Meta unveiled a concise video showcasing the functional interface of its Orion AR glasses prototype in action.
The Meta-provided ORION AR Glasses prototype made its debut at the Meta Join 2024 event in September. Whereas Orion itself will not develop into a product, as the corporate admits it might probably’t be virtually mass produced, Meta does plan to ultimately launch AR glasses that “construct on our R&D efforts with Orion”, although with a narrower subject of view.
Within the months preceding the Join launch, Meta assembled a functioning prototype comprising a consumer-facing interface and core applications, as part of its Orion initiative. This brand-new video showcases the interface, along with several featured apps.
Notably, the video demonstrates a realistic diminution in the field of view, consistent with limitations inherent in the show’s system, wherein digital interfaces and objects appear translucent.
Developer Alex Coulombe, as reported by UploadVR, has clarified that the video was simply a concept rather than a fully realized idea for his Orion project. For those questioning, this is indeed an idea video – exactly what it appears to be and seems like within.
While initially eye-catching, it’s noteworthy that Meta’s brief video seemingly showcases at least six distinct app launcher main menus, a surprising quantity considering its brevity. It’s possible this initiative may encompass various concepts, or perhaps the organization is actively exploring multiple strategies.
Why wouldn’t Orion use Horizon OS, Meta’s operating system designed specifically for its Quest virtual reality headsets? Two likely reasons exist for this disparity, which typically arise from the fact that AR glasses constitute a distinct product category from augmented reality headsets, rather than being interchangeable alternatives.
Horizon OS is optimized for broad-spectrum headsets with high opacity, featuring large-hand tracking capabilities that excel in indoor, stationary environments. This leads to significantly divergent design considerations and limitations compared to what you’d want when using AR glasses while outdoors and on-the-go?
The Second Is Efficiency Envelope? Meta’s CTO Andrew Bosworth recently noted that Orion’s compute envelope is an astonishing 10 times smaller than Quest’s, while a former employee likened the device to a handheld console from the early 2000s – “more like a Gameboy Advance or DS, not a PS3 or even PS2 or PS1”. Simplifying technology means creating an accessible interface with a distinct architecture and fewer intimidating applications.
Meta’s Quest-to-Orion port won’t be a straightforward affair due to fundamental differences in architecture and design.
Meta’s Chief Technology Officer highlights the complexity of porting popular video games from its Oculus Quest platform to AR glasses like Orion, revealing a significant 10-fold reduction in efficiency in the process.
The decision stems from fundamental differences in the operating systems’ purposes and architectures, much like the distinct reasons behind the divergence of iPhone and Apple Watch’s OS choices. While these platforms share common underlying technology with Meta’s mention of Orion’s OS sharing similarities with Horizon OS, their app structures and interfaces differ significantly due to distinct use cases. Meta’s primary client product is expected to debut in 2027, with the next three years likely dedicated to refining the interfaces and approaches that will define its AR glasses’ unique character, transforming the rough prototype showcased above into the anticipated dominant platform for future computing.
