Orion AR is announced by Meta

During Meta Connect, the company finally officially revealed its new “fully holographic” augmented reality glasses, called Orion.

The device is revealed after months of speculation and comes equipped with interesting technologies. However, unfortunately, it is still just a presentation version and is not ready to hit the market yet.

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Meta promises the best AR experience

Meta had already revealed a few years ago that it was working on holographic smart glasses, and the reality is that this project has already been in development for about a decade. This is because, according to the company itself, these glasses promise to be “the most advanced AR glasses ever made”, and arrive as a result of “revolutionary inventions in virtually every field of modern computing.”

One of the highlights of the new device is that it features small projectors that display holograms directly onto the lenses, creating an immersive AR experience.

Another highlight is its look and design. For starters, it’s not as big and heavy as some previous AR products like Magic Leap, Hololens, or Google Glass, which means it’s more comfortable and practical to use on a daily basis. In addition, it’s also more discreet and doesn’t block the user’s view of the real world, as many do. This means the user is always aware of what’s happening around them, and those nearby can still see the user’s face and expressions in a natural way.

Integration with AI and external processor

According to Meta, Orion offers a digital experience that goes beyond the limitations of a smartphone screen by overlaying holographic elements onto the real world. The integration of contextual AI will also allow users to interact more intelligently with their surroundings.

For example, you can use the glasses to look inside a refrigerator and ask Meta AI to show you and make recipe suggestions based on the ingredients available inside. In addition, Orion will also allow you to make video calls and view and send messages on Messenger and WhatsApp. Meta also announced that apps like Spotify, YouTube and Pinterest will have holographic versions that will work on the glasses.

The big secret behind Orion’s lightness is that not all of the technology needed is actually on the device. The glasses connect to a wireless “puck” that handles much of the processing and transmits apps and content to the device. In addition, a wristband will be used to control gestures and interactions.

Orion will still take years to reach the public

The general public will still have to wait a few years to get their hands on the company’s new glasses, but some Meta employees and “select external audiences” are already testing the Orion. This helps the company gather feedback and make improvements as it moves closer to launching a consumer version.

Meta has made it clear that Orion is not just a research prototype. According to the company, the device is already “one of the most refined prototypes” Meta has ever developed and is close to being a product that could reach the market.

Part of the improvement process involves reducing the price of the glasses. Coincidentally, while Meta is moving forward with development of the Orion, other companies are also eyeing the AR market. Snap recently launched the fifth generation of its AR glasses, the Spectacles, though these are currently only available to developers willing to pay a $99 monthly subscription.

Source: engadget