Back in September, Meta showcased an early version of its Orion AR glasses. Though they are not ready for consumer purchase yet, the company is optimistic about their potential.
Indeed, Meta’s head of wearables envisions that Orion could eventually become the AirPods of the augmented reality world…
Orion Augmented Reality Glasses
Meta has boldly characterized the prototype as resembling “a typical pair of glasses,” though I find myself not entirely agreeing with that assessment.
Maybe to someone who is short-sighted in very foggy nighttime conditions, but for the rest of us, they are clearly an early prototype of a device inching closer to that vision.
Do not misinterpret my words. What Meta has presented here is an incredible feat. It’s striking to fit this level of AR technology into a design that somewhat resembles eyeglasses. It’s significantly closer to conventional glasses than the gadget revealed last year by Xiaomi. Furthermore, its display is far more akin to Vision Pro than the concept by Oppo.
However, the chasm between Meta’s current offering and what Apple would consider market-ready is substantial. And let’s not overlook the fact that it carries a sizable manufacturing price tag of $10,000.
Meta and Apple are clearly adopting different strategies to tackle the same challenge.
Both aspire to create a product that appears truly like a pair of glasses while presenting highly realistic AR imagery. However, while Meta is openly showcasing its development process, Apple’s prototypes are reportedly confined to the lab.
A Shared Philosophy with Apple
Nevertheless, they share a common philosophy: the technology should enhance real-world experiences rather than supplant them.
This aligns with Apple CEO Tim Cook’s sentiment that AR holds more promise than VR, and Meta also envisions Orion as a device that users will wear temporarily for specific tasks rather than continuously throughout the day.
Joshua To from Meta expressed to FastCo.
To doesn’t foresee Orion becoming a gateway to an alternate reality, but rather a subtle computer that can be easily put on and taken off, similar to how one thinks about AirPods,” he mentions.
Essentially, you wear your AirPods when you want to briefly disengage from your surroundings to listen to music, and take them off when you wish to connect with those around you.
A Surprisingly Apple-like Approach to Privacy
As someone who experiences mild facial aphasia, which makes recognizing faces challenging, one of the most appealing applications of AR glasses for me would be their ability to identify people I encounter. Meta has indicated its intention to include this feature, but with a remarkably privacy-conscious twist reminiscent of Apple’s ethos.
Meta has developed internal prototypes that can provide name tags for people you see with Orion. According to To, “it’s freaking awesome” to recognize everyone in a room. He envisions a scenario at a small conference where individuals can opt-in, similar to sharing contact information, to display their names to others. If they choose not to opt-in, Orion maintains anonymity.
“If we can thoughtfully implement name tags while being respectful of privacy, that’s an avenue we’re very interested in exploring,” To adds.
The full article presents an intriguing exploration.
Image: Meta
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