Meta Unveils New Ray-Ban Smart Glasses and Lightweight VR Glasses
After many months of anticipation, Meta has announced the next generation of its smart-glasses lineup amid ongoing controversy over smart-glasses privacy. At the Meta Connect event in Menlo Park, CEO Mark Zuckerberg introduced the company’s latest glasses, including new Ray-Ban models, lightweight Meta VR glasses, and the Muse AI agent for smart glasses.
The popular Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses are entering their third generation. Meta also unveiled two new products that are turning heads: a slimmed-down VR headset with virtual reality and augmented reality modes, and camera-less Ray-Ban-branded smart glasses called Ray-Ban Meta Audio.
Meta VR Glasses Are Five Times Lighter Than Quest 3
The next evolution of Meta’s Quest VR headset is designed to look and feel more like a pair of large goggles than a traditional, helmet-like VR headset. Meta says the new VR glasses are five times lighter than the Meta Quest 3. They rest on the wearer’s nose like glasses and do not require a head strap.
Courtesy of Meta
Lightweight Mixed-Reality Glasses With Hand and Eye Tracking
The Meta VR glasses resemble virtual display glasses from companies such as Viture, while also pursuing the lightweight mixed-reality experience planned for Xreal’s Project Aura. The glasses are designed to provide access to virtual spaces without the bulk of a conventional VR headset.
The device does not include a controller, but it can connect to gamepads such as Meta’s previous Quest controller or an Xbox controller. Users can also control the glasses with hand movements and finger pinches, similar to Android XR and Apple’s Vision Pro. Eye tracking identifies what the wearer is looking at, while gestures provide additional controls: pinching two fingers opens an app or interacts with an on-screen element, and making a fist before flicking the thumb up or down scrolls the display.
5K Micro-OLED Display and External Compute Pack
Each lens contains a 5K micro-OLED display with a resolution of 2,412 × 2,288 pixels per eye. Computing is handled by a connected compute pack, which also houses the battery.
A small prescription-lens insert can be attached magnetically to the inside of the lens. Meta has not disclosed the price of the prescription inserts.
Quest Games, Streaming Apps, and a Virtual Workspace
The software is the same platform used by Meta’s Quest VR devices, meaning titles available in the Quest ecosystem will work with the VR glasses. Supported experiences include games such as Beat Saber, live sports apps, and streaming services such as Disney+.
The glasses also include a digital workspace mode that lets users arrange multiple virtual monitors around them. They can display a virtual keyboard on the surface in front of the wearer and track the position of individual fingers using a built-in camera.
Source: www.wired.com