Apple’s plan for ‘spatial computing’ may redefine personal computing – and also facilitate trouble new kinds of surveillance.
Apple Vision Pro is a mixed-reality headset – which the company hopes is a “revolutionary spatial computer that transforms how people work, collaborate, connect, relive memories, and enjoy entertainment” – that begins shipping to the public (in the United States).
The data Apple collects is not “consumer” data like the brand of toothpaste you buy. It is more akin to medical data.
For instance, analysing a person’s unconscious movements can reveal their emotional state or even predict neurodegenerative disease. This is called “biometrically inferred data” as users are unaware their bodies are giving it up.
Apple suggests it won’t share this type of data with anyone.
I mean, Apple already gives you the option to collect this type of data using Apple Watch and iPhone - if you want it to. One of the most interesting is gait analysis that can warn you if you are getting a bit wobbly and have increased risk of falling. The already do facial scanning for FaceID (held on-device in the Secure Enclave) and offers the ability to scan the shape of your ears to get the best from it’s Atmos audio when wearing headphones. There’s never been any suggestion that Apple exfiltrates this stuff for any purpose other than those selected by the user.
You are not logged in. However you can subscribe from another Fediverse account, for example Lemmy or Mastodon. To do this, paste the following into the search field of your instance: !technology@beehaw.org
A nice place to discuss rumors, happenings, innovations, and challenges in the technology sphere. We also welcome discussions on the intersections of technology and society. If it’s technological news or discussion of technology, it probably belongs here.
Remember the overriding ethos on Beehaw: Be(e) Nice. Each user you encounter here is a person, and should be treated with kindness (even if they’re wrong, or use a Linux distro you don’t like). Personal attacks will not be tolerated.
I mean, Apple already gives you the option to collect this type of data using Apple Watch and iPhone - if you want it to. One of the most interesting is gait analysis that can warn you if you are getting a bit wobbly and have increased risk of falling. The already do facial scanning for FaceID (held on-device in the Secure Enclave) and offers the ability to scan the shape of your ears to get the best from it’s Atmos audio when wearing headphones. There’s never been any suggestion that Apple exfiltrates this stuff for any purpose other than those selected by the user.