Apple Likely to Incorporate Virtual Reality Technology into ‘Made for iPhone’ Program

As rumors of Apple’s Virtual/Augmented Reality aspirations continue to swirl, well-connected analyst, Gene Munster, of Piper Jaffray has gone on record — openly speculating that the Silicon Valley tech-giant will somehow incorporate its VR/AR tech into an iOS spin-off within the next 2 years. This assumption, of course, comes in light of a recent surge in acquisitions and patents granted to the iPhone maker pertaining to VR/AR technology.

In a research note originally obtained by AppleInsider, Munster notes a specific and detailed trend of recent purchases and talent/intellectual property acquisitions that lend credence to his assertion that iOS is “a ripe ecosystem,” capable of supporting Apple’s VR/AR technology by 2018 at the earliest.

Of particular interest, says Munster, are so-called “mixed reality wearables,” which are essentially an advanced form of optics that utilize embedded cameras, sensors, and other components to render realistic, holographic images of real life objects.

Furthermore, Apple’s existing stash of intellectual property — acquired via extensive research, development, and strategic acquisitions — cover a number of computer-based vision technologies, which, among other things, are capable of processing motion tracking operations. The iPhone maker’s 2013 acquisition of PrimeSense, for instance, is the perfect example of this acquired technology.

In addition to its own internal developments, Munster believes Apple could rapidly develop its program with further acquisitions, too. He mentions a few different names in his report, in particular, such as Magic Leap, Movidius, Occipital and Pelican Imaging.

“We believe 10 years from now Generation Z will find reality inefficient,” Munster writes. “We believe the concept of an ‘inefficient reality’ is evident through smartphone use today — the precursor to mixed reality — offering users the ability to find more information as needed.”

Munster believes Apple is currently eyeing VR very similarly to how it views the Apple Watch — that is to say, the company’s VR tech will likely present itself as more along the lines of a peripheral than an actual, dedicated hardware device. In fact, Munster sees the current progression of technology (i.e.: Smartphones) as a precursor to the early stages of Apple’s VR technology.

Looking to the Future

Third-party firms should continue to experiment with different types of AR/VR based on the iOS ecosystem, according to Munster, deploying their own solutions in accordance with the current resources. And if all goes according to plan, Apple might be ready to offer developers an official framework to deploy hardware solutions as early as 2018 — a move that would, in a sense, emulate Samsung’s smartphone-powered Gear VR platform.

According to Munster, there’s sufficient evidence to believe Apple is performing its AR/VR research behind closed doors — such as the multitude of filed and granted patents covering virtual displays, augmented reality and computer vision. In 2015 alone, for example, the iPhone maker acquired German augmented reality firm, Metaio, real-time motion capture firm FaceShift, as well as computer vision startup Perceptio.

Even more recently, however, the head of Stanford University’s VR laboratory indicated that visits from Apple researchers were becoming more common; and, to that end, we recently reported in January that Apple has hired a leader in the field of immersive VR — Stanford’s own Doug Bowman.

These initial steps, according to Munster, are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Apple and its VR aspirations. However, those advancements in VR tech are sooner to lead to an incorporation with Apple’s existing platforms — rather that a whole new platform all their own.

Learn More: Apple May Go Virtual Reality Crazy in 2016

[The information provided in this article has NOT been confirmed by Apple and may be speculation. Provided details may not be factual. Take all rumors, tech or otherwise, with a grain of salt.]