Technology has already taken over our pockets, laps and wrists but now some of the world’s biggest firms are trying to bring their latest devices to our faces as well. Apple recently launched its space-aged Vision Pro headset in the UK which offers both virtual and mixed reality experiences and now Meta – the firm behind Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram – has shown off its latest wearable which it hopes we will all be wearing in the future.
Meta is no stranger to headsets and glasses with the company already producing the hugely popular Meta Quest gaming device along with working alongside Ray-Ban to sell the Meta sunglasses which come packed with tiny cameras to make it faster to get your life on social media.
But its new gadget goggles, currently named Orion, are very different from anything it’s released before.
These Augmented Reality (AR) tech specs feature clever transparent screens inside the lens which then place messages, emails, your web browser and even video calls over the real world.
You can play virtual games, send WhatsApp chats, view recipes and check your calendar without ever reaching for your phone.
To help improve the experience and make things feel more immersive, Meta has managed to pack the largest field of view into the smallest AR glasses form factor to date.
That means you get to see more without these wearables becoming ludicrously large on your face.
Another nice feature is the electromyography-powered wristband which you strap to your arm to control what’s on the screen. EMG sensors then detect the electrical signals generated by even the tiniest muscle movements.
This accessory lets you swipe, click, and scroll while keeping your arm resting comfortably by your side. It’s very similar to Apple’s gesture controls on its Vision Pro and means there’s no need to have physical controllers.
Meta has also built a wireless compute puck which sits in the room and offloads some of the more data-heavy tasks from the Orion glasses.
This not only speeds things up and makes them more enjoyable to use but also extends battery life.
“We are building AR glasses.”
“Five simple words, spoken five years ago,” Meta said in a blog post.
“With them, we planted a flag on our vision of a future where we no longer have to make the false choice between a world of information at our fingertips and the physical world all around us.
“And now, five years later, another five words that stand to once again change the game.”
It all sounds impressive, but Orion is just a concept for now. There are fully working versions of these glasses but there’s no word on when, or if, they will go on sale in the future.
Bringing gadgets to our faces is the next big hurdle for tech companies and it won’t be easy as many of us simply don’t want a computer strapped to our eyes.
Meta clearly hopes its Orion glasses will change our perception of going virtual and they could be something to watch out for in the future.
