Mark Zuckerberg reveals holographic Orion glasses ‘controlled by brain’ that is ‘next major computing platform’
MARK Zuckerberg has unveiled a revolutionary pair of “full holographic” smart glasses that he calls Orion.
The Meta boss says that the new augmented reality specs will let you see virtual objects laid on top of the real world.
It’s like a supercharged version of the Google Glass specs that launched all the way back in 2013.
Zuckerberg said that the company has been working on them for “almost 10 years”.
The augmented reality headset uses “a completely new kind of display architecture” that lets you see virtual images in front of your eyes – overlaid on the real world.
They weigh less than 100 grams, give you virtual screens floating before your eyes, and even let people “teleport” into your home.
The Orion specs offer hand-tracking and eye-tracking for controls.
But Zuckerberg also promised a “neural interface” that would let you control the headset with your thoughts – using a wristband that interprets brain signals (sort of).
He said that they were the “future of human connection” and the “most advanced” glasses in the world.
They have a 70-degree field of view, and will let you use virtual versions of popular apps like Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp – including making video calls with Orion.
And they’re significantly lighter than any other premium mixed-reality headwear on the market.
Importantly, they look just like glasses – and won’t conceal your eyes.
They have built-in cameras and microphones for video calling and scanning what you see.
Sadly they’re just a prototype for now, so they won’t be out for a while.
Meta said: “Beginning today at Connect and continuing throughout the year, we’re opening up access to our Orion product prototype for Meta employees and select external audiences.
“So our development team can learn, iterate and build towards our consumer AR glasses product line, which we plan to begin shipping in the near future.
“In the next few years, you can expect to see new devices from us that build on our R&D efforts. Orion isn’t just a window into the future – it’s a look at the very real possibilities within reach today.”
META MAGIC
Meta also used the event to announce a host of sweeping upgrades to its sci-fi gadget line-up.
For a start, Meta unveiled the new Meta Quest 3S, which is the cheapest in the company’s mixed-reality headset line-up.
META QUEST PRICES – HOW MUCH DO THEY COST?
Here's what you need to know...
Meta Quest 3S (128GB):
United Kingdom – £289.99
United States – $299.99
Meta Quest 3S (256GB):
United Kingdom – £379.99
United States – $399.99
Meta Quest 3 (512GB):
United Kingdom – £469.99
United States – $499.99
In the UK, the headsets are available from Amazon, Argos, and Currys.
In the US, you’ll be able to get them at Amazon, Best Buy, Target, and Walmart.
It starts at £289 or $299 and lets you explore Mark Zuckerberg‘s virtual Horizon metaverse worlds, play video games, and distant places.
And it also serves up a mixed-reality view that lets you combine computer-generated images with a view of your real room.
It’s slightly thicker than last year’s Meta Quest 3 and has a lower-resolution display – as well as being significantly cheaper.
META QUEST 3S – THE FULL SPECS
If you're into gadgets, these are the Meta Quest 3S specs you'll want to know about...
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Gen2
Memory: 8GB
Storage: 128GB / 256GB
Display: 1832 x 1920
Field of View: 96H / 90V
Lens: Fresnel Lens
Slimness: 73.9mm (20% slimmer than Quest 2)
Mixed Reality: 4-megapixel RGB camera
Weight: 514 grams
Battery: 4,324mAh (2.5 hours of use)
Zuckerberg also unveiled so massive artificial intelligence upgrades to its Meta AI.
The Siri-style helper can now talk out loud to you.
Not only that, but it can also chat to you in the voices of top celebs like Dame Judi Dench, John Cena, Kristen Bell, Awkwafina, and Keegan Michael Key.
You’ll be able to access Meta AI like normal inside WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram.
But now it can also “see” like a human and can provide info or advice on photos that you send in chat.
Meta AI will also be able to edit these photos for you too.
Zuckerberg showed off some experimental AI upgrades on top of this.
One will allow you to automatically dub your Reels videos into other languages.
And it will even lip-sync your footage so it looks like you’re speaking another language.
AI ARMS RACE RAGES ON
Here’s what The Sun’s tech expert Sean Keach thinks of the new AI announcements…
Tech giants are waging an artificial intelligence war – and the result is an unstoppable flow of new AI features.
With every tech event from the likes of Apple, Google, Meta, and Microsoft comes a flurry of new AI tricks.
Some of it is great fun: I tried Meta AI at Facebook HQ and used a scan of my face to recreate myself in superhero form.
I was incredibly buff and chiseled, and it has honestly given me a life crisis. How more must I exercise to reach this godlike body? What if my wife leaves me for my AI clone? Lots to think about.
But other tricks are useful, and potentially genuinely life-changing.
Though I wasn’t able to try it, the ability for Meta to dub and lip-sync your videos into other languages feels like a big win for humanity.
Being able to understand videos from anywhere in the world will hopefully bring us all together. And probably want to make us going on more holidays.
So far, tech giants have done a pretty good job with their AI kit – minus the occasional wacky bugs we’ve seen.
I worry that as tech giants become more desperate for these AI wins, the quality might begin to sleep.
But for now, there’s loads of AI fun you can have in your pocket. So go turn yourself into the superhero that you really are.
Meta also vowed to begin showing “imagined” content in your Facebook and Instagram feeds.
Lastly, Meta showed off a major AI upgrade to its smart glasses.
It’s not a new product: it’s the same Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses that came out last year with a built-in camera for snapping photos and videos.
But the Meta AI that lives inside the glasses has been upgraded.
As usual, you can talk out loud to ask questions and the built-in speaker will answer, or send the info to your phone.
You can scan QR codes, or ask for info about things you’re looking at.
And you could even ask for a reminder to buy a product that you’re staring at, like a book.
THE SUN'S SEAN KEACH TRIES META SPECS
The Sun’s Head of Technology and Science Sean Keach had a chance to don the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses at Meta HQ…
I wear glasses every day, so the idea of donning a pair of specs isn’t exactly alien to me.
But convincing people with perfectly sharp eyesight to put on a pair of glasses might be a bit of an ask.
Mark Zuckerberg and friends think they’ve clocked it with the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses – serving up enough features for you to consider signing over some of your face real estate to them.
I got a chance to look at probably two dozen different shapes and sizes of glasses, and plenty of them look great.
The only clear downside is that they have a bit of bulk compared to regular glasses, but it’s not a huge problem. And especially not if you’re buying the sunglasses, where bigger specs feels a bit more palatable.
Anyway once they were on, using Meta AI was extremely easy.
I would just say “Hey Meta” followed by a simple request.
I used it to instantly translate a sign from Spanish to English, to scan a QR code, and to remind me to buy something later.
It was very easy and worked eerily well. It really was like having an AI assistant in my brain.
Once Meta adds the ability for it to analyse video of what you’re seeing, as well as live-translate language for you, it’s going to be a game-changer.
But I wasn’t able to test either of those features just yet.
What I will say is that they feel like a worthwhile buy for gadget fans, even minus those bonus features coming down the line.
And even if you don’t use any of the AI stuff, it’s quite fun to have a camera on your face. And yes, you can control that with your voice too.
Meta said it would eventually add video so that the AI can “see” what you’re looking at in real-time.
This could help it to function as a tour guide if you’re exploring somewhere new, or help you cook a meal in the kitchen.
Zuckerberg also said that it would also enable live language translation later this year.
This will let you understand other languages when someone is speaking to you in real-time.
It’s going to start with English, French, Italian, and Spanish and will roll out later this year.
The Ray-Ban glasses start at £299 in the UK and $299 in the US.
More to follow… For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Sun Online
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