Meta’s Chief Technology Officer, Andrew Bosworth, outlined his vision for the company’s future headset, envisioning a device that will boast impressive specifications by 2031, including a subjectively enhanced view, a refreshed price point, a reduced weight, and improved audio quality.
Six years ago, Facebook introduced its first standalone headset, Oculus Go, which did not feature positional tracking or six-degree-of-freedom (6DoF) tracked controllers; five years later, it debuted the first Quest, equipped with both. At present, the company is offering the Quest 3, boasting a significantly slimmer design, innovative pancake lenses, crystal-clear 2K resolution per eye, a seamless 120Hz refresh rate, genuine color pass-through technology, and streamlined ringless controllers. By the time Quest 5 or Quest 6 arrive in the early 2030s, Meta’s headsets might boast augmented reality capabilities that seamlessly blend virtual and real-world interactions.
During an extensive conversation with Matthew Ball, author of the e-book, Bosworth was queried about his predictions for the technological specifications Meta might offer seven years down the line, including the processor speed, battery life, and other technical aspects. Here is how he responded:
“After exploring this concept for nearly seven years, it’s reasonable to assume that we’re now considering the optimal number of pixels per diploma required to achieve a minimum of 45, beyond which text quality becomes notably superior.” Sixty realistically might be half the retina’s decision, yet one would struggle to articulate the reasons why, as they’d be too convoluted to grasp. So, to achieve a resolution of the 50s to 60s in varying pixel density based on diplomas. As people age beyond 40, they often reach a plateau of personal and professional growth, marking the start of a more fulfilling life. We’ve witnessed this trend firsthand with pioneers like Varjo and Apple’s Pro Display XDR, which have successfully achieved such standards. However, we can also see the significant cost implications involved in achieving this level of performance and the compromises that must be made in terms of field-of-view and brightness to get there. These are actual tradeoffs.
To gain a genuine perspective on your destination. While it’s true that getting significantly smaller could potentially disrupt immersion, it’s also important to note that this isn’t necessarily the case when using the Quest 3, as the experience begins to reveal new discoveries. While the Quest 2 is marginally smaller, you may find that it becomes increasingly intuitive as you adapt to its compact design. In reality, there are specialized cells called retinal ganglion cells in the retina of the eye that enable us to perceive vertical adjustments in visual motion. To grasp a subject thoroughly, you need to have such a profound understanding that you’re no longer constantly questioning its fundamental nature. I think that a higher field of view often presents more immersion concerns than a broader one. As a species, we require a broader perspective to compensate for the inherent limitations of our visual processing, which is why a wider subject of view can significantly enhance info density. While our eyes are naturally more adept at perceiving horizontal vistas, vertical formats have a unique ability to immerse us in an environment, creating a sense of presence that can be both convincing and misleading.
Computations to power these innovations thermally require a standalone solution with no reliance on wires. I’m left alone without anyone watching me? There are valid reasons behind this initiative. Can you imagine applying industrial principles in your everyday life?
The irony lies in the fact that our standalone PC division has actually created the absolute pinnacle, most sought-after PC headsets – and it’s the exact same model. You can simply connect a wire to it or utilize an Air Hyperlink connection.
Consolation undoubtedly plays a crucial role in this process. It’s generally recommended that you’d want to push the load down in a system to improve overall efficiency and performance. It’s crucial to note that this type of gram isn’t just an uncooked version. It isn’t an important factor. The precision with which you adjust it at the top ensures that the optical stack can be positioned extremely close to the eyes; the lever situated at the edge of your nostril extends to the edge of the device controlling nasal comfort, affecting the level of tension in your cheeks and brow, dependent on the type of strap employed, as determined by this factor. You can potentially move this stack slightly, which is one of the significant changes from Quest 2 to Quest 3 – the shift is subtle yet noticeable, making it feel even more comfortable. By then, I’d ideally like to see a reduction in weight of around 100-200 grams.
The audio equipment is monitored on an exceptional display. You’ll soon enjoy even better, higher-quality 3D audio experiences. While navigating an open ear state, there are inherent limitations governing your actions. You might consider attempting a closed-ear meditation technique. We intend to provide individuals with options as we move forward. We can form connections immediately without the need for a headphone jack.
A sense of clarity and purpose. The query is too vague to elicit a meaningful response. To gain insight, consider reframing the inquiry or providing more context about what you’re seeking to understand or achieve. Yeah. The body price. In many instances, a value of 120 can be deemed satisfactory. Clearly, enthusiasts who consistently push their PC gaming performance above 240 FPS vehemently disagree, relishing the silky-smooth experience, a preference that is both understandable and respected. In seven years, I’m highly doubtful that the commerce will have changed as significantly as to justify our current investment. One significant challenge for subjects in view is the uneven distribution of pixels, with quadratically more pixels found on the periphery compared to the center. Pixels hold relatively little value in relation to you. Pixels that are hardly worth mentioning in the grand scheme of things. It’s challenging to rationalize increasing pixel count when the added value may be relatively insignificant, partly due to the constraints imposed by limited computing resources. While I concur that a $240 body price holds equal value, I don’t imply that $240 is inherently more valuable than $120; similarly, I acknowledge that 60 PPD may be healthier than 40 PPD. Nonetheless, within the constraints of these restricted compute budgets, we’re not witnessing significant, generational leaps in performance. This subtle observation shows great acuity. While foveated rendering shows potential for enhanced flexibility in driving decisions, Can we envision a world where the show successfully prioritizes a better body image, albeit at the cost of other compromises within the system, but one is unable to multitask and boots directly into a unit? That’s a crucial consideration for manufacturers and industries, indeed. While panel-specific options do exist? I doubt we’ll optimize for that.
One of our engineers discovered a panel had unlocked the feature, prompting John Carmack’s outrage, as he argued that if it can be done, we should make it available to all users who require it, ensuring seamless accessibility. We accomplished that task and received significant attention as a result. While some stories become legendary, the space you design should enable specifications and harness sustainable energy; nonetheless, it’s crucial to offer customers the autonomy to determine how they allocate that energy. One of the key aspects we’re endeavouring to build into these frameworks is a high degree of flexibility.
If we listen carefully to Bosworth’s description, the hypothetical headset he envisions would possess
- A high-fidelity design dictates a minimum resolution of 40 pixels per degree, potentially scaling to 50-60 PPD for optimal visual clarity. Comparing Quest 3’s 25 pixels per degree (PPD) to Oculus Go’s 15 PPD from six years ago highlights significant advancements in visual fidelity.
- What’s being proposed as a future innovation in virtual reality headset design? For context, Quest 3’s vertical field of view is limited to 96°, whereas the human eye can naturally perceive up to 135° to 150° vertically.
- 100-200 grams much less weight. The Quest 3 weighs approximately 515 grams when including the straps and facial interface, while without these components it tips the scales at around 400 grams.
- While a 120Hz refresh rate, similar to that found on the Quest 3, would be an attractive feature, it’s unclear whether upgrading beyond this point would yield significant benefits, given other performance considerations. While increased scalability may be achievable as an option, it won’t be a primary focus for Meta.
- An in-built battery, like all Meta standalone headsets up to this point, with an exterior tethered battery similar to Apple’s AirPods Pro.
- What if we incorporated a detachable audio module, featuring pogo pins that seamlessly integrate with the earcup’s design, thereby enabling users to effortlessly connect closed-back headphones for an immersive listening experience?
Ultimately, these forecasts represent nothing more than educated estimates, with even Bosworth himself characterizing them as a “plausible insight”. As Meta’s approach, focus, and leadership evolve over time, so too do the skills and capabilities available within its supply chain. New discoveries could propel some specifications forward beyond Bosworth’s projections, while unforeseen obstacles might hinder the development of others.
We strongly recommend listening to the full interview, available as a standalone episode of Bosworth’s podcast “Boz To The Future” on popular platforms such as Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
META: Unlock Quest Builders’ Unfiltered Camera Access
According to Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth, the company is considering granting Quest developers raw camera access.
What are Bosworth’s thoughts on Meta’s substantial investments in augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR)? Can he provide insights on strategies to promote 100 million headset models, reverse passthrough technology, the path to achieving clear AR glasses, the role of AI in enhancing AR/VR experiences, and whether Quest developers will have raw access to cameras?
