AUGUST 3, SUNDAY

APPLE VISION PRO

Today I was invited to the home of Chris Ann Ohler in Black Mountain. Beverly Ohler, her mother, was there as was her sister Lisa Ohler Dedman with her husband Rusty. The Ohlers were one of Kathe’s and my oldest friends at Warren Wilson College where Fred, the father who died in 2004, was the Presbyterian pastor.

I took my Apple Vision Pro goggles with me with the intention of showing them the effects of spatial videos, and in particular, how it can take a photograph taken long ago and turn it into a spatial 3D photograph. I had a photograph of Fred leaning out of a car window which, with the goggles, would make his seem to be right beside you, looking at you quizzically But, as usual when I try to demonstrate to someone the effects of spatial photographs and videos, I ran into problem after problem. A video played in 3D but with the sound only, no picture. I had carefully put the photographs and videos I wanted to demonstrate into an album, but when I tried to guide Lisa to the album we couldn’t find it. Rusty and Beverly refused to put on these new fangled goggles. Lisa was eager but we couldn’t make it work. Finally, Chris Ann, who had seen the spatial videos before and who had asked me to bring the goggles tried it and it worked perfectly, but by this time the others had drifted into the other room and it was time for me to leave.

So I drove home completely deflated and not for the first time. This happens almost every time I arrive super excited and determined to dazzle people with my expensive Vision Pro and the promise that I am bringing my target person into the virtual future. What works so well for me that it is as easy as looking at an iPhone doesn’t work when someone else puts on the goggles. This is partly because it is so smart that it identifies people by looking at their eyes and seems to know who forked over $3500 for the privilege (me) and rejects those who not only have spent nothing but who are skeptical or nervous or, especially, are disdainful non believers. The Vision Pro won’t allow them yet into the future where I am all alone by myself.