Apple working on Augmented Reality Devices

It’s no more a secret that Apple was granted a patent for virtual reality devices  and it had been working on the same since 2006. However, new reports state that an internal team in Apple is now working aggressively towards developing Apple’s first Augmented Reality (AR) device. Unlike virtual reality, which fully immerses users in a digital world, augmented reality is meant to overlay digital information on top of things seen in the real world, much like a fighter jet’s heads-up display (HUD). AR technology can be potentially used for many applications, such as a navigation overlay, traffic information, points of interest and more.
However, an analyst notes that Augmented Reality will not get mainstream adoption for quite some time as it is still not fashionable to sport a helmet on your head! . However, Apple is still exploring the technology for other uses. Apple is not the first to try Augmented Reality, as earlier Google came out with Google Glass which requires the user to wear Spectacles to see display information. Microsoft has also come out with Hololens which projects 3D information and allows user to communicate with virtual objects via hand gestures.
For now, Apple’s main focus is the recently released Apple Watch which will compete with other major smartwatches from Samsung, Pebble, LG and Motorola. Apple has worked with several luxury brands for producing the Apple watch and such collaborations cannot be ruled out if Apple was to develop an Augmented Reality device.
As with many of its filed patents, it’s still not known if or when Apple would bring such inventions to market. Even more recently, the company posted several job listings, looking for experts in developing virtual reality systems.