At yesterday’s Join event, Meta showcased its Orion AR glasses prototype, which although remarkably slender, is not expected to leave Meta’s offices anytime soon. Despite the uncertainty surrounding the technology, Andrew Bosworth, Meta’s Chief Technology Officer and head of Actuality Labs, has hinted that an augmented reality (AR) system built around their Orion platform is slated to arrive this decade. Notably, it may target a price point above that of a smartphone, likely pricing itself out of the mass market.
In an Instagram Q&A, Bosworth calls Orion an “inner developer equipment,” which the corporate is utilizing to refine software program, but in addition a place to begin on how one can package deal the system right into a extra consumer-friendly funds.
Meta is distinctly targeting consumers directly with Orion, unlike Microsoft’s approach with HoloLens, which focused on the enterprise market. While significant progress will be made in the coming years, it won’t be a lengthy process, according to Bosworth.
It’s unlikely they’ll be affordable. They are unlikely to gain entry-level status that would warrant a Quest 3S, priced at $300, or even mid-range status equivalent to the Quest 3, valued at $500. However, our intention is to create affordable and user-friendly solutions that are no more distant than a phone or laptop in terms of accessibility.
The range of costs on display is quite considerable indeed. Considering successful mid-range phones might be acquired for roughly the cost of Quest 3, it’s more likely Bosworth is eyeing flagships, currently priced around $1,000, which? Despite the affordability, a fully configured 13-inch MacBook Air with M3 chip costs $1,500, making it appear to be a budget-friendly option in a higher tier range.
Bosworth notes that while it’s uncertain whether a client-facing version of Orion will emerge by 2030, he clarifies “it won’t be Orion” because the current prototype has specific characteristics.
The crux of the headset’s processing power is efficiently outsourced to a portable compute module, seamlessly transmitting data to the glasses via wireless connectivity, eliminating the need for physical constraints. This innovative wearable also features a cutting-edge neural interface, enabled by integrated eye-tracking technology and a wrist-mounted electromyography (EMG) sensor that seamlessly monitors hand movements.
Moreover. Bosworth clarifies that Orion does not operate on the corporation’s Android-based extended reality (XR) platform, Horizon OS, highlighting distinct differences between Quest and Orion, which necessitates the latter’s augmented reality (AR) glasses running their own operating system.
“We proactively invest in shared knowledge stacks to leverage synergies across our platforms, enabling seamless integration of features like hand-tracking, eye-tracking, and codec avatars between the Oculus Quest system and Orion simultaneously,” Bosworth explains. We strive for each system to embody its own unique excellence, unfettered by common understanding that could constrain innovation. Quite a few concerns about augmented reality are actually distinct altogether? Your innovative game design is a radical departure from traditional concepts; instead of relying on controllers, players will engage in a unique experience. Ever. A revolutionary new technology: “Get ready to experience a neural interface that will change your life.”
While there’s potential for innovation in AR, a completely new operating system might not be necessary. “The interface and interaction design will likely need significant overhauls as AR technology evolves, driven by distinct use cases that differentiate it from existing systems.”
Study more about the Orion constellation and its impressive field of view by exploring yesterday’s major update.
