Sony’s forthcoming mixed reality headset, teased at CES 2024 and discussed further during Siemens’ keynote in Las Vegas, is part of a collaboration between the two companies aiming to contribute to the development of an “industrial metaverse.” While the official name of the device remains undisclosed, Siemens referred to it as “Sony’s new spatial content creation system” in their press release. The headset is scheduled to be available in late 2024.
The device, equipped with 4K OLED microdisplays, features distinctive controllers, including a finger-worn controller and a larger, more conventional VR-style controller. The collaboration envisions the headset serving as a tool for businesses in manufacturing and design processes within the framework of an “industrial metaverse.” Siemens CEO Dr. Roland Busch described this metaverse as an immersive space fostering real-time collaboration between people and AI to address practical problems.
During the Siemens keynote, potential use cases for the headset were demonstrated, with Red Bull Racing’s engineering and design teams planning to leverage the device to visualize the cockpit of a Formula One car. Siemens aims to position the headset as a solution for the “industrial metaverse,” emphasizing its applicability in professional and industrial settings rather than targeting the consumer market. While it may not directly compete with consumer-focused offerings like Apple Vision Pro, the headset promises to open up possibilities for mixed reality applications that could find value in various professional domains.
