During its Developers Conference on Sept. 24, Meta, the technology conglomerate responsible for Instagram and Facebook, announced Orion, a working prototype of the augmented reality (AR) glasses project.
These glasses use AR in a form never seen before, resembling ordinary glasses. However, they are not yet for sale and serve as a precursor to Meta’s future AR glasses. “I think that since these glasses are much smaller compared to AR headsets or other AR glasses, these Orion AR glasses will be able to easily fit in with people’s daily lives looking just like ordinary glasses,” said senior Ameya Menon.
These glasses weigh in at around three and half ounces, making them significantly lighter than other AR headsets or glasses on the market today. This allows users to effortlessly interact with the digital world while wearing these glasses, setting Orion far apart from AR headsets like the Apple Vision Pro.
“I can see these glasses being used in the future replacing phones and potentially many screens as these glasses can display any screen or image in the digital world,” said junior Vrayas Pila. The battery life in this prototype is two to three hours, which is not enough for continuous use but sufficient for on-and-off use throughout the day.
These AR glasses can be used to overlay 2D and 3D content on top of the real world, allowing users to live in their own reality. “I think that if these glasses become part of daily life it would be a great way to visualize different objects like in CAD without physically having them there,” explained Pila.
There are three different ways to control these glasses. One method, similar to the Apple Vision Pro, uses eye and hand tracking controls using cameras and sensors. Voice controls similar to those in Meta’s current smart glasses are also integrated into these glasses. The final method uses a wristband that tracks hand motion to control the glasses similar to a phone
This prototype provides the world with a useful glimpse of the future, making it easier for society to understand AR’s implications on everyday life. According to some sources, these glasses may be released in 2027, only a few years away.
