14 DAY TRIAL // Prior to Apple confirming the new version number for its latest Mac OS, there had been some speculation (including from ourselves) that the company would finally make the jump to OS XI (where XI stands for eleven). However, it did not.
Crushing hopes that this year’s Mac OS would be the biggest overhaul the system had ever seen, Apple instead went with 10.10 and gave the OS a visual makeover that echoed iOS. It also included some handy cross-device functionality and made the OS more usable overall. However, except for the visual oomph, there’s nothing too spectacular or revolutionary about it.
OS XI could be just around the corner
At least in terms of annual upgrade cycles, OS XI could be closer than previously thought. There are various indications that Apple is experimenting with all-new input methods, as well as new ways to browse the contents of a computer faster and more efficiently, and the latest clue comes from the company’s Jobs area, where we’ve spotted a new listing for 3D Perception/Computer Vision Algorithm Engineer.
According to the job description, “The computer vision algorithm engineer will work in a small and dynamic team to work on exciting technologies for future Apple products. [...] In this position, you will work together with similar minds in a unique development team where your skills and expertise will be put into the Apple products.”
The description doesn’t say much about the actual work that this engineer will carry out, and the same goes for the list of key qualifications required to nab the position.
All Apple is willing to say specifically is that the candidate must possess “Solid foundation in computer vision; key areas of interest include object detection, tracking and recognition; multiple view geometry, 3D computer vision and SfM/SLAM; activity recognition.”
Could Apple be first to deliver a full-fledged 3D OS?
As the wording shows, Apple is clearly interested in giving at least one of its products some 3D something. First in line for that is obviously the Mac. The job description suggests that Apple is looking to make a 3D GUI that the user can control not only through regular (physical) input, but also through gestures.
3D GUIs aren’t exactly a novelty, but a full-fledged 3D OS would certainly be turn-of-the-century material. Especially one that actually works.
Imagine controlling your computer like Tom Cruise in the famous Minority Report film. Try to picture programming done in this way, complete with verbal input. It would be a developer’s dream come true.
But let’s not go too far. Simply browsing the system’s contents in 3D moving back and forth would mark a huge paradigm shift, comparable to the invention of the personal computer itself. Apple did it once, so they should be able to pull it off again. Here’s to hoping 2015 will bring us OS XI, the first real 3D OS the world has ever seen.
