For years, Mark Zuckerberg’s decision to invest billions of dollars into Meta’s Reality Labs has been met with skepticism from both Silicon Valley and Wall Street. However, this week, Meta’s wearables division unveiled a prototype of its Orion smart glasses, suggesting that the idea of replacing the iPhone with smart glasses might not be as far-fetched as previously thought.
The Orion smart glasses are a prototype headset that combines augmented reality, eye and hand tracking, generative AI, and a gesture-detecting wristband. Using micro LED projectors and silicon carbide lenses, Meta seems to have overcome a significant challenge in AR display technology. The glasses allow users to look through them like a pair of glasses while also projecting application windows on the lenses that appear embedded in the world around them. Users can navigate the environment using their hands, eyes, and voice.
However, it’s important to note that the Orion smart glasses are still in the prototype stage and won’t be available for sale anytime soon. The technology is relatively young and needs to become cheaper, better, and smaller to be feasible for consumer use. Although Meta claims to have been working on Orion for 10 years, there is still no clear path to a marketable product.
Despite this, Meta is not the only company working on smart glasses that could potentially replace smartphones. Snap recently unveiled the latest generation of its Spectacles smart glasses, which are larger than Orion but have a more limited field of view. Google has also hinted at its plans to develop smart glasses, possibly as a revamp of its failed Google Glass experiment. Apple is reportedly working on AR glasses similar to Orion, and Jony Ive’s new startup, LoveFrom, is also said to be working on an AI wearable, although details are scarce.
What we are seeing is a race among some of the largest tech companies to create sleek and functional smart glasses that can rival the capabilities of smartphones. Meta’s Orion prototype has shown that there is potential for this type of device, but there is still a long way to go before it becomes a marketable product.
One significant difference between the Orion smart glasses and Meta’s previous virtual reality headsets is the form factor. VR headsets are bulky and uncomfortable to wear, often causing nausea. Smart glasses, on the other hand, are more like regular eyeglasses or sunglasses and are more pleasant to wear. This makes them a more attractive option for everyday use.
Mark Zuckerberg has been a proponent of the eyewear form factor for a long time, even when it wasn’t popular. He has expressed dissatisfaction with Facebook’s dependence on Apple’s phones and has been pushing for alternative ways to access his social media apps. Now, other tech giants are also exploring the potential of eyewear computing.
Meta’s early investment in smart glasses seems to be paying off. During his keynote presentation, Zuckerberg created a buzz of excitement and anticipation around Orion, leaving journalists impressed. While TechCrunch hasn’t had the opportunity to demo Orion yet, the initial reviews have been positive.
Meta currently offers the Ray-Ban Meta, a more simplified version of the smart glasses that costs $299. This device features cameras, microphones, speakers, sensors, and the ability to connect to a phone and the cloud. Although the Ray-Ban Meta is far less advanced than Orion, it serves as a stepping stone toward Meta’s ultimate goal of creating a full holographic experience. The company is focusing on nailing down the basic features and ensuring that the glasses are comfortable, valuable, and appealing to users on a daily basis.
One aspect that Meta is working on with the Ray-Ban Meta is AI. The smart glasses currently use Meta’s Llama models to answer questions about the user’s surroundings by taking pictures and running them through an AI system. However, there are still some issues to address, such as latency and app integration. Meta plans to release updates later this year to improve the AI capabilities of the glasses.
Interestingly, Meta is also working on cross-pollination between the Ray-Ban Meta and Orion. Some features from Orion may trickle down to the more affordable Ray-Ban Meta, while the wearables team focuses on making the AR glasses more economical. This is crucial since Orion’s various sensors and eye trackers are expensive technologies that need to become more affordable for mass-market adoption.
One of the challenges with smart glasses is the absence of a physical keyboard. However, Meta argues that this is actually a freeing aspect of the technology. Users can navigate the glasses naturally by talking, gesturing with their hands, and looking at objects or interfaces. This is a more intuitive approach compared to interacting with a traditional smartphone. While this may sound ideal in theory, there is still work to be done to ensure that the user experience feels natural and seamless. Current reviews suggest that there are still limitations and obstacles that need to be addressed, such as obstructed views and inconsistencies in AI functionality.
Overall, the race among tech giants to develop smartphone-replacing smart glasses is heating up. Meta’s Orion prototype has shown promise, but there is still a long way to go before smart glasses can fully replace smartphones. The form factor and user experience need further refinement, and the technology needs to become more affordable and accessible. With companies like Snap, Google, and Apple also entering the market, it will be interesting to see who emerges as the leader in this space. The potential is undoubtedly there, but it will require time, investment, and innovation to bring smart glasses to the mainstream consumer market.
Source link
