Exploring the Frontiers of Immersive Experiences with Vision PRO and Unity

9 min readFeb 11, 2024

I dive deep into the world of immersive video through the lens of the Vision PRO headset! As an animator and AR dev, I got hands-on, testing animations made in Unity and bringing them to life in my living room. While I’m hyped about the cinematic potential, I also get real about the high cost and current limitations. We even tackle the technical side, from HDRP’s mobile woes to the joys of the URP for AR on a Samsung Note Ultra 22. Join me as I share my insights on whether the Vision PRO can actually disrupt the industry and how immersive AR can shape the future of entertainment and medicine.

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Introduction: A Dive into Immersive Video with Vision PRO and Unity

Augmented Reality (AR) has the power to redefine our perception of the world by blending the digital and the physical. As both an animator and an AR developer, I’ve been captivated by this potential and recently had the opportunity to explore what the Vision PRO headset has to offer in this realm. Utilizing Unity’s High Definition and Universal Render Pipelines — HDRP and URP — I embarked on a journey to discover the limitations and possibilities of this exciting technology.

In my experiments, I approached the Vision PRO with a critical eye, considering its application in animation and film rather than gaming, which is a common focus for AR headsets. Adapting my animations made in Unity to the immersive video capabilities of the Vision PRO was a fascinating challenge that allowed me to experience these creations in a whole new way. However, this process didn’t come without its difficulties. I encountered technical hurdles, such as the fidelity of AR on mobile devices and the constraints imposed by different render pipelines.

The Vision PRO headset boasts impressive immersive video capabilities that could rival a movie theater experience. However, skepticism crept in when weighing its steep price tag against its benefits, especially compared to other versatile and cost-effective options like the Meta Quest. Throughout this exploration, I was driven by a desire to push the boundaries and truly understand what makes for a compelling and immersive AR experience. The quest was not just about the tech — it was about envisioning the future of storytelling and experience design.

Experimenting with Vision PRO: Possibilities and Limitations

The Vision PRO headset is a marvel when it comes to immersive video experiences. Yet, as an animator and AR developer, I noticed it shines in particular niches. It’s more suited for animation and film, which was precisely what enticed me to port my Unity-created animations to the Vision PRO. The visual fidelity achieved through the headset’s display was striking — it brought life to the animations, fostering an almost tactile sense of presence in digital narratives.

My enthusiasm for the Vision PRO, however, found itself tempered by reality when I compared it to the accessible and wildly popular Meta Quest. While the Vision PRO excels in delivering top-notch video immersion, its price-to-utility ratio presented a conundrum. Initially priced at $4,000, it’s a hefty investment, especially when its abilities to enable shared experiences remain uncertain. In my eyes, the Meta Quest offered a more comprehensive package that was not only more affordable but also boasted a robust versatility.

I envisioned the Vision PRO as an alternative to traditional cinema. The immersive videos could transform personal streaming into an extraordinary experience. Despite this, I remained skeptical about its widespread adoption. For the Vision PRO to break ground, it would have to offer something truly exceptional beyond what’s already available — a feat somewhat undermined by its limitations and high cost. The headset was impressive, to be sure, but was it revolutionary? That remained an open question.

Hands-Free AR in the Living Room: My Analog-AR Experience

Taking my exploration a step further, I integrated the Analog-AR headset with my phone, enabling me to traverse the worlds I created hands-free, right in my living room. The blend of digital and physical space was seamless — a testament to the Vision PRO and Analog-AR’s engineering. Moving around and experiencing my animations overlaid onto my environment encapsulated a dream for many AR developers: an unobtrusive technology that enriches the existing world without demanding full attention.

As I interacted with my created experiences, the living room transformed into an extension of the virtual world. It was an intimate way to ingest content, becoming part of the environment, unlike anything I had experienced in a gaming scenario. This hands-free approach provided a unique perspective on interaction design, one where the user’s movement and viewpoint became integral to the narrative — where every turn of the head could reveal a new chapter in the story.

However, the excitement of this new form of interaction was challenged by the recognition of ergonomic factors and user comfort. AR, particularly with setups like the one I tested, needs to be natural and effortless. Prolonged use raised questions of comfort and usability, hinting at the need for future advances in hardware design. Despite this, the potential for home use and the extension of visual storytelling within one’s own space was undeniable, paving the way for an augmented reimagining of familiar settings.

Balancing Immersive Capabilities and Cost: A Critical Assessment

Diving into the pros and cons of Vision PRO’s immersive capabilities versus its cost offered me a nuanced perspective. The headset’s capacity to create a stunning cinematic experience was juxtaposed against its daunting cost. The immersive experience it delivered was without question unparalleled; however, the expenditure required to attain this level of immersion was a significant barrier. For many, including myself, the decision to spend $4,000 on a headset was not justifiable, given the current capabilities and alternatives in the market.

My skepticism echoed louder when contemplating shared experiences. The personal immersion was revolutionary, yet I couldn’t help but ponder the collaborative aspect of AR. Would the Vision PRO facilitate shared cinematic experiences effectively, or would it remain an isolated endeavor? The social dimension of AR is powerful, and any limitations in this regard directly affect the headset’s overall value proposition.

Despite my critical viewpoint, I admired the Vision PRO for specific use cases. It holds the potential to enhance home-streaming experiences, offering users a private movie theater atmosphere. Additionally, for those who can afford it without concern for cost, it promises to elevate the mundane activity of watching videos into an event. Balancing these outstanding features with economics is crucial for AR technology to progress and become a staple in consumer entertainment.

Challenges in AR: From Render Pipelines to User-Controlled Perspectives

Navigating the waters of augmented reality development, I encountered several challenges, most notably the limitations when dealing with high fidelity graphics on mobile AR. Transitioning from Unity’s Universal Render Pipeline (URP) to the High Definition Render Pipeline (HDRP) was fraught with complications. Pink materials and shader issues became the bane of my existence, disrupting my creative workflow and necessitating the management of two separate Unity projects to mitigate these issues.

These technical difficulties were compounded by the inherent nature of AR, where the user has control over the camera. This presented unique challenges in storytelling as I could no longer curate the viewer’s perspective as I could in traditional animation. The interactive element of AR, while empowering for the user, created unpredictability in the narrative experience. It became clear that ensuring a quality immersive experience would require careful consideration of the how content is presented within the AR environment.

Despite the setbacks, I persevered with the Unity Universal Render Pipeline and its samples. My goal was to achieve a high-fidelity screensaver-like experience in AR, akin to an immersive digital oasis that users could escape to through their mobile devices. I imagined creating a portable and accessible experience that would require nothing more than a smartphone and an inexpensive headset — a vision that could revolutionize how we find relaxation and mental escape in our daily lives.

Building a Screensaver-Like Oasis in Augmented Reality

I embarked on creating an immersive oasis, utilizing Unity’s Universal Render Pipeline samples to weave an experience that could transport users from reality to a serene paradise. The endeavor was two-fold: to craft a breathtakingly immersive experience and to test the possibilities of high-fidelity AR on mobile devices, such as the Samsung Note Ultra 22. Building an augmented reality experience that also served as a meditative escape opened a new domain for both personal enjoyment and therapeutic potential.

The process involved porting assets, fine-tuning animations, integrating Vuforia SDK for surface tracking, and extensive testing in the Unity editor before building. The results were promising but also highlighted issues such as slow-motion effects and certain animation features not translating well in the AR setting. Nevertheless, the experience of creating an animated short in AR demonstrated the medium’s potential for artistic and recreational expression.

As I sculpted this digital sanctuary, I began to see beyond the aesthetics and into the deeper implications for well-being and medical applications. As an MD PhD student specializing in integrated neuroscience, the exploration transcended mere technology — it hinted at the intersection of augmented reality with health and mindfulness. With each iteration, I became more convinced of the role that AR could play in creating not just entertainment, but transformative experiences that support mental resilience and offer therapeutic outlets.

Vision PRO and its Place in Entertainment, Research, and Education

As I reflect on my experiences with the Vision PRO, I recognize its potential impact on various sectors, particularly entertainment, research, and education. In entertainment, while it may not displace established giants like the Meta Quest 3, it does carve out a niche for high-quality immersive video experiences that could appeal to a select market. Moreover, its potential applications in research and education could be profound — offering immersive experiences that could enhance learning and understanding in ways traditional methods cannot.

When it comes to research, the Vision PRO’s high-resolution capability offers a new level of visual fidelity that could be beneficial for detailed and intricate studies. Educational applications are equally promising, providing students with an immersive, hands-on experience that could revolutionize the learning process. Despite this, the Vision PRO’s steep price point remains a substantial barrier to widespread adoption in these fields, raising questions about accessibility and practicality.

I see the Vision PRO as a tool with specific strengths: its potential uses in research and as an educational aid are not to be overlooked. However, it is unlikely to become a career-defining tool, nor will it overshadow more established AR/VR technologies in the market. My work with Eyelnd Feevr and Analog-AR has only deepened my belief in the transformative power of AR. It’s a journey of discovery, where innovative storytelling and educational experiences continue to evolve within the expanding horizon of augmented and virtual realities.

Conclusion: Reflecting on the Future of AR and Its Potential in Medicine and Beyond

My journey with the Vision PRO and Unity has been a revealing one. As I ventured into the intricacies of AR development, I was reminded of its boundless potential and the hurdles that still need to be overcome. The Vision PRO provided a glimpse into a future where high-quality immersive video can be part of our daily lives — yet it shone a light on the need for more accessible and versatile solutions within the AR space.

As an MD PhD student in integrated neuroscience and an AR developer, I’m excited about the convergence of AR with the field of medicine, where the technology can serve as a powerful tool for education, visualization, and therapy. My immersive oasis project is just a snapshot of the possibilities, suggesting a future where AR not only entertains but also heals, educates, and inspires.

In conclusion, while the Vision PRO may not be the industry disruptor many had hoped for, it remains a significant step towards the maturation of the AR market. It stands as a testament to the progress being made in immersive technologies and a reminder of the exciting journey that lies ahead. We’re on the cusp of a new era in AR — one where the blending of art, technology, and neuroscience could unlock experiences previously relegated to the realm of imagination.