visionOS 3: Eye scrolling and other innovations planned
Eye tracking is one of the most impressive features of the Vision Pro operating system. It is set to be expanded even further with the next visionOS.
User with Vision Pro: The headset is operated with eye tracking and finger gestures.
(Image: Apple)
Apple is working on new gestures for the Vision Pro that can be triggered with your own eyes. The headset's already much-praised eye tracking is therefore getting an update with visionOS 3: according to the financial news agency Bloomberg, it will be possible to scroll with your eyes for the first time. This would allow the hands to stay down, making finger gestures unnecessary in this case.
Simply do everything with your eyes
visionOS already makes full use of eye tracking. You look at the area you want to interact with and then trigger an action using a finger gesture – for example by bringing your index finger and thumb together –. The operation quickly becomes second nature. This combination is also necessary when scrolling text or other screens: You look at a window, “click” with your finger and then drag downwards and upwards in the air. This can be somewhat inconvenient when reading longer texts, for example.
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With visionOS 3, which will probably be released in September, eye tracking is set to become even more powerful. The plan is apparently that you only have to look at a window or a text area for the content to move with your gaze. Internal tests are currently underway with the eye-scrolling feature. It could be shown for the first time as early as next month at Apple's developer conference WWDC 2025, which begins as a virtual event on June 9.
Continuous further development at visionOS
According to Bloomberg, eye scrolling will work in all apps developed by Apple – but presumably also in all other visionOS applications, as it is likely to become a standard feature. Apple is already working internally on the necessary interfaces. Further new functions that have not yet been leaked are also expected in visionOS 3. The product is being continuously developed, although the headset does not appear to be a commercial hit. However, Apple sees it as the basis for “real” augmented reality glasses, which are at the top of CEO Tim Cook's agenda.
Eye scrolling would be a new feature for Apple: the function is not yet available on the iPhone and iPad, where eye control is also possible. Apple recently restructured its Vision Pro group, as an important manager is to help out with Siri.
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