Meta Unveils Orion: Pioneering True Augmented Reality Glasses

Meta unveils its first true augmented reality glasses

Meta has been working to properly explore the augmented reality space for a long while now. For the most part, this has been in the form of Project Nazare, which now has an official name and has been presented to the world. It will now be called Orion, and as Meta claims, it is said to be the "most advanced pair of AR glasses ever made." Not that there is much competition in this space currently, but still for anyone interested in hearing what these glasses can do, we're told they "combines the look and feel of a regular pair of glasses with the immersive capabilities of augmented reality" and that they use holographic displays to place 2D and 3D content where you want, use contextual AI to sense and understand the world around you, and have a lightweight design making them perfect for indoor and outdoor usage. It doesn't seem as though Meta has plans to widely launch Orion just yet, as it's noted that the prototype model is being given to Meta employees and select others to learn more and continue refining them ahead of the debut of a consumer AR glasses line eventually. What Meta has promised is that "in the next few years, you can expect to see new devices from us that build on our R&D efforts. Orion isn't just a window into the future - it's a look at the very real possibilities within reach today." Would you pick up a pair of Orion glasses if they were available?

Meta unveils 'Orion' augmented reality glasses

LONDON (BERNAMA-DPA) - Meta has unveiled its first pair of augmented reality (AR) glasses, which use holograms to overlay digital content on to the real world around the wearer, the German news agency (dpa) reported. Announced during the tech giant's Meta Connect event, the company said the prototype device called Orion "might be the most challenging consumer electronics device produced since the smartphone". So far, AR devices have been headsets such as Apple's Vision Pro, which are designed to house all the technology required to power a wearable device capable of projecting holograms in front of a wearer's eyes. But Meta said Orion was the result of "breakthrough inventions in virtually every field of modern computing" and was "packed with entirely new technologies" around display and computer chips in order to run the same experiences currently found in headsets on a pair of glasses. The device can be controlled using voice, eye movement, and hand gestures. Meta said it was opening up prototype testing for its own staff and "select, external audiences" so it can "learn, iterate, and build towards our consumer AR glasses product line, which we plan to begin shipping in the near future". The announcement was the most eye-catching in an array of new products and tools announced by the Facebook and Instagram parent firm during its event, including a new version of its Meta Quest headset. Meta has been making large strides into artificial intelligence (AI) and it confirmed that it was adding voice interaction to its Meta AI tools for the first time - initially rolling out in the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. New versions of Meta's open-source AI models - Llama 3.2 - were also announced. Industry expert Mike Proulx, vice president research director at analyst firm Forrester, said the announcement of Orion had the potential to be "revolutionary" for the sector. "There was a stark contrast in Mark Zuckerberg's excitement when he talked about AI and glasses versus when he talked about Meta Quest," he said. "It's clear that Meta's future is AI and glasses. "VR headsets, despite Meta's assertion, won't go mainstream. They're too cumbersome and people can only tolerate them in short bursts "Glasses, however, put computing power directly into a common and familiar form factor. As the smart tech behind these glasses mature, they have the potential to disrupt everyday consumers' interactions with brands. "Meta's Orion holographic prototype sets the stage for a future where a revolutionary 3D computing platform is within reach and can actually be useful to the everyday consumer."

Hands on with Meta's futuristic Orion glasses

Driving the news: These are glasses, not goggles, that can display information and even videos overlaid on top of the real world -- like Apple's Vision Pro in many ways, but lighter and with less of a barrier between you and reality. How it works: Orion -- which Meta unveiled last week but which is probably years off from consumer availability -- is an augmented reality device that consists of chunky black spectacles. Zoom in: I got a chance to try out Orion at Meta's offices last week and talk with some of the team who created the glasses prototypes. The feeling reminded me of using Apple's Vision Pro for the first time. It's clear that the device is still super early in its development, but there's enough right that you can tell that Meta is on to something. Between the lines: Orion can also serve as the front end for AI systems. My thought bubble: As with Apple's Vision Pro, Meta has nailed the user interface, making it intuitive to use the glasses with just one's gaze and some finger gestures. Yes, but: It still feels weird to be doing computing tasks while looking directly at the real world -- even stranger than doing so on a VR headset with pass-through video, like Apple's Vision Pro. The big picture: Meta was late to the mobile revolution and has committed to not missing the next hardware trend -- even if it means investing too much, too early. What's next: Meta's Ray-Ban Smart Glasses line, which is now available for around $300, does a lot less than Orion promises -- it takes pictures, plays audio and (in the newest version) provides access to an AI assistant.