It has been five years since Facebook and Instagram’s parent company, Meta, announced they were developing their first pair of augmented reality glasses, Orion.
The company had begun its development under the premise that it didn’t think “people should have to choose between a world of information at your fingertips and being present in the physical world around you.”
This was the technological premise that led the company to unveil Orion, which the company calls the most advanced AR glasses ever made.
Meta has said that Orion will close the gap between the physical and virtual world, allowing people to be at the center of both realms and thereby helping them feel more connected and empowered.
Augmented reality glasses have been a thing for a while, so why is Meta coming out with them now?
Augmented reality glasses have been a thing for a while, and Meta is far from being the first tech giant to develop a pair.
For instance, Google developed AR glasses back in 2013. They were called Google Glass or simply “Glass.” They retailed for a while in 2013 at a whopping $1,500 but were eventually discontinued.
Meta says there are three reasons why augmented reality glasses like Orion are the next step in human-oriented computing. First, they allow far more immersive digital experiences because they don’t have the limitations of a smartphone screen.
Secondly, the glasses can integrate contextual AI, which is a type of AI that can sense and understand the world that surrounds you and therefore assists with things before you even realize you need assistance.
Finally, according to Meta, the lightweight nature of the glasses means they are convenient for everyday use. They also allow users to remain in touch with their surroundings, as they can see the world and people around them.
So what can Meta’s Orion glasses actually do?
The company has been very emphatic in saying that, despite the glasses being in early development, the capabilities the product is already showing are more than promising.
Meta already has its AI assistant, Meta AI, running on the Orion glasses. Meta’s Contextual AI can detect what one is looking at in his or her physical surroundings and provide useful assistance.
For instance, if one opens a fridge while wearing the glasses, the AI will come up with a suggestion for a recipe to make based on the available ingredients. It also allows one to answer friends’ video calls while in the middle of other activities.
Of course, Meta being Meta, the company has already said that you will be able to stay connected on both Whatsapp and Messenger while wearing the glasses, whose features they will continue to strive to improve.