The AR Revolution & Web3 Conversations: A Week of Immersion
Unpacking Apple's Vision Pro and Insights from the OPJ Happy Hour in Miami
Apple's Vision Pro, a true game-changer, is the top scoop of the week. This AR headset, primed to redefine the industry, is expected to unlock the next phase of technology for all of us. Coming early next year at $3500, this high-tech tool has some exciting features that include:
AR experiences are elevated by "spatial computing," creating an immersive, digital environment that's highly responsive.
It employs eye-tracking technology, giving the headset the power to adapt to eye movements, hand gestures, and voice commands intelligently.
High-resolution photo and video delivery with a tap of your fingers
Think of Vision Pro's potential reach. Meta goggles and Sony PlayStation may not be everyone's cup of tea, but a smartphone is almost ubiquitous. If there's one entity capable of driving mass adoption for a specific technology, it's Apple.
The lure of immersive experiences could be the proverbial pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Retail experiences are already dabbling in these waters, but what drives this push? It's our inherent curiosity to explore the technology's potential and push the envelope of what's possible.
My intuition tells me that gaming, medicine, and science—industries that are highly technical—will be significantly impacted by this technology. The question then is whether immersive Facetime would be a luxury or a necessity? Initially, it will captivate the tech-savvy, but as our physical and digital worlds continue to blur, it's poised to be an integral part of our daily reality.
Shifting gears, I attended an OPJ Happy Hour in Miami, hosted by Carly Reilly of the Overpriced JPGS podcast. After navigating through rain and downtown traffic, I reached Wynwood, the city's vibrant arts district. Usually, I indulge in exploring the newest mural walls, but the rush to the event left me with no time.
However, my brief walk reminded me of the remnants of Miami Art Basel from a little over six months ago, and I couldn't help but marvel at how rapidly the NFT market has evolved since then. But let's get back to the event!
Reilly launched her OPJ Jin NFT three months ago in partnership with Liquid Collections to offer holders a branded bottle of Overpriced gin and access to happy hours across select U.S. cities—an ingenious strategy to reward the community and keep them connected and engaged. The Miami gathering was held at Hodler Gallery, traditionally known for hosting web3 events in the past. Reilly moderated a conversation with Avery Akinneni, President of Vayner3, and Magdalena Kala, founder of Double Down Fund.
The crowd was chill, the vibe was cool, and conversation ranged from the current state of the market (we are in the trough of disillusionment) to what it will take to get web3 to mainstream adoption (aside from ticketing, loyalty programs, and music, we need more real-life use cases that people can care about), and blockchain and AI (it is now more important than ever).
My key takeaways?
1. The overhyped energy that defined the space six months ago has been replaced by a quiet, cautious, hopeful one
2. It was fun to see and connect with web3 thought leaders I have been following for the last two years
3. Connections and conversations in this bear market are definitely more intentional and personal
There are contingency plans in case web3 doesn’t recover
On the cool finds front, have a look at the generative art collection by Didi, known on Twitter as @lemonde2d. Also, the ODDS generative sweaters, a collaboration between Tribute Brand, Waste Yarn Project, and Chromie Squiggle, take exclusivity to a whole new level
Lastly, one of my favorite luxury houses is launching a phygital “Treasure Trunks” NFT collection, which is a web3 reinterpretation of the iconic Louis Vuitton Trianon Canvas trunk. While they come at a hefty price of $41,000, owners will receive both the digital and a physical version of the trunk. Digital keys will grant them access to limited products, exclusive experiences, and special drops. I’m intrigued by the storytelling and game theory behind this project and can't wait to see its evolution.
That’s a wrap for now, see you all next week!
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