The arrival of Contact Posters in iOS 17 might seem like a small feature, but I believe it marks a significant step in Apple's spatial computing strategy. In fact, I predict we'll look back at 2023 as the year Apple cemented its lead in developing the most relatable use case for spatial computing: Name-to-a-Face.
To understand the significance of this, let's take a detour into the world of aviation. Every airplane is equipped with a transponder, a radio that transmits a unique identifying code, allowing air traffic control to track and manage flights. These transponders essentially give each aircraft a digital identity in the sky.
Now, imagine applying this concept to the augmented world.
One of the most anticipated features of augmented reality (AR) is the ability to see information overlaid on the real world simply by looking around. Imagine walking into a room and instantly knowing the history of each object, or seeing the names of people you encounter.
However, this seemingly simple vision presents a massive challenge: identifying and augmenting the countless objects and individuals we encounter daily. Even in a sparsely furnished room, the potential information to be displayed is vast.
This is where the Name-to-a-Face problem comes in. Knowing someone's name is crucial for social interaction, but remembering names can be difficult. AR could solve this by either:
Contact Posters offer a user-controlled way to share your identity and chosen information with others. You can choose how you appear, from a simple name on a solid background to a full picture or even a Memoji.
The true brilliance of Contact Posters lies in their potential to create a vast network of identifiable individuals. With iPhones being ubiquitous in key countries, Apple has essentially equipped millions of people with digital "transponders" for the augmented world.
UWB is present in Android phones as well. However, they've not really leaned in on Contact Posters.
Combine this with the increasing presence of UWB chips and Thread radios in Apple devices, and you have a powerful infrastructure for accurately detecting and representing individuals in AR experiences.
Importantly, Contact Posters put the power in the hands of users. You choose whether to be visible and how you want to be represented. This user-centric approach is crucial for building trust and ensuring privacy in the augmented world.
While it's unclear if Apple envisions Contact Posters as the foundation for a broader AR network, the potential is undeniable. This simple feature could be the key to unlocking a future where we seamlessly navigate the physical and digital worlds, with information and connections readily available at a glance.
Apple's already tied your Memoji to the Contact Poster and I believe that Personas should be coming to contact posters as well.
The future of AR is bright, and Contact Posters could play a key role in the "killer" use case.