Apple Vision Pro

The Apple Vision Pro feature that could change how you work

Zac Hall | Feb 2 2025 - 7:22 pm PT

Apple Vision Pro can transport you from a small, distracting room to an expansive outdoor landscape with the flick of a dial. These immersive environments are great for escaping — especially Mount Hood and the Moon.

But here’s the thing. Bora Bora is perfect for relaxation — but the beach makes me want to unplug, not type away at a keyboard. Next, I would love to see Apple tackle more populated spaces like libraries and cafés.

Imagine turning your dull, distracting surroundings into the Rose Main Reading Room at the New York Public Library. Struggling to concentrate and get the job done? Turn the Digital Crown, and suddenly, you’re in NASA’s Mission Control Room in Houston.

If you work in isolation and you’re looking for inspiration, it might be especially helpful to take your work to the Café de Flore in Paris, France. Focus better with the ambient buzz of people around you? Set up shop in Tokyo’s Akihabara District.

Top comment by Blurft

Liked by 7 people

Rather than putting in all of this effort to create virtual coffee shops or libraries to experience a Plato's Cave version of these environments, why don't we...advocate for building more of these environments in real life? More libraries, more cafes, more museums, and definitely more public spaces where we can exist without having to spend money.

I appreciate that the author not this piece acknowledges the fact that "nothing beats physically being in these places," but I think this idea comes uncomfortably close to the many, many science fiction stories that try to warn us away from living a life in the simulation. We have so many stories in the humanities warning us against trying to replace the real with the simulated, because we know that it's just not the same.

What makes those places special is the human element, the unpredictability of who you may see and what may occur, and that's just not something that a virtual environment can reproduce. It ceases to be "inspiring" when you've experienced it enough times that you can predict what's going to happen - that woman is going to spill her coffee, that man is going to drop his books, the bell above the door will tinkle as someone enters in 5, 4, 3...

We would all be better served by creating more of these environments in the real world, not trying to create virtual environments to escape it.

View all comments

These environments could transform dull office spaces into inspiring settings. Nothing beats physically being in these places, but spatial computing could bring the benefits of a library or café when you can’t actually be there.

Right now, tons of apps offer environments like these, but system-level environments let you stay immersed across multiple apps.

What virtual environments should Apple Vision Pro add next? Mars? Under the ocean? Let us know!