As Apple gears up to release its Vision Pro headset next year, GDI founder Denny Zhou believes that the world is prepared to embrace XR technology. Developed by tech giant Apple Inc., this headset is designed to offer users an immersive and interactive blend of both physical and digital environments, promising to reshape how we perceive and engage with the digital world.
With its impending release, the Apple Vision Pro headset has garnered significant attention and raised expectations for the future of extended reality technology.
According to Denny Zhou Qinghui, founder and chairman of Shanghai Graphic Design Information Co (GDI), Apple’s forthcoming Vision Pro headset is poised to unlock the potential of similar products and provide a boost to smaller players in the industry. GDI, with a decade-long involvement in related technology, has observed a significant transformation in the extended reality (XR) sector, especially following the entry of major companies like Apple, instilling confidence in the field.
GDI, established in 2007 and headquartered in Shanghai’s Songjiang district, has over 200 employees and focuses on XR hardware and software solutions. While larger Chinese companies like ByteDance and Oppo emphasize XR hardware, GDI’s flagship product is IdeaXR, a software framework recognized as a VR engine. IdeaXR enables users, including those with limited programming knowledge, to create 3D immersive experiences with its graphical interactive editor, catering to a diverse clientele beyond video game developers.
This strategy has been successful for GDI, serving over 3,000 business clients, including notable entities such as Pudong Airport, Sinopec, and prominent universities. In the first half of 2023, GDI reported an impressive 96% year-on-year revenue increase to 107 million yuan, rebounding from a 34% sales drop in the previous year, partly due to pandemic-related disruptions.
Furthermore, GDI aligns with China’s digital economy and metaverse development strategy. The company is committed to adapting its technology to domestic operating systems and hardware, supporting China’s quest for technological self-sufficiency, particularly amid growing tech tensions between nations. While currently using Nvidia graphics processing units, GDI remains open to adopting chips from other companies, aligning with international standards. Additionally, advancements in AI have created new possibilities for XR technology, opening doors for innovative product development.
(Source: Ann Cao | South China Morning Post)
