In what they dub to be “the most advanced pair of AR glasses ever made,” Meta finally announces Orion.
It was five years ago when the technology giant said they were building augmented reality glasses and while Orion still isn’t ready to go to production, the team has this week (September 25) pulled back the curtain for the first time.
Previously codenamed ‘Project Nazare,’ Orion looks very similar to normal glasses but is ever so slightly thicker in appearance. The hope is that these will bridge “the physical and virtual worlds, putting people at the center so they can be more present, connected and empowered in the world.”
To be able to fit into a typical glasses-wearing size, Meta describes Orion as being “a feat of miniaturization” as the components have been packed down to a fraction of a millimeter. This is so a contemporary design could be created, one that they hope people will feel comfortable wearing every day.
“Orion has the largest field of view in the smallest AR glasses form to date.
“That field of view unlocks truly immersive use cases for Orion, from multitasking windows and big-screen entertainment to life-size holograms of people – all digital content that can seamlessly blend with your view of the physical world.”
Unlike other headsets or AR glasses, Meta’s version has transparent lenses so wearers can still see other people’s eyes and expressions when wearing them.
Meta’s Orion doesn’t yet have a launch date
The smart assistant Meta AI is running on the glasses which allows users to achieve tasks like opening up a refrigerator and asking “for a recipe based on what’s inside” or video calling friends.
“No need to pull out your phone, unlock it, find the right app and let your friend know you’re running late for dinner – you can do it all through your glasses.”
For those gearing up to see Orion in person, you’ll have to wait a while as the finished product hasn’t yet been created. It’s the product prototype that the team currently has, but they describe it as being “truly representative of something that could ship to consumers.”
“Rather than rushing to put it on shelves, we decided to focus on internal development first, which means we can keep building quickly and continue to push the boundaries of the technology, helping us arrive at an even better consumer product faster.”
The teams are continuing to iterate the experiences available through Orion and say they “can’t wait to share what’s next.”
Featured Image: Via Meta Newsroom
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