Meta Platforms has unveiled Orion, which the company called the “most advanced pair of augmented reality (AR) glasses ever made”. Five years in the making, Meta’s Orion bridges the physical and virtual worlds, putting people at the center so they can be more present, connected and empowered in the world.
The glasses enable limitless digital experiences with large holographic displays that allow the user to place 2D and 3D content and experiences anywhere they want. Meta’s Orion also seamlessly integrates contextual AI that can sense and understand the world around the user in order to anticipate and proactively address their needs.
“They’re lightweight and great for both indoor and outdoor use, and they let people see each other’s faces, eyes, and expressions,” Meta added.
Smallest AR glasses form to date
The tech industry has been trying to develop AR glasses for years now, facing several technical challenges. Among the most notable glasses in the field were Google’s Glass glasses which failed. “It was so challenging that we thought we had less than a 10 percent chance of pulling it off successfully, until now,” added Meta.
Meta’s Orion has the largest field of view in the smallest AR glasses form to date. That field of view unlocks immersive use cases for Orion, from multitasking windows and big-screen entertainment to life-size holograms of people, all digital content that can seamlessly blend with the view of the physical world.
How to use Meta’s new Orion
Boasting its latest development, the tech giant included its smart assistant, Meta AI, on Orion. Therefore, the glasses understand what users are looking at in the physical world and can help them with useful visualizations.
“You can open up your refrigerator and ask for a recipe based on what’s inside. Or video call a friend while adjusting a digital family calendar as you wash the dishes,” added the company.
Orion users can also take a hands-free video call to catch up with friends and family in real time and stay connected on WhatsApp and Messenger to view and send messages.
“Our teams continue to iterate on the experiences available through Orion today to build new immersive social experiences, and we can’t wait to share what’s next,” noted Meta.
The company added that Orion is not yet available to consumers, stating that the product is still one of the most polished product prototypes they have ever developed. In the next stage of development, Meta will focus on tuning the AR display quality to make the visuals even sharper, making the form factor even smaller, and building at scale to make Orion more affordable.
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