VR may have been something of a slow burner in terms of technology buzzwords, but its recent rebrand as spatial computing may well signal an uptick in interest for a host of reasons, discovers Mark Mayne.
The tide appears to be turning with a slew of big tech players fielding a new range of VR/spatial computing hardware this year, but will it be enough to achieve a breakthrough in a space that has seen many a false dawn? We look at some of the key innovations driving volumetric production in 2024.
Changemaker - The Apple Vision Pro
The biggest news in the space is arguably Apple’s Vision Pro, partly due to the dominance of the Cupertino tech giant in associated markets, and partly due to the galvanising effect on the competition. As has been the company’s playbook since the success of the iPhone, the Vision Pro delivers a market-leading set of specs, wrapped in an aspirational magnesium and carbon fibre design that will enable many to look beyond the considerable $3.5k price point...
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Spatial computing: “Instead of showing people a story, you’re letting them inhabit it”
Leveraging generative AI, computer vision, and data from real environments, spatial computing has opened the door for cutting-edge systems that blend the physical and digital worlds into a new frontier of human-technology interaction.
NAB preview: Automation, reinvention and politics to steal the show
NAB 2026 looks set to bring a raft of creativity and technological innovation, yet serious political and environmental questions remain.
How vertical video became the new frontline for live sports
Live sports entertainment remains the most powerful driver of real-time engagement in media, but the format through which it’s delivered is rapidly evolving.
From green screen to Unreal worlds: The tech stack driving virtual production
As broadcasters and content creators embrace in-camera VFX and data-driven workflows, a new technology stack is redefining what can be achieved on set and who can afford to achieve it. Framestore’s Connor Ling explores the possibilities of this evolving ecosystem.
Software studios: How inevitable is fully software-defined production?
With the rise of free, high-quality media tools, physical broadcast production hardware is looking less and less essential. IBC365 investigates.

