Meta launches new augmented reality glasses: the end of the smartphone?

September 26, 2024

Meta has launched its first pair of augmented reality glasses, a significant step toward CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s goal of developing a hands-free alternative to the smartphone.

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New augmented reality glasses, called Orion, allow users to see a blend of the digital and physical worlds. At first glance, these glasses resemble thick, black reading glasses, but they integrate advanced technology that allows text messages, video calls and even YouTube videos to be displayed in the user’s field of vision.

Although they will not be available to the public yet, Meta will use these prototypes for internal testing and design refinement.

Get the full scoop on Orion here: https://t.co/5Vf9mqZBuu
— Meta (@Meta) September 25, 2024

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This is how Meta’s augmented reality glasses work

Orion glasses will be the next step in the evolution of mobile technology, and could come to compete directly with smartphones in terms of popularity for online communication and interaction.

The product, just launched a few hours ago, is the result of almost a decade of research and significant investment by Meta.

Meta already markets Ray-Ban smart glasses, which come equipped with cameras and speakers. However, Zuckerberg believes that augmented reality glasses like Orion will be the next step in the evolution of mobile technology, and could come to compete directly with smartphones in terms of popularity for online communication and interaction.

Meta has designed more than ten chips specifically for Orion to reduce power consumption and prevent overheating of the device. In addition, Orion’s lenses are made of silicon carbide, a material that is used in some electric vehicles and is lighter than glass, making it easier to bend light at extreme angles. This enhances the visual experience for users, allowing better integration between digital elements and the physical environment.

During the annual Meta Connect event, held in Menlo Park, California, Zuckerberg officially introduced Orion as part of the company’s strategy to dominate the emerging smart glasses market. Meta hopes to become a key player in this new industry, which would also help reduce its dependence on competitors such as Apple and Google.

Despite the enthusiasm for the Orion prototype, Meta acknowledges that it will still be a few years before the product is ready for commercial launch. Company executives explain that, for now, the design is not yet slim or sleek enough to appeal to general consumers. This difficulty has been a challenge for other technology giants, such as Google and Microsoft, which have also faced hurdles in developing augmented reality devices.

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Future plans for Orion

Meta continues to work on improving Orion’s design and functionality with the goal of making the augmented reality glasses compact and powerful enough for commercialization in the next few years. According to Rahul Prasad, director of product management at Meta, the company plans to launch Orion with a price point similar to that of a high-end laptop or smartphone.

Meanwhile, hundreds of Meta employees are already testing the device internally. Unlike competing products, such as Apple’s Vision Pro, the Orion augmented reality glasses do not require a bulky headband or an external battery.

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The augmented reality glasses are equipped with seven cameras, two of which are designed to track eye movement and enable control by visible hand gestures. However, its best performance is obtained when combined with the wristband, which uses electromyography technology to detect even more subtle hand movements, enabling control with small finger gestures.