Research framework of technology giants in the direction of meta universe layout: push back the necessary elements with experience upgrading as the end, and divide the six layouts of meta universe research framework. The first is the hardware & operating system (VR / Ar / MR / brain computer interface) that provides the meta universe experience, and the second is the back-end infrastructure (5g / computing power and algorithm / Cloud Computing / edge computing) and underlying architecture that support the smooth operation of the meta universe (engine / development tool / digital Twin / blockchain), and then the artificial intelligence in the meta universe, which is finally presented as the content and scene of a hundred flowers in bloom, as well as a large number of collaborators providing technology and services in the process of the ecological prosperity of the meta universe. Our tracking of domestic and foreign scientific and technological giants will also take the six maps of the meta universe research framework as the main line to dynamically compare the interests of various giants Advantages and disadvantages. As a global technology giant, Apple has a lighthouse like pilot effect in the development of metauniverse, so we choose apple as the final chapter of this series.
Apple: shoulder the mission of pushing AR / VR devices to general-purpose hardware. Apple’s importance to the meta universe lies in its mission to promote AR / VR devices, the hardware portal of the meta universe, to general-purpose hardware. Compared with VR, apple is more optimistic about AR and has worked in the field of AR for many years. As the technology overlord in the era of mobile Internet, apple occupies absolute resource advantages in the field of hardware and software, and has a strong hardware ecosystem from PC to smartphone to AR glasses / head display. Although the first AR device has not been launched yet, from the development in recent years, Apple products support AR technology more and more soundly, whether iPhone or iPad. At present, apple focuses on the layout of hardware & operating system, underlying architecture, content and scene.
Hardware & operating system: Based on mature patents and technology reserves, Apple has the most potential to launch epoch-making new hardware. Meanwhile, apple continues the concept of closed-loop ecology and is committed to developing its own operating system. Arkit has iterated to the fifth generation;
Underlying architecture: Apple deeply lays out the core links of AR, develops both self-research and acquisition, and constantly enriches the underlying technical strength;
Content and scenario: AppleTV + plans to introduce AR function, and AR applications and games on the app store are gradually enriched.
In terms of meta universe layout, apple and meta belong to different camps. More willing to talk about AR than meta universe; AR is better than VR. Unlike the founder of meta, Zuckerberg, who clearly entered the meta universe, appleceo Tim Cook told Time magazine in September 2021 that compared with the so-called “meta universe” concept, I prefer to call it augmented reality (AR). Unlike meta’s efforts to build a software and hardware ecosystem with oculus VR head display as the entrance, Tim Cook has repeatedly expressed strong confidence in AR in public. Apple has worked silently on the underlying technology of AR and gradually improved the ecological layout for many years. Cook also explained his understanding of ar. he believes that AR is the superposition of virtual and real world, which is different from VR’s substitution for the real world , AR will not distract people’s attention from the real world, but enhance the relationship between people and reality and enhance the cooperation between people.
On the premise that the metauniverse will eventually come, we try to deduce the beginning, midfield and end of apple metauniverse based on Apple’s resource endowment and existing layout.
Beginning: with accumulation and thin development, apple ar has pushed AR / VR devices into the mainstream.
Midfield: the closed and unified Apple ecology may breed a new value chain and social network.
End: Apple has always paid attention to privacy protection and property security.
Risk tips: the risk of shortage of upstream raw materials such as chips and screens, the risk that new products are not as expected, the risk that new technologies cannot be implemented, and the risk of continuous strengthening of supervision such as gdpr and antitrust.
