The long-anticipated Apple Vision Pro officially released on February 2nd and is currently available in the United States. There are currently over 1 million apps that are compatible with the device, including apps claiming to foster greater better productivity and collaboration. In this article, we hone in on four standout workplace apps for Vision Pro.
Microsoft 365
Virtual collaboration is part of the new norm for employees who work remotely and even on-site. Microsoft 365, a family of client software, server software, and services developed by Microsoft, is one of the leaders in corporate collaboration apps for PC usage.
Now, employees can use 365 with Vision Pro. This means they can create reports in Word, animate content in Slides, and analyze data in Excel while on a (virtual) tropical beach, Yosemite, or the moon! Pairing Vision Pro with Teams, a chat-based and video-conferencing workspace in 365, allows employees to attend virtual meetings “semi-physically” while leveraging all the same features, such as screen share, take control, and meeting chat, available in the PC version.
These capabilities are made possible through the new Vision Pro Shared Space feature, enabling multiple apps to be visible to team members in the meeting room via a 3D canvas style view — think multiple computer monitors displaying various applications from a single desktop. For instance, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Teams can be open at the same time. While this may seem trivial, recall how tedious jumping between applications can be when trying to present something in a virtual meeting.
Lowe’s Style Studio
Due to its immersivity, Lowe’s Style Studio stands out as a go-to interior design tool for virtual reality (VR) hardware, including the Vision Pro. Style Studio is not only valuable for residential settings but can also be applied for corporate offices, breakrooms, and other spaces.
Seamless creation of style boards as well as easy design sharing options through email, text, or Airdrop can facilitate quick collaboration among team members, contractors, and interior designers. Advanced spatial computing and intuitive gesture control enable efficient visualization and customization of designs. A highly anticipated feature is designs can be synchronized with procurement activity —in fact, items can be identified, saved, and later purchased from Lowes’ online store.
With nearly 80 billion (and growing!) possible design configurations, Style Studio’s ability to cater to diverse preferences ensures it can be tailored to various workplace aesthetics, making it a versatile and efficient productivity tool for employees involved in workspace planning and design.
Zillow Immerse
Zillow Immerse may be an ideal companion to Lowe’s Style Studio, and vice versa. Where workspace planning and design are crucial, Zillow’s application enables corporate heads to virtually tour finished spaces for potential lease or purchase.
Panoramic 360-degree views coupled with AI-generated floor plans allows for a comprehensive understanding of floor layout and building flow, aiding buyers in making informed decisions about the suitability of distinct office configurations. The ability to virtually navigate hallways and assess spatial dimensions minimizes the need for physical visits to future office real estate.
Interactive 3D floor plans can assist employees in visualizing their ideal work environment. Ultimately, Zillow Immerse can be a valuable tool to help corporate leaders with budgeting, forecasting, and other operational activities related to understanding where they will spend a majority of their working hours.
Zoom
Since the recent global pandemic, Zoom has boomed for corporate meetings and collaboration. Integration of video conferencing with Vision Pro’s aforementioned infinite canvas offers an authentic spatial representation of meeting participants through features, like Personas, enhancing the sense of connection in virtual meetings.
The Spatial Zoom experience further contributes to a feeling of co-presence, specifically enabling participants to scale participants as necessary to create lifelike meeting environments. Upcoming features like 3D object sharing, chat integration, and “pinning” of meeting participants, enhance collaborative and communicative aspects of Zoom.
Convenient meeting management features alongside exceptional audio, video, and spatial qualities allow employees using Zoom on Vision Pro to seamlessly connect, collaborate, and communicate. Immersive Zoom becomes especially valuable in today’s diverse work settings, catering to employees working remotely as well as in-person.
Apple Vision Pro is helping to usher in a new era of workplace productivity. Our article has highlighted just four standout applications that leverage the capabilities of Vision Pro to enhance efficiencies in professional settings.
Microsoft 365 emerges as a top choice for productivity, offering features that revolutionize multitasking. Lowe’s Style Studio, with its vast customization abilities, proves to be a valuable tool for those involved in workspace design. Zillow Immerse stands out for its advanced floor plan viewing capabilities, providing an excellent opportunity for companies exploring future office spaces. Zoom on Vision Pro elevates video conferencing with lifelike spatial representation and upcoming capabilities like 3D object sharing.
Immersive learning through VR also provides an engaging and cost-effective way for companies to train on topics, such as workplace violence prevention, sexual harassment. From teambuilding exercises to how to handle machinery, VR can be used to help employees develop skills and stay up to date with industry best practices. For example, Sisu VR offers innovative workplace violence, DEI, ethics, and anti-harassment training focused on building interactivity and empathy.
Together, applications discussed in this article showcase the transformative potential of Vision Pro in redefining how employees connect and collaborate across various work environments. If you are interested in learning ways to specifically integrate VR into your employee training, reach out to us. Our mission is to empower you to build a more inclusive and respectful workplace! 💎
PS Have a suggestion on a cool workplace application on Vision Pro we should check out? Or have you tried Vision Pro for other types of applications, such as games, fitness, or entertainment? We are always excited to learn about all the possibilities of using VR and would love to hear from you! Leave us a comment below, and remember to share this article with a friend or colleague!