What’s more likely is that Apple is developing unobtrusive augmented reality technology that blends in with our iPhones, or as heads up displays for its still unannounced electric auto project.
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Bowman’s academic profile page shows he was the principal investigator of the 3D Interaction Group, focusing on the topics of three-dimensional user interface design and the benefits of immersion in virtual environments. He is also the lead author of the book 3D User Interfaces: Theory and Practice. According to a report from the Financial Times, however, Apple now has its own VR/AR expert.
Notably, previous year Bowman was the recipient of a $100,000 (£70,000) research grant from Microsoft for using its HoloLens headset for a study on “collaborative analysis of large-scale mixed reality data”.
While Google’s high-tech Glass headset got a lot of attention, it wasn’t a virtual reality device, providing only a small window of information overlaid on one eye’s view of actual reality. But it hasn’t made any official virtual or augmented reality announcements just yet.
Apple smartphone competitor (and nemesis) Samsung has come out with an affordable VR headset called the Samsung Gear VR that utilizes a user’s Galaxy smartphone as the screen.
Apple’s VR and AR ambitions could be considered slow as its product is not expected anytime soon.
Apple appears to be mulling an entry into the burgeoning virtual reality market, hiring specialist researcher Doug Bowman as a number of commercial implementations of VR technology prepare to launch.
In May, Apple acquired the German company Metaio, according to several media sources.
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“It’s a no-brainer for Apple to invest in this area”, said Ben Wood, an analyst from research firm CCS Insight.
