Ditch the Desk Job with Spatial Computing

A lot of people are interested in virtual and augmented reality hardware because it seems like it has so much potential. The problem is that no one has truly been able to capitalize on that potential just yet. Aside from gaming, these platforms are looking a lot like solutions without problems, leaving a lot of folks scratching their heads wondering what to do with them that is actually useful.

The killer app for these systems may turn out to be spatial computing. The idea of computing outside the bounds of a desktop setup really started gaining some traction with the release of the Apple Vision Pro. But due to the high price tag and less than appealing appearance of the headset, interest started to fizzle out pretty quickly.

If you happen to be the owner of a much more affordable mixed reality headset like the Meta Quest 2 or 3, then a new app called Fluid might be of interest to you. The lower price tag could bring spatial computing to the masses — or at least a larger group of early adopters.

The developers of the app just released a demo of Fluid in action, and it looks pretty slick. Rather than being tied to a monitor, and having to fit all of the applications you want open into the available real estate, Fluid makes it possible to place windows all around you, even at very large sizes. You could have a code editor in front of you, a web browser to one side, an email client to the other, and perhaps a media player in the periphery of your vision.

Fluid can also place your spatial computing setup in a virtual environment, so if you happen to actually be working in a tiny, dark closet of an office, you can still feel like you are in a spacious room, outdoors, or just about anywhere else you would like to be. Passthrough support for items in the real world is available in the app, so if you need some real coffee in your virtual world, you will not have to fumble around for an invisible cup.

When the workday is done, Fluid is ready for playtime as well. The code editor can be tossed to the side and replaced with a giant TV screen, for example.

At present, the app is still under development. You can get early access and test it out now all the same, however. But keep in mind, you might come across a few bugs at this stage of the game.