By now we all know that Facebook is obsessed with the metaverse , to the point that they changed their name to Meta. Another of Zuckerberg and company’s obsessions in recent years has been glasses. Ray-Ban Stories smart glasses were recently launched in Spain with which you can take photos, record audio, post content on social networks, etc.
And it is also well known that Facebook hates the power that Apple, thanks to the iPhone, has over its platform. Now it has been revealed that Meta is working on augmented reality glasses that do not need to be linked to any mobile to work (neither iPhone nor Android) and that are so ambitious that they could unseat smartphones. How will they do it? All the details, below.
Augmented reality glasses, the ace up Zuckerberg’s sleeve
Meta is convinced that the metaverse is the future. They believe that tomorrow we will all be in a 100% virtual environment where we will do various activities of our day to day. His master plan is then that his augmented reality glasses be in the metaverse, what mobiles are in the real world . In other words, Meta glasses will be the new iPhone.
In this way, they would end the reign of mobile phones (including the iPhone) and would have complete control of the operating system used by their users. Is it a realistic plan? Well, it is daring, but it is clear that we are heading for an even more digital future where augmented reality glasses can play a leading role.
The problem for Meta with this plan is that there are already other companies creating AR glasses. Apple itself is developing mixed reality glasses that will be presented at the end of 2022 or at the beginning of next year. Now, Apple wouldn’t make a product that would kill off its iPhone. Meta knows this and that is why they are making such advanced glasses that they will leave the apple brand in check.
Project Nazare: this will be Meta’s AR glasses that could revolutionize everything
Apparently, Meta wants to launch several generations of augmented reality glasses, with the first model coming out in 2024 . It will be called Project Nazare. Next will come the second and third generation glasses, which will appear in 2026 and 2028, if all goes according to plan.
According to leaked documents, these will be the characteristics of the Meta glasses:
- Their design will be socially friendly : they won’t be big and intimidating like the models and prototypes that can be found now.
- They won’t need to connect to a smartphone – however, they will connect wirelessly to a mobile-sized device that will perform some processing tasks.
- They will have 3D graphics : the augmented reality experience they will offer will be complete. They will display both 2D information and 3D objects.
- Your field of view will be 70° (at best).
- They will weigh 4 times more than normal glasses : to be more specific, they will weigh 100 grams.
- They will allow chatting through holograms : they will include speakers and microphones so that you can see and speak naturally with other people through their holograms.
- They will use their own operating system based on Android : Meta is working on a custom version of Android that your glasses will use.
- They will feature custom waveguides and microLED projectors : Specifically, they will have two transparent microLED screens with images that will be displayed using optical waveguide technology. This will make its manufacturing cost very high.
- They could use custom chips : Meta is evaluating the possibility of creating its own chips to power the AR technology of the glasses.
- Its autonomy will be 4 hours : at least this will be the case with the first model that is designed for indoor use.
- They will have a front camera with eye movement tracking : this will allow you to control some functions of the glasses just by making gestures with your eyes.
- They will be paired with wearables : possibly a smartwatch or smartband, which will read your mind to type and perform other gestures that would otherwise require a smartphone screen. For this, they will use CTRL-Labs technology. Let’s remember that Meta will launch a smartwatch to compete with the Apple Watch, although it will not incorporate this technology. The plan is for the third generation of Meta’s smartwatch to add this futuristic technology from CTRL-Labs in time for the arrival of augmented reality glasses in 2024.
It is also said that Meta could launch an economic model called Hypernova , which will require a connection to a mobile phone to display messages and notifications.
How much will Meta’s augmented reality glasses cost?
Sources claim the headset will be more expensive than the $300 Oculus VR headset, but it’s unclear how much Meta will charge for it. What is almost a fact is that Meta will have to subsidize the price to make them attractive to the public, since their manufacturing cost is quite high.
Still, Meta’s sales expectations are low for the first model to come out in 2024. They expect to sell a few tens of thousands of units. Of course, by the end of the decade they want to sell tens of millions of glasses.
Source | TheVerge
