Meta unveiled the Orion glasses at their annual “Meta Connect 2024” conference, marking their first augmented reality (AR) glasses that resemble regular eyewear. Zuckerberg described them as the most advanced AR glasses the world has ever seen, suggesting they could potentially replace smartphones.
Functionally, they are similar to Apple’s Vision Pro, allowing users to blend real-world views with virtual elements and applications. However, what sets them apart is their ordinary appearance and feel, unlike the helmet-like designs of other AR headsets.
Zuckerberg mentioned that the glasses are still in the prototype stage and under development, without providing many details on their capabilities or a release date.
The glasses consist of three components: the glasses themselves, a computational unit that connects wirelessly, and a wristband. Interaction can be achieved through hand movements without separate controllers, voice commands, or finger gestures via the wristband, it can also track eye movements.
Key features include:
- Holographic Display: Orion uses small projectors embedded in the arms of the glasses to create a holographic display in the field of view, making digital content appear as part of the environment.
- Lightweight Design: Designed to be as lightweight as regular glasses, weighing less than 100 grams.
- Neural Interface Control: Thanks to Meta’s acquisition of CTRL-Labs, the wristband can interpret electrical signals generated by muscle movements in your wrist and hand, translating them into commands for the glasses.
- Contextual AI: This AI understands the user’s context and predicts their needs and actions accordingly.
Zuckerberg did not announce the price, but some reports suggest it could currently cost around $10,000, which might be why he mentioned ongoing efforts to develop and reduce the cost before launching it as a product.
