Skift Take
Apple unveiled a whole suite of new products at its Worldwide Developers Conference, many of which are likely to have a significant impact on business events. Here are the details.
New products released at Apple’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC23) have meetings and event planners taking note. The company’s new Vision Pro headset is getting a great deal of buzz as the device combines virtual reality and augmented reality, creating what Apple calls “a new era of spatial computing.”
Augmented reality is a technology that allows users to overlay virtual images on live video of the real world. Apple CEO Tim Cook said the device is “the first product you look through, not at.”
The Vision Pro is controlled with technology that detects movement of the user’s hands, eyes, and voice, and the immersive screen can be navigated with the flick of a finger or a move of the eyes.
Vision Pro is especially attractive to event planners because video conferencing applications, including Zoom, Teams, and Webex, will be available.
NameDrop
The new release of iOS 17 for iPhones has a feature that can revolutionize meetings and events. Called NameDrop, users can easily share contact information by bringing their iPhones together or by bringing an iPhone and Apple Watch together.
The feature works alongside AirDrop, Apple’s wireless service that lets users transfer files between supported iOS and Mac computers.
Video Conferencing Upgrade
Mac users can now share their screens while video conferencing and ensure their face stays on the screen. In addition, the presenter overlay feature will let users choose between having their face show up as a small bubble over their shared screen or having their shared screen show up next to their face as if it’s in the same room.
Apple also introduced new video reactions on video conferencing, where confetti, balloons, or fireworks appear on their users’ faces.
The features will be available on a range of video conferencing apps on Mac, including FaceTime, Zoom, Teams, and Webex.
Check-In
Apple is introducing a check-in feature for iOS that can be a helpful tool for meeting and event planners. Check-in lets another know if you got to a hotel room or other destination safely. It can also recognize if you’re not progressing toward your destination and check in with you.
New Accessibility Tools
The next version of iPhone’s software includes new accessibility tools, including Assistive Access, which takes some of Apple’s essential apps and simplifies them. Live Speech allows users to type what they want to say and have it spoken out loud, and live captions are available.
Detection Mode is a new magnifier feature that allows users who are blind or have low vision to point at a physical object and have each label read aloud to them.
Photo credit: Apple / Developers from all over the world traveled to Apple Park for WWDC23.
