Apple is reportedly working on assembling a team to work on a possible future augmented reality product.
The announcement signals Apple's continued interest in the wearable market, with Apple set to release its Apple Watch in a few short weeks.
"While it is limited, we believe Apple has a small team of engineers exploring augmented reality applications," said Piper Jaffray analyst Gener Munster. "We believe that at the core, the group is likely trying to understand a wearable interface that design would ultimately make fashionable/socially acceptable. At this point, we believe it is difficult to determine if or when these experiments might yield a product."
Apple's reported interest in augmented reality isn't all that surprising. While it is likely that we will see some kind of augmented reality product from the company eventually, it's interesting to consider the implications that such a move could have on the market.
Augmented reality is currently more of an interest for techies than a real consumer product. Google, to an extent, made augmented reality more for consumers once it launched Google Glass and put it on sale for anyone who wanted to buy it, but it was still definitely more for experimentation than for mass production, both because of the $1,500 price tag and because of the fact that it looked a little out of place as a fashion item.
Apple, as we know, is all about fashion and always has been. Owning an iPhone is as much about making a statement on fashion and status as it is about owning a world-class device. Apple's concentration on fashion is highlighted in the Apple Watch. While many feel that the Apple Watch doesn't really look that great, the simple fact that it is available in three different models, three different colors, and a multitude of different band options, highlights how passionate the company is about fashion. This is very important for a wearable product, especially when it comes to mass adoption.
Apple's entrance into augmented reality could make the concept fashionable and useful rather than simply a concept. Just as Apple has done with the iPod, iPhone, iPad, and soon the Apple Watch, the company could turn a fledgling product category into something that everyone needs.
Apple is also known for its products being consumer-friendly. Developing software to help users in their lives is something that Apple is very good at, and this will be no different with any augmented reality product that the company releases.
It's important to note that if Apple does intend to enter the augmented reality market, it will not be fore at least a few years. It's also important to note that if it does enter the market, it will cause the idea of augmented reality to absolutely blow up.
Photo: Sean Gallup | Getty Images
