Researchers warn against using headsets like the Apple Vision Pro daily

Scientists have warned users against wearing headsets like the Apple Vision Pro everyday or for extended periods. This runs contrary to the way that Apple, in particular, has marketed the Vision Pro to date. It has pitched the device as something that you would use to replace your other devices including the iPhone, Mac and iPad. Its website promotes using the Vision Pro for doing everyday tasks like browsing the web using virtual monitors, creating to-do lists in Notes, chatting in Messages, watching videos, playing games, video chatting, and so on.

However, according to researchers specializing in VR and AR technologies, this could have negative impacts on human health that requires further research, as reported by Scientific American. Their chief concern is that in using a device like the Vision Pro on a regular daily basis, and for extended periods, that it could start to impact how users think and interact with others. This could impact the way they learn and work in ways that are not yet properly understood. A study from 2019, for example, revealed that headset wearers felt socially isolated from others.

Apple has tried to address the issue of social isolation with the Vision Pro by incorporating the controversial EyeSight feature, which integrates a display into the front of the headset which projects the wearer’s eyes to an outside observer. However, in practice, the feature looks to be far removed from Apple’s marketing shots with the wearer’s eyes looking very pixelated and not as natural as the marketing would have us believe. This, of course, limits its effectiveness in counteracting this obvious downside of putting on a headset and entering a mix–reality or completely immersive virtual environment.

Other negative impacts of wearing headsets that were well known before the Vision Pro arrived on the scene have also been reported by Vision Pro users. These include the fact that while the Vision Pro boasts an impressive combined 23 million pixel resolution, this pales in comparison to the human eye which can see 567 million pixels per eye. This could potentially cause impacts on how wearer’s eyes function in the real world, including motor coordination and interaction with real-world objects as this is substantially altered when wearing a headset. A common complain among Vision Pro wearers to date includes eyestrain.

This Vision Pro is also heavy, leading to complaints about neck pain and fatigue. The narrow field of view and distortion effects when using passthrough can contribute to feeling nauseous even after less than one hour of use, which the researchers say can negatively impact their productivity and general well-being. There are already numerous research papers highlighting the negative impacts of smartphone use that have only emerged over time. Consequently, one of the research teams speaking to Scientific American recommended “caution and restraint” from companies promoting daily use of headsets until further research is conducted.