Zuckerberg's metaverse is finally showing signs of life, but it's not from VR
The company formerly known as Facebook appears to have found its footing in virtual and augmented reality through a different medium.
When Facebook changed its name to Meta in October 2021, CEO Mark Zuckerberg used the occasion to show the world his vision of a digital future of work and recreation accessible through a virtual reality headset. The company soon opened its play universe called Horizon Worlds, featuring floating personalized avatars.
Background
Meta's Orion AR glasses prototype has been in development for nearly a decade, with the first prototype emerging in 2016 under the leadership of Oculus' then chief scientist, Michael Abrash. Since then, the project has undergone significant changes, including a shift from research and development to the product path under the guidance of Andrew "Boz" Bosworth.
Key Features
Orion AR glasses come with a number of key features, including:
Demonstration
At Meta's annual Connect event, Zuckerberg demonstrated the Orion AR glasses prototype to a live audience. The demo was seamless, with the crowd oohing and aahing at the technology. The demo showed how the glasses could be used to see virtual objects and information in 3D space, and how users could control the device with their thoughts.
Impact
The Orion AR glasses prototype has generated significant excitement among employees and users. The company's internal shift in sentiment toward Zuckerberg's costly hardware ambitions has been reflected in the enthusiastic reception of the device.
Challenges
Despite the excitement surrounding Orion, there are still significant challenges to overcome before the device can be released to the public. These include:
Future Plans
Meta's plan to start courting developers next year, as it tries to get them excited about building apps for Orion, is a logical next step. The push into the developer community would coincide with Meta's expected debut of the fourth generation of its Llama family of AI models.
By releasing a more powerful Llama, Meta is hoping that developers would be able to incorporate the software in their future AR apps to help power tasks like recognizing real-world objects and more accurately reacting to voice commands.
The timeline for the release of a consumer version of Orion is expected to be within two years. However, this may be overly ambitious considering how long it took to get Orion this far. Meta has been testing functioning versions of Orion glasses for well over two years, with the company finishing the prototype in March.
Comparison to Other Devices
Orion AR glasses are compared to other AR glasses on the market, such as those from Apple and Microsoft. While these devices are also promising, Orion is notable for its advanced features and capabilities, including its use of neural signals to control the device.
Conclusion
Meta's Orion AR glasses prototype represents a significant breakthrough in virtual reality and a logical next step following its smart glasses. The company's resilience and innovative momentum have been demonstrated by its ability to build on the success of its second-generation Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses. With the release of a consumer version of Orion expected to be within two years, Meta is poised to make a significant impact in the field of virtual and augmented reality.
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