Meta plans to make Orion AR glasses as popular a gadget as AirPods headphones

Meta✴ believes that its Orion augmented reality glasses will become as successful and mainstream a product for everyday use as the AirPods wireless headphones. According to the company, the glasses will be easy to use, allowing you to easily switch between the real and virtual world.

Image source: Meta✴

Meta✴ continues to develop the Orion augmented reality glasses project, first presented in September. According to 9to5Mac, despite the fact that the product is still a prototype and is far from a commercial launch, the company’s management is confident in its potential. According to the head of the Meta✴ Orion wearables department, Joshua To, the glasses can become “AirPods in the world of augmented reality,” that is, no less in demand than Apple’s wireless headphones.

Meta✴ claims that the prototype already “looks like regular glasses,” but experts are in no hurry to agree with this opinion. “They may look like this to someone with less than perfect eyesight, but to most people, it’s obvious that this is an early version of the device,” notes Ben Lovejoy of 9to5Mac. However, the development is impressive as it is a significant step forward compared to models from other companies such as Xiaomi or Oppo. The cost also matters, which currently amounts to about $10,000, emphasizing the long journey to reach the mass consumer.

It’s important to note that Apple and Meta✴ are taking different paths in developing augmented reality (AR) glasses, although their end goals are similar. Both companies are aiming to create a device that looks like regular glasses, but is capable of displaying realistic AR content. However, while Meta✴ is actively demonstrating its prototypes, the development of Apple Glasses remains classified. The only thing in which both companies are similar is that they adhere to a common philosophy in AR technology: “technology should enhance the perception of the real world, and not replace it, as is the case with virtual reality.”

Joshua To emphasizes that Meta✴ glasses will not distract a person from reality, but will be used as needed. “It’s kind of like AirPods,” he explains, “you put them on when you want and take them off when you don’t need them anymore.” That is, as with headphones, users will use Orion for specific tasks rather than wearing them all the time.

One of the potentially useful functions of augmented reality, according to the developers, may be the ability to recognize faces and display the names of interlocutors. Meta✴ is already testing this feature with a particular focus on privacy issues. According to Joshua To, users will be able to choose whether to share their name at the event or remain anonymous. “I think if we can make name tags in a way that’s thoughtful and respectful of privacy, then that’s something people might be very interested in,” To says.