Meta Reveals Advanced Orion AR Glasses, Enabling Users To Display Digital Content Onto The Physical World

Meta Orion is created to smoothly integrate digital content with your real-world perspective. It comes with AI voice assistance, hand-tracking, eye-tracking, and a wrist-based neural interface that enables users to operate functions through brain signals.

Contents

Table of Contents In Summary The Orion AR glasses by Meta Task 3: Meta’s basic MR headsets

In Summary

Meta has introduced its inaugural AR glasses.

It comes with Meta AI technology.

MR headsets do not have fully transparent lenses like the glasses

At the meta Connect 2024 event, the company unveiled its inaugural AR glasses, named the Orion. These glasses change display technology by using silicon-carbide architecture to project holographic images of different sizes that integrate with the real world. Demonstrating the positive features of the Orion, CEO Mark Zukerberg announced that the glasses will come with AI voice support, hand and eye-tracking, and a wrist-based neural interface for controlling functions through brain signals. The Meta Orion appears to be designed to dominate smartphones in the upcoming years.

In contrast to earlier Ray-Ban smart glasses, Orion combines physical surroundings with virtual elements using advanced AR technology. Let’s further explore.

The Orion AR glasses by Meta

Orion is a kind of face computer seen in Marvel’s Iron Man, blurring the line between fiction and reality. The Orion offers the widest field of vision in the tiniest AR glasses design so far. It has the ability to access multiple advanced tasks that are unprecedented. From juggling multiple windows and enjoying large-screen entertainment to viewing life-sized holograms of individuals – all forms of digital content that can effortlessly merge with your perception of the real world. Meta also highlights that the glasses are lightweight and adaptable, suited for both indoor and outdoor activities, promoting in-person interaction, even from a distance.

The distinguishing feature is that these smart glasses accurately imitate ordinary glasses in appearance and texture. The glasses are equipped with clear lenses, unlike MR headsets or other AR glasses. Therefore, you are still able to observe the eyes and facial expressions of others.

In terms of features, Onion is closely connected with meta AI. It can recognize objects in the real world and provide helpful visual representations. You can, for instance, open your fridge and request a recipe using the ingredients available. Video chat with a friend while organizing a digital family calendar as you do the dishes.

Orion enables you to have a video call without using your hands to chat with loved ones in real time, while also keeping you connected on WhatsApp and Messenger to read and send messages. The arrival of Meta Orion glasses will decrease the need for you to take out your phone, unlock it, search for the correct app, and inform your friend about your delayed arrival for dinner – you can complete these tasks using your glasses.

The Orion system is made up of three components: a “neural wristband” for operating them; and a wireless block that looks like a big battery pack for a phone. When used alone, the glasses need to be close to the puck (around 12 feet) to work properly.

Although Meta’s newest creation, the Orion, appears impressive in theory and in demonstrations, the biggest challenge is integrating it into daily routines. Meta plans to deliver its initial AR glasses to customers in 2027 for commercial purposes.

Task 3: Meta’s basic MR headsets

The Quest 3S is equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon XR 2 Gen 2 chipset. The processor in the Meta Quest 4 is identical to the one in its predecessor, the Meta Quest 3, which was released last year. The latest Meta MR headset offers twice the graphics capabilities of the Meta Quest 2. It additionally includes fresnel lenses and a thinner design compared to the Quest 2. It features two RGB cameras and an action button for pass through mode, which lets you view virtual objects in your physical space.

The Quest 3S is set to be released on October 15. By launching the new product, the company is phasing out its previous Quest 2 and high-end Quest Pro models, as well as reducing the price of the upgraded Quest 3 from $649.99 to $499.99 (approximately Rs 42,000).

Meta has recently launched a beginner-friendly model of its Quest line of mixed-reality (MR) headsets– Quest 3S. At Meta Connect 2024, it was revealed that the Quest 3S will be available in two storage options: 128GB and 256GB. It was also disclosed that the cheaper model will cost $299.99 (approximately Rs 25,000) while the more expensive one will be priced at $399.99 (around Rs 33,000).