What Meta’s Orion Glasses Tell Us About The Future Of AR Wearables
We’ve always been confident that the sceptics would be proven wrong and that augmented reality (AR) wearables would cement their status as much more than a fad or gimmick. All of the big tech players have been vying to set standards for this next wave of technology, and we’re rapidly getting greater insights into just how these devices might bridge the gap between real and virtual interactions. Wearables like Google Glass and even Ray Ban’s smart glasses have started to show just how exciting augmented reality technology can be, and now Meta has thrown its hat into the ring with its new Orion glasses.
Pitched as offering a “glimpse into the future of human connection”, the Meta Orion glasses look to be one of the most sophisticated AR wearables we’ve seen to date. With capabilities spanning hands-free video calling and real-world insights and info, we’re starting to get a genuine glimpse into just where AR wearables might be headed. Safe to say, there’s a lot to unpack about what this tech could mean for you, your audience, and the way we all engage with the world around us.
Key Features Of The Orion Glasses
At this stage, Meta’s Orion glasses are still just a conceptual prototype and it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to purchase them for some time. However, we’ve still been given plenty to pique interest and these early insights point to some seriously impressive capabilities and real-world applications for wearable tech.
The stand-out features of the Orion glasses suggest one thing above all others: that Meta wants Orion to feel less like a gadget and more like a natural extension of both work and play. With a large field of view and custom stack, the goal is that you can use the technology at any time – whether that’s by making the most of the built-in AI assistant to get insights on the world around you, or by handling sophisticated video calls while retaining the freedom to move around.
Naturally, some seriously sophisticated technology is powering this tech. The Orion glasses work hand-in-hand with a wristband that utilises revolutionary electromyography (EMG) technology to enable a sensor-free user experience. The impressive field of view we mentioned? That’s powered by optical-grade silicon carbide which gets up to an approximate 70-degree field of view – the largest we’ve ever seen from this type of AR wearable device.
Hands-Free Experiences Are The Future
What stands out most about the Orion glasses (and the shift in attention to the capabilities of AR wearables more generally) is the appetite for hands-free interaction. Instead of using touch screens or even voice commands (sorry Siri and Alexa), we’re slowly shifting into a world controlled by gestures and eye-tracking. Who knows, maybe the tech will even go so far as to be able to track our thoughts in the not-so-distant future?!
This naturally has huge implications for how we interact with tech as consumers, and how you and we might utilise AR wearables as brands, business owners and marketers. The Orion glasses show we’re not too far off a world where your everyday audience can walk through a shop and see reviews and recommendations, or get a better feel for how they might use a product or service without even touching anything.
What This Means For You
The most important thing to realise in light of Meta’s Orion glasses is that their significance extends far beyond the usual ‘techy’ crowd. AR wearables like these glasses have the capabilities needed to redefine how we consume content, shop, learn, and even socialise.
Whether you’re launching a new product, trying to grow a service offering, or want to connect with your audience in a different way, this kind of AR technology will completely transform the way you do so. It’s not about being futuristic for the sake of being cool – it’s about creating genuinely meaningful user experiences and content that is more immersive and engaging than ever before.
Explore Augmented Reality Solutions Today
We might have to wait a little bit longer to actually get our hands on the Meta Orion glasses, but one clear takeaway still stands: we’re rapidly approaching a world in which it’s genuinely possible to blend the virtual, digital and real landscapes and bring products and services to life.
In fact, we’re already using existing augmented reality technology to create standout campaigns, product showcases, and design solutions to fuel growth for our clients. The Orion glasses show that the possibilities of AR wearables are bordering on endless, and if you want some help in harnessing this to bring your brand, products or services to life then we’d love to help. Reach out to us online or email our Vicktor, our Head of Immersive, at vicktor@fuel-growth.com and we can chat.
