VR may have been something of a slow burner in terms of technology buzzwords, but its recent rebrand as spatial computing may well signal an uptick in interest for a host of reasons, discovers Mark Mayne.
The tide appears to be turning with a slew of big tech players fielding a new range of VR/spatial computing hardware this year, but will it be enough to achieve a breakthrough in a space that has seen many a false dawn? We look at some of the key innovations driving volumetric production in 2024.
Changemaker - The Apple Vision Pro
The biggest news in the space is arguably Apple’s Vision Pro, partly due to the dominance of the Cupertino tech giant in associated markets, and partly due to the galvanising effect on the competition. As has been the company’s playbook since the success of the iPhone, the Vision Pro delivers a market-leading set of specs, wrapped in an aspirational magnesium and carbon fibre design that will enable many to look beyond the considerable $3.5k price point...
You are not signed in
Only registered users can read the rest of this article.
NAB 2026 technology round-up: “The biggest shifts in media are no longer theoretical”
The 2026 NAB Show has wrapped after welcoming more than 58,000 registered attendees and a host of new tools and technologies intent on shaping the future of media.
NAB 2026 review: “Live immersive production is here, and it’s extraordinary”
If there is a single takeaway from NAB 2026 it’s that the broadcast media industry is rebalancing. The centre of gravity is shifting, the customer base is diversifying, and the definition of “media” is expanding across sectors.
Volumetric humans: The next frontier of immersive broadcast storytelling
Volumetric humans are moving from experimental captures to live, broadcast-ready assets, reshaping the creative opportunities and practical challenges of immersive storytelling and established production workflows across virtual and hybrid environments.
Spatial computing: “Instead of showing people a story, you’re letting them inhabit it”
Leveraging generative AI, computer vision, and data from real environments, spatial computing has opened the door for cutting-edge systems that blend the physical and digital worlds into a new frontier of human-technology interaction.
NAB preview: Automation, reinvention and politics to steal the show
NAB 2026 looks set to bring a raft of creativity and technological innovation, yet serious political and environmental questions remain.
