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Issue link: https://digital.macdirectory.com/i/1488864
A New Pair of Glasses Looking at the world through an AR-enhanced phone or tablet can only go so far in terms of practical, everyday applications. The giant leap will happen when somebody, likely Apple if it continues with its legacy of creating disruptive personal tech, comes out with a design for AR glasses that is practical, relatively affordable, and acceptably cool. Like the Apple Watch, these would meld with the reset of Apple’s mobile ecosystem so your phone or tablet could do the heavy lifting so only the display and sensing technology is parked on your face. It should be noted that Apple already holds some key patents on ways to achieve this. But think about this: in the early days of the Web, it was all a grand adventure without much money to be made. But then, some very smart people came up with ways of embedding advertising. And then came actual retail transactions. The one big thing that AR promises is a platform for the ultimate in localized, personalized advertising and promotion. Yes, it will be annoying and yes, it will be another way to intrude on your privacy. But that advertising will subsidize a very useful tool, just as it has on the Web. Adobe: The Next Generation Adobe’s launch of a free, basic version of Fresco and making Adobe Express free for schools and non-profits is a really big deal for the company as well as its community. Simply put, there are a lot of individuals and even school districts that can’t afford even a sliver of the suite. But those places are a rich source of talent with experience and perspectives that can be world-changing. Having access to these kinds of tools will help jump-start future creatives with a level of equity that they are often denied. Whatever their background, they will be able to transform their childhood passions for art, imaging, and design into successful careers that may not have been open to them otherwise. Of course, this isn’t an entirely altruistic move by Adobe. It will give these young creatives their start with the Adobe ecosystem, making them more likely to stay with it. But this is clearly a win/win for all concerned. And, of course, we have to conclude with the following disclaimer: the only thing we can predict with certainty is that the future will be unpredictable. But some wonderous things can be coming to light. Some are still a bit scary in some ways, but art and media will flourish if, perhaps, in some rather different ways. For more information, visit: Adobe.com/max.