From Inspiration to Implementation: A Guide to Capitalizing on Apple’s WWDC Innovations

WWDC is YML’s Super Bowl — an electric moment in the digital world. Each year we enlist a multidisciplinary team of YML engineers, designers and product strategists to dissect Apple’s latest products and tools. Apple's VisionPro headset has drawn the most excitement (for good reason) from WWDC 2023, and digital accessibility, mixed reality and new 3D experiences we're also debuted. Below is a guide to how YML envisions companies across the cultural spectrum best leveraging Apple’s latest products and tools to grow business, improve customer experience, and fuel brand affinity.

Apple Vision Pro Will Unlock Transformative Experiences

Apple Vision Pro, the highly anticipated AR (augmented reality) headset unveiled at WWDC 2023 is a key opportunity for brands across the spectrum. It offers a revolutionary way to interact with digital content using eye, hand, and voice commands. With its pass-through lens, users can seamlessly blend the real world with virtual environments, creating immersive experiences.

For healthcare organizations, Apple Vision Pro provides ample opportunity for 3D visualization of complex medical data, enhanced surgical planning, and improved patient education. Esteemed institutions like Cleveland Clinic can utilize this technology for breakthrough medical simulations and advanced diagnostics.

In fintech, top dogs like J.P. Morgan and Capital One and other financial institutions can leverage this cutting-edge technology to offer personalized investment visualizations, providing an intuitive and immersive platform for informed financial decisions.

Retailers eager to be at the forefront of innovation, from Sephora to Target, can create immersive virtual shopping environments, allowing customers to try on the latest products and collections from the comfort of their own homes.

TLDR: Let's face it — mass adoption of AR is not happening any time soon, but the opportunity is massive, the technology is here, and now is the moment companies need to begin developing their entry point into the space.

Mixed Reality and "Spatial Experiences" Open Up New Frontiers for Digital Product Design

Source: Apple

Mixed reality combines virtual and augmented reality, enabling users to interact with digital content in real-world environments. By incorporating spatial experiences, Apple is pushing the boundaries of design, and allowing brands to reach consumer with more immersive and intuitive user interactions.

For consumer-centric brands, this means the ability to create interfaces for products that can be seamlessly integrated into the physical world, enhancing user engagement and satisfaction. Imagine stepping into a room in your home and witnessing a breathtaking visualization of an entirely new interior design. Picture realistic 3D models of furniture curated from your favorite designers, captivating artwork adorning the walls, and an array of carefully selected decor, all vividly displayed before you and easily accessible at your fingertips.

TLDR: This combination of mixed reality and spatial technologies has the potential to reshape the digital landscape and empower businesses to create innovative and engaging experiences for their customers.

Capitalizing on the Infinite Possibilities of “Spacial Experiences”

Source: Apple

In Apple's new mixed reality space, designers face the challenge of rethinking their design approach. The canvas is now infinite in scale. This offers a whole new realm of possibilities for creativity, but will definitely challenge our preconceived notions about what UI design is. Designers need to shift from two-dimensional screens to a three-dimensional spatial mindset, considering spatial relationships or “spacial experiences” as Apple puts it, intuitive interactions, and harmonious integration of digital and physical elements. Designers must also consider the new accessibility problems that may arise in this new virtual space.

TLDR: Digital product designers can create immersive, intuitive, and inclusive experiences that push the boundaries of what mixed reality has to offer.

Leverage HealthKit and Health App To Enhance Wellness + Fitness Experiences

Apple's advancements in health and fitness, including the expansion of HealthKit to iPad and the introduction of the iPad Health App, provide timely opportunities for brands across the healthcare, wellness and retail industries. With Apple's larger screen and redesigned app, healthcare providers can now deliver personalized wellness programs, remote patient monitoring, and tele-health consultations directly on iPads.

Retailers can leverage the iPad Health App to integrate health and fitness features into their customer loyalty programs, offering personalized recommendations and incentives based on users' health data.

TLDR: Effectively capitalizing on Apple's health-focused enhancements can drive sales, improve customer experience, and foster a healthier and more engaged user base.

Bridging the Gap Between Web and Desktop Applications

Source: Apple

Apple's new web apps in Safari have the potential to lower the barrier of entry for companies to expand into the desktop app space. With this approach, Apple aims to bridge the gap between web and desktop applications, making it easier for businesses to enter the market.

TLDR: By using web standards, companies have the ability to create powerful desktop-like applications that run seamlessly in Safari on macOS devices.

Prioritizing Accessibility Across Every Touchpoint

Source: MacRumors

Apple unveiled a range of accessibility features focusing on enhancing the user experience for individuals with cognitive disabilities and promoting eye health. The new Assistive Access features allow users to customize apps with high contrast buttons and large text labels, tailoring their device to their specific needs. The digital world should be easy to use, and at YML we offer tools and services to expand access and inclusion through our Accessibility and Inclusive Design Practice — a commitment to create digital experiences that are accessible to everyone.

TLDR: With these accessibility updates, Apple demonstrates its commitment to inclusivity and user-centric design, ensuring that technology is accessible and beneficial to users of all abilities.

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Authors:

SJ Singh is a Solutions Architect at YML with a remarkable seven-year tenure at the company. With a focus on clients in the fintech and healthcare sectors, SJ brings extensive expertise in mobile technologies, end-to-end solutioning, and generative AI.

Eddy Gann has a passion for the intersection of design and technology. He is a highly skilled Senior Product Designer at YML, with a decade of experience. He creates exceptional digital products with a diverse skill set spanning human-centric experience design, micro-interactions, branding, and more.

Dan Huynh is a highly accomplished Lead Product Manager at YML and specializes in healthcare products. With extensive expertise in the industry, he drives innovation and delivers impactful products that optimize workflows, improve health outcomes, and revolutionize healthcare.