Apple Vision Pro will initially be missing some basic native apps, including , . One of the notable apps that users of mixed reality headsets can use It is Zoom that will support Vision Pro’s Persona feature.
Vision Pro users will be able to create digital versions of themselves. If you say Persona, other people in a Zoom or FaceTime call will be able to see your facial expressions and hand gestures through your avatar. That way, even if you’re not using a traditional webcam, other people can see your personality cracking up at one of your boss’ bad jokes.
, the app’s spatial experience is “perfectly scalable,” so it doesn’t feel like you’re miles away from someone’s ID. Although Vision Pro users will be represented as Personas (if they so choose), those joining the call from other devices will be represented as floating tiles.
Zoom will be one of the first major third-party apps to use this technology. Apple said Microsoft Teams and Cisco Webex are also joining the party. The company claims that it only takes a few minutes to set up a Persona with Vision Pro.
More features are coming to the Zoom app this spring. You will be able to share 3D object files and view them in virtual space through Vision Pro. The app also comes with Team Chat, as well as a real-world pinning tool. Zoom says you’ll be able to use it to pin up five meeting participants anywhere in the virtual space and have the option to remove their background. The company suggests this will help Vision Pro users “feel more connected to the people they’re meeting”.
While Zoom isn’t the most exciting app for those buying a Vision Pro primarily for entertainment purposes, it’s interesting to see what third-party companies are starting to do with the technology. A Zoom call might not be too different from a FaceTime conversation out the door, but adding features like 3D object sharing could make it a more interesting prospect for using mixed reality.
