with eye tracking, speech recognition, and hand gestures.”
The picture above is an example of what you would be able to see when watching sports. As you can tell, the screen is not very overwhelming and you still have a full view of your surroundings with the headset on. Some concerns that people have had before the release of the Apple Vision Pro is the distraction aspect that this can have while walking in public. Now that it is released, it is known that there are many adjustments that you can make to increase or decrease how much you can see in the Apple Vision Pro, so I think that it is more on the user than the product as far as safety goes. But what do you guys think? Will this be a revolutionary product that will alter sports viewing forever, or is it an overpriced and dangerous product that will not have an everlasting impact on society, or something in between?
Refrences:
Fisher, Eric. “Leagues Embrace Apple’s Mixed-Reality Device, Raise Questions.” Front Office Sports, 2 Feb. 2024, frontofficesports.com/leagues-embrace-apples-mixed-reality-device-but-raise-questions/#:~:text=Sports%20offerings%20within%20the%20Vision,speech%20recognition%2C%20and%20hand%20gestures.
“Apple Vision Pro.” Apple, www.apple.com/apple-vision-pro/. Accessed 27 Feb. 2024.
As it stands, I think this technology is too expensive to impact society drastically. Until the technology becomes accessible to more people, I think it can only have a limited impact on society. Assuming that eventually the price lowers to something that more people can get their hands on, I definitely think it poses potential risks to society, both in safety and in how sports are watched. Especially when watching sport, this technology would be distracting and could cause people to walk into things if wearing them while walking, especially if the display is increased. Also, because the display gives you an immersive feel, it may motivate people to stay home rather than attend a game in person.
ReplyDeleteI agree with this point. While I do think that is new technology is very innovative and has the potential to change how we watch sports, from my understanding, this technology will continue to be expensive. As a result, while this might be revolutionary for those who can afford it, I don't see it being widely implemented.
DeleteI think it's possible that far into the future this technology may have the capacity to change how people watch sports, but I agree with Sophia that at this point it's far too expensive to make a noticeable impact. Most average sports fans cannot afford this and quite frankly may not even want this technology. There are already ways to watch multiple games at once (like the giant split tvs in bars and restaurants that play 4+ different games at a time), so I don't think the audience is necessarily there. There is also something to be said about taking the time during your day to actually sit down enjoy watching a game or spend the time to attend a game in person rather than putting on some goggles and half-watching 4 games at a time. In my opinion this is going to be a phase and won't be something we see integrating into our day to day lives, but I guess only time will tell.
ReplyDeleteYes I see both your and Sophia's points regarding the practicality of the Apple Vision Pro, however right now we live in a society that is constantly steering away from physical interaction. Not everyone is able to see their sports teams live, or even stream their games due to location, and I think that if someone can afford the Apple Vision Pro, it will absolutely enhance their viewing experience.
DeleteAfter looking up what the Apple Vision Pro looks like, I really doubt that this will become something that changes how we view sporting events. I completely agree with Sophia and Claire. First, it is way too expensive for wide accessibility and second, we already have ways to watch games on multiple screens. The Apple Vision Pro seems too bulky to wear on a regular day unless you are sitting down in your living room or at a desk. Then at that point is it even worth the money to pay so that you can see it through VR. The Apple Vision Pro also isn't targeted to watch sporting events so I think very few people would buy it for that purpose. We can also see that a similar device like Meta's Oculus VR headset has been around for a lot longer and has not made viewing sports in this way popular. I do think if it goes speed up in popularity this can be dangerous for the sports businesses. By making game events available in such high quality ways like a VR headset the specialness of going to a live event reduces.
ReplyDeleteTrue, there are a lot of alternatives to the Apple Vision Pro. While it may be a little too impractical or pricy, I believe above all the Apple Vision Pro has opened up a new side to sports streaming, and provides a technology that can get better and more affordable in the future.
DeleteIn my opinion, the Apple Vision Pro has the potential to revolutionize how we experience sports but I am not sure if it practically would. The features like 4K streaming and interactive stats are impressive, suggesting a groundbreaking shift in sports entertainment. However, the steep $3500 price tag raises concerns about accessibility, limiting its widespread impact. The safety aspect, particularly in public spaces, is a valid concern, and while customizable settings exist, it relies heavily on responsible usage. Whether it becomes a revolutionary staple or an overpriced novelty depends on societal acceptance. If embraced cautiously, it could redefine sports viewing; otherwise, it might remain a niche product. Overall, it's a bold step into uncharted territory, but I don't think it will become something that changes how we view sporting events.
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with the previous comments. I think that the Apple Vision Pro is an interesting product that, in theory, could make an impact on the sports viewing experience; however, I believe that this item is in too much of a niche segment of the market. The average fan will not be spending $3,500 on this headset, especially because (like Claire mentioned) there are plenty of other cheaper and therefore more accessible ways to watch games in a manner that is good enough. Additionally, I think the safety aspect is a valid concern. Even if users can reduce the visuals, having people on the go in VR headsets could pose a threat to everyday safety and getting around. Therefore, I think that this product will not be able to make significant headway into the sports viewing industry, at least in the near future.
ReplyDeleteCurrently, I would agree with most. Its too expensive right now to change the standing of sports watching. The biggest boundary, to my knowledge of the Apple Vision Pros, is that it takes away the experience of watching in an environment to enjoy the game with others. Now with that being said I don't think it would be that far fetched to see that implemented in a way that has befits to this. I think over the long run as the technology because less expensive and easier to use I could see this being implemented as an at stadium experience.
ReplyDeleteI like your point about it taking away from the experience of watching sports in a group environment. Community is one of the most integral parts of sports and honestly a big reason why people become fans is to be able to experience the atmosphere of watching a game with other fans. By using the Vision Pros you are eliminating that magical element of watching sports and isolating yourself from the experience.
DeleteYa I agree with both of you, I have recently read more on this topic and have heard reports on stadiums trying to provide package seats that come with an apple vision pro that display stats and cool facts and history about the team and players while sitting front row or court-side. I am interested to see how/if this is pulled off.
DeleteZach Lichtman - I believe that the new Apple Vision Pro has enormous potential to change how fans experience sports, offering conveniense and immersion that fans have never seen before.The idea of streming live games with interactive features is something that is futuristic, but at the same time exciting for the future of sports. I do agree that there are concerns about safety, but with any new modern technology, it will take time for the tech to become normal and safe. I think the Apple Vision Pro will change the way fans watch games, even different from when streaming became available to the public. This product will bridge the gap between live experience and virtual experience in sports.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Zach, I believe that consumerism is build in to the structure of our brains as humans and that just the wow factor of owning the Apple Vision Pro will justify the means of spending a fortune on it. The added bonus of the sports streaming aspect will only enhance the desire for this product.
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ReplyDeleteHonestly, I do believe that this is a revolutionary product. I just believe that we are a couple years away from it being affordable to all, and comfortable for many hours. The device needs to be innovated and changed, but once that happens I think it can be a success. I think it is very overpriced and dangerous if used for in real life. I think it would be good to use at home at the comfort of your couch, or a plane. But walking around with it I think would not be good.
ReplyDeleteThis is something that needs to be talked about more. The Apple Vision Pro has the potential to change the sports viewing landscape. It already is starting to. Do I believe that it will actually change the sports viewing landscape though? Not at all. I believe that this is just another trendy and new piece of technology that will fade out in a year or two. Watching sports on TV is more than just a convenient way to watch, it is the experience of watching with your family and friends. It represents unity among sports fans. Watching sports on the Apple Vision Pro will just alienate sports fans from that experience, and real sports fans know that that could never happen.
ReplyDeleteI think the Vision Pro has a chance to change sports entertainment; however, the price point is too steep for the average person. $3500 is a lot of money and that makes it inaccessible for most people. If it cost less, I think it would have a greater chance of changing sports entertainment. I think the interactive stats might be interesting and useful; however, it could be very challenging to stay focused on the actual game. As far as product safety goes, I don't think it's a dangerous product unless it's used incorrectly. I think safety relies on the owner using the product responsibly that doesn't put themselves or anyone else at risk.
ReplyDeleteI love this product and had looked into before viewing this, however the price is definitely a turn off. Not many people will see this and want to pay for it unless they have money to just throw away. It definitely does cater to the more wealthy individual and if I had enough money I would definitely buy it. This product has huge potential to completely change watching sports, the fact that you can watch the games with interactive features is amazing and groundbreaking I would say. It is also the middle ground for watching games live and virtually, love this product!
ReplyDelete-Kirk Gialleonardo
I agree with both you and Joseph, the cost is definitely an issue. I can still see people buying this product or products similar to the Apple Vision Pro for many different reasons, or even teams and stadiums incorporating them into their live games. It will be interesting to see how this changes sports viewership in the coming years.
DeleteI do think that the Apple Vision Pro is going to be a product that changes the way that people watch sports and TV in general. There are a lot of features on it that make it such a useful piece of technology but I do agree that since the price of it is so high right now, that it will not make a huge impact until its availability to the public increases. I also think that it is going to be very useful for work and that companies may try to use it in a way to benefit their companies. Employees and upper level staff could use these things to multi-task and get more work done than they usually would. Ther are efficient and perfect for trying to do multiple things at once. So I do believe that the apple vision pro is a ground breaking technological advancement but it won't make the impact that it is destined to make until it is easier to purchase for the public.
ReplyDeleteI think the apple vision Pro's are cool, but I don't think they are changing the game at this moment. It is an expensive product and I just don't think it will patch out in a sports entertainment aspect. Walking around the street with the apple vision pros just doesn't seem like it is safe. I'd rather just go and watch it on TV.
ReplyDeleteIt's definitely not safe just yet, and besides that, it has a huge battery pack with a wire connecting it to the headset which makes it annoying to use while walking. It also can only run on that charge for about 2-3 hours which means if you want to use it for longer in public you have to plug that battery pack into another battery pack, which would definitely be as annoying as it sounds. I think if I could afford one I would buy it just for use at home, but I agree, as of right now, I would much rather just watch sports on a TV with some friends.
DeleteDown the line, the Apple Vision Pro and products like it will change the way sports and other media are consumed drastically, but where it stands right now it that will not be at least for a couple years (when the second or third generation comes out). I don't really think that Apple expected to change the way media is consumed with this first generation product. I think the main reason they released it was to compete with Meta, and to show that they had the capability to make a high profile product as well. If the price stays this high, and the product stays this bulky, then it will not be changing anything anytime soon. Another big problem with the vision pro is it's compatibility with apps. Many apps have opted out of being on the Vision Pro, including streaming apps such as YouTube and Netflix.
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