See What Air-Typing With Apple Vision Pro’s Floating Keyboard Is Like

Video screenshot via Apple

Apple has something far cooler and more functional than your air guitar. Users are getting a taste of the future with its virtual keyboard, a feature that allows typing in mid-air.

YouTuber Brian Tong recently showcased how this unique keyboard operates in a video, where he demonstrated two ways to interact with the keyboard: either by focusing on individual letters and pinching fingers together or by using a window bar to “air type.” Each keypress emits a haptic sound, confirming input while preventing potential typos.

Despite still being in development, the VisionOS-powered keyboard intrigues with its novel approach. Tong’s experience, while positive, highlighted the current limitations in typing speed and efficiency. He described the keyboard as “good” and “decent,” though not yet flawless.

The design of the virtual keyboard, as explained by Apple designer Eugene Krivoruchko, aims to give a semblance of pressing real keys. The keys appear raised and brighten as fingers approach, providing visual cues to aid in typing. However, this virtual interaction still leaves something to be desired in terms of the tangible feedback that traditional keyboards offer.

Tech journalists recently had the opportunity to test the Vision Pro with their own videos, leading to some emotionally resonant and immersive moments.

“Important moments can truly be incredibly moving,” TheStreet’s Jacob Karol reported. “It immediately transports you back to a specific time and place.”

For Inverse’s Raymond Wong, the experience “almost brought [him] to tears.”

“I kept tilting my head a lot, almost in disbelief at how surreal it was to see my mom in spatial video,” said Wong. Concerned that staffers could tell his eyes were welling up, he asked them if his eyes were in view and was assured they were not.

The early test-drives show the potential of such technology to connect users with their cherished memories in an unexpectedly touching way.

[via Inverse and TheStreet, cover video screenshot via Apple]