Apple has confirmed that its upcoming AR reality headset Vision Pro will support the WebXR standard, allowing users to experience immersive virtual reality content in the browser. This is a major announcement from Apple at WWDC 2023 and the first time the company has confirmed support for the WebXR standard.
WebXR is a web standard that allows developers to create and present virtual reality games and scenes through a browser without installing additional software or plug-ins. Users only need to put on the headset to enter the panoramic virtual world in the browser and enjoy an immersive interactive experience. For example, users can play music games like Rhythm Saber in the browser, or visit museums and tourist attractions online.
According to Apple, the Safari browser running on Vision Pro is a full-featured browser based on the same WebKit engine, but with special features added for virtual reality. In addition to browsing normal web pages, Safari also supports the WebXR standard and the new tag for embedding 3D models in web pages. These features are currently in the developer preview stage and need to be turned on manually, but Apple plans to make them official features of Safari after working with the industry to improve the WebXR standard.
The WebXR standard has been supported by multiple browser vendors other than Apple, including Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Edge, etc., as well as browsers on virtual reality headsets such as Quest, Pico, and Magic Leap. This means that the WebXR standard has wide compatibility and popularity, which facilitates the development and dissemination of virtual reality content.
In addition to the WebXR standard, Apple also supports the development of the tag, which is a standardized method for adding 3D models to web pages, allowing users to preview the three-dimensional effects of clothing, furniture, products, etc., which is also a way to use virtual reality technology to enhance the web experience.
