Key points
- Meta introduced Orion glasses last year
- Users to take actions simply by looking at something: Meta
- Meta Ray-Ban glasses feature a camera, microphones, and speakers
ISLAMABAD: Meta executives suggest that the future of computing will focus on smart glasses and headsets powered by AI, designed to assist users with everyday tasks.
Last year, Meta introduced Orion, a new pair of augmented reality smart glasses that project digital icons and content onto the user’s field of vision, a feature typically found in larger mixed reality headsets, according to Daily Mail.
Alex Himel, a vice president at Meta, has stated that AI will play a crucial role in shaping the capabilities of Orion and similar devices in the coming years, potentially allowing users to take actions simply by looking at something.
Mr. Himel mentioned that it could eventually become commonplace to rely on virtual representations of physical objects like televisions or picture frames.
He explained, “When we discuss augmented reality, we’re talking about viewing the physical world and seeing digital elements layered on top of it. We’ve demonstrated that it’s possible, which is a significant milestone.”
Mixed reality headsets
At present, the tech giant offers a variety of virtual and mixed reality headsets in its Quest line-up, along with Meta Ray-Ban glasses, which feature a camera, microphones, and speakers for content capture, audio playback, and limited voice control, according to the Independent.
Mark Rabkin and Alex Himel, two vice presidents at the tech giant overseeing wearables and virtual/mixed reality products, stated that the future of this technology—and computing as a whole—could involve the merging of these two product lines. Mr. Rabkin is departing from the company later this month.
“We’re going at it from both ends,” Mr Rabkin told media, in reference to the Quest virtual reality headset range, and the Meta glasses, which currently are “a device that’s frankly a fashion item”.
“I think eventually, in some long number of years, these will meet in the middle, but we’re really trying to cover the whole spectrum of devices to help people augment their life and improve their life in the best way possible, given what they need,” he said.
