A year is a long time in spatial computing! 12 months ago we were reflecting on the recent launch of our universal AR viewer which enables all devices from web browsers, mobile native, and desktop applications to view your content in 3D or augmented reality. Now, we sit poised on the precipice of the spatial computing revolution with the impending launch of Apple Vision Pro.
Let’s take a look back at the last 12 months..
Apple Vision Pro
JigSpace was featured in the Apple Vision Pro announcement, showcasing our collaboration with Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake.
Speaking to Forbes, our CEO Zac said “We always believed that spatial computing can unlock true understanding and the ability to communicate the same way we experience the world. Fundamentally, that’s what Vision Pro enables for our customers – an incredible way to communicate what matters about their products or processes that was simply not possible until now.”
Last month our CTO and Co-founder Numa Bertron spoke with Apple’s developer team about the opportunities coming for enterprises in Apple's visionOS platform using JigSpace. Numa retold a time when one of our 3D artists cried the first time he saw one of his 3D models on the Vision Pro in space at scale, and walked around it with his hands free. Yes, sometimes we get emotional!
Access to your content on the JigSpace app for Apple Vision Pro will be first available as a paid add-on to enterprise users. We can’t wait for you to see your spatial content on this incredible device.
Expanding our reach into enterprise
In 2023 we significantly expanded our customer base, partnering with industry leaders in the advanced manufacturing, life sciences, energy, and higher education. To better serve these customers, we expanded existing features like white-labeling and password protected sharing.
We also introduced content analytics to provide insights into how viewers are engaging with your content. Customers on Organization or Enterprise plans can now see views, engagement time, and interactions tracked per Jig in their team.
We also introduced the ability to create presentation templates to speed up the time it takes your team to create a Jig by re-using existing assets, as well as aligning team members to common design style guides and storyboard formats. This makes it faster for new users to get up and running, and reduces user errors common with learning a new tool.
Performance
One of the hardest problems in sharing spatial knowledge quickly and easily, to any device, is the sheer size and complexity of commercial CAD files which form the backbone of product knowledge in advanced manufacturing.
The average Jig 3D presentation in 2023 contained over 280 sub-objects (or sub-meshes) and 575,000 polygons. This was an increase of 24% and 14% respectively in 2022. In summary: Jigs are getting bigger, more detailed, more complex.
To manage this, a critical platform feature broke ground this year, which we call Automatic Optimization. This reduced the time it took for large 3D presentations to load by a factor of 200-300%. This is an opt-out feature per Jig, which you can toggle on or off anytime. So far, we’ve seen phenomenal improvements and continue to invest engineering time in this part of the JigSpace platform as we prepare to make Jigs load fast and performant on the Apple Vision Pro.
Powerful new creator tools for desktop app
Creating a 3D presentation typically starts on a Mac or Windows PC, so this year we bet on powerful new desktop exclusive features to increase the capability, precision, and quality of life for designers and engineers.
Some of these included:
- Precision transformation and number input
- Copy & paste formatting
- Object list with multi-selection and hiding objects while editing
- Advanced settings for materials and textures
- Add interactive actions to objects
- Add textboxes anywhere in a presentation.
The app design was also updated to make it cleaner, simpler, and easier to use.
Evolution of 3D presentations
Lastly, we’ve transformed JigSpace from being a linear step-by-step 3D presentation platform into a dynamic, interactive spatial tool with the introduction of interactive actions and interactive navigation. This opens up a world of new use cases for our customers, and gets you ready for the exciting world of spatial presentations with Apple Vision Pro in 2024.
The year ahead
With all the pieces falling into place in 2023, from interactive navigation, enterprise capabilities, and Apple Vision Pro, here is a preview of some of the key innovations and developments currently on our radar.
Embracing spatial computing
The upcoming launch of Apple Vision Pro is not just a milestone for us but a leap forward for spatial computing as the next computing paradigm. We're gearing up to offer a seamless and enhanced native app experience with your content on this cutting-edge platform. Eligible customers with a Vision Pro add-on will not only get access to their content in this new device, but new features like spatial multiplayer via SharePlay and spatial markup so you can instantly collect real time visual feedback on sales proposals, concept designs, or training material.
Enhanced enterprise capabilities
In 2024, we're doubling down on our commitment to enterprises. With the introduction of features like multi-user editing, advanced admin controls, and version history, we aim to foster greater collaboration and confidence, making JigSpace an integral part of how enterprises with complex products share spatial knowledge.
Integrations
Jigs fit into some key workflows for sales, marketing, and training departments. Next year we will begin building deeper integrations into key ecosystem platforms that unlock significant value. This could range from accessing files from CMS or PLM systems, to tracking 3D viewing data into CRM software for sales or field teams to action.
Deeper content insights
Understanding Audience Impact: We're focusing on providing deeper insights into content engagement and performance. By tracking how spatial content is viewed and interacted with by customers, we aim to offer our users valuable data to refine and tailor their content effectively.
AI-powered creativity
With JigSpark, we've provided a sneak peek into the future of spatial content creation. This initiative is poised to revolutionize how 3D creators approach their work, offering tools and features that significantly reduce creation time while enhancing quality. Whether it's overcoming writer's block or enhancing efficiency, JigSpark aims to lower the barrier to sharing 3D knowledge even further.
As we close a fantastic year and look towards this exciting future, we extend our heartfelt thanks to our customer community. Your support, feedback, and enthusiasm have been instrumental in our journey. Here's to a 2024 filled with innovation, growth, and shared success!
