Meta is testing out a new device that can let you see the future -- sort of.
The company unveiled its new augmented reality smart glasses at its annual Connect developer conference in Menlo Park last week.
Meta says Orion is "the most advanced pair of AR glasses ever made." Unlike similar virtual reality headsets that fit over the eyes like goggles, Orion "combines the look and feel of a regular pair of glasses with the immersive capabilities of augmented reality."
The glasses display 2D and 3D content -- like text, video, objects and even people -- overlaid on the real world. Complete with transparent lenses, you can still see other people's eyes and expressions, so you can be present and share the experience with the people around you.
"Orion has the largest field of view in the smallest AR glasses form to date. That field of view unlocks truly 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 your view of the physical world," Meta said in a statement.
The glasses utilize Meta AI, the company's smart assistant, to understand what the user is looking at and help with "useful visualizations."
"So 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," Meta said. "You can take a hands-free video call to catch up with friends and family in real time, and you can stay connected on WhatsApp and Messenger to view and send messages. No need to pull out your phone, unlock it, find the right app and let your friend know you’re running late for dinner – you can do it all through your glasses."
Some have suggested that the device could eventually replace the smartphone. However, smart glasses have been hyped for quite a few years but have never managed to catch on with the mainstream public. Meta and CEO Mark Zuckerberg are hoping Orion will change that.
"It's almost like a step towards his vision of the metaverse, right? So this virtual reality world that people are going to live, play, and work in. And augmented reality is kind of like a more friendly step towards that," Bloomberg's Aisha Counts told KCBS Radio. "I think if you look at sort of their sales and their financials on the virtual reality side, people aren't really ready to fully go into that idea. And so it's part of the vision towards that. That's what he's thinking."
While Meta says the glasses "[put] people at the center so they can be more present, connected and empowered in the world," Counts is skeptical.
"I've tried augmented reality glasses. And as much as they say it's about you being present in the real world, I did feel very distracted. Even just when I was standing there kind of talking to other people, I was so focused on the images in front of me, that it was hard for me to still be looking around me," she said.
Right now, Orion is a prototype and Meta is only releasing the device to select groups like developers and engineers so it can fine tune the technology. While it won't be offered for retail sale, Meta said Orion "is truly representative of something that could ship to consumers."
"In the next few years, you can expect to see new devices from us that build on our R&D efforts,' meta said. "Orion isn't just a window into the future – it's a look at the very real possibilities within reach today."