Apple’s “Liquid Glass” Signals Augmented Reality Future
At its recent Worldwide Developers Conference, Apple unveiled “Liquid Glass,” a dramatic software design shift. This new interface hints at the company’s upcoming augmented reality glasses, potentially launching next year and aiming to compete with existing smart glasses.
Liquid Glass: A New Look for iOS
The name “Liquid Glass” reflects the design concept, where each phone window resembles a pane of transparent, slightly reflective glass. This creates a sleeker appearance, though the developer beta has yet to perfect opacity control.
This design takes clear inspiration from Apple’s Vision Pro VR headset. The Vision Pro, while not a commercial blockbuster due to its $3,500 price tag, offers an impressive user experience by integrating virtual elements with the real world. The user experience feels less disorienting.
AR Glasses: The Next Frontier
Apple’s push into augmented reality aims to challenge competitors like Meta and Google. Reports suggest these glasses will have cameras, microphones, and speakers, with Siri integration for calls, music, and translation.
If the glasses are successful, the AR market is expected to reach $17.3 billion by 2028 (Statista, 2024).
The key to success for Apple will be mastering the seamless integration of design elements. Notifications should blend into the user’s surroundings, instead of creating visual distractions.
