Project Orion: Meta presents its holographic glasses of the future
Meta's Project Orion aims to prove that transparent AR glasses with a large field of vision are possible – in the form factor of ordinary glasses.
(Image: Meta)
At the end of Mark Zuckerberg's Connect keynote today, the company took a look into the future of augmented reality. On stage, Zuckerberg presented the state-of-the-art AR glasses prototype "Project Orion" (formerly: Project Nazare), which uses transparent lenses and a holographic display. This is not a market-ready or planned product but, according to Meta, "the most advanced AR glasses we have ever made".
They look like ordinary glasses, with slightly thicker rims and temples and transparent lenses. The latter are not made of glass, but of lightweight silicon carbide, which is supposed to scatter the light less. According to Zuckerberg, they weigh less than 100 grams. When looking through them, the integrated "large holographic displays" enrich the real world with computer graphics. A video presented various everyday scenarios. Objects on a real table were given virtual labels with inscriptions such as "cocoa" or "banana", with numerous screens floating next to them.
Despite the slim form factor, the field of view (FoV) of 70 degrees seemed large for AR glasses with transparent lenses. The chunkier Magic Leap 2 also offers 70 degrees, while the older Hololens 2 only offers 52 degrees. However, the 70 degrees mentioned by Meta are still somewhat smaller than mixed reality glasses such as the Quest 3 (almost 100 degrees) or the Apple Vision Pro, which capture the outside world with color cameras and depth sensors. In return, they have a much larger housing.
Operation with hand tracking, voice and wristband
Zuckerberg presented components such as MicroLED projectors (µLED) and "arms of glasses that shoot light into waveguides. They have nanostructures carved into their lenses so they can deflect light and project holograms of different depths and shapes in front of you". All of this is directed into the eyes by circuits and sensors created according to the company's own designs. The battery is located in the temple. The glasses are connected to a wireless compute puck, which supports the glasses with external computing power.
"Orion's input system seamlessly combines voice, eye and hand tracking with an EMG wristband that allows users to swipe, click and scroll while remaining present in the environment and the people around them," explains Meta. The company has been researching the aforementioned electromyography wristband (EMG), which records the electrical activity of fine muscle movements, for several years. Even a slight tensing of the fingers, swipe or click gestures should be enough to trigger inputs.
The device has been in development for five years. Meta employees and selected test subjects can already test the glasses. The aim is to build on the findings and eventually incorporate them into the development of significantly cheaper AR glasses for consumers. They should ultimately free users from the limitations of small smartphone screens. In long-distance conversations, the other person appears as a holographic avatar in their own room, conveying gestures and facial expressions.
Videos by heise
Meta explains: "You can open your fridge and ask for a recipe inside. Or have a video call with a friend while you adjust the digital family calendar as you wash the dishes." All without having to pull out your cell phone. Meta also mentions the multitasking of several windows in a room as well as large screens for movies and entertainment.
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Meta's goals for future successors include greater image clarity, optimization of a more fashionable form factor and large-scale production to make them more affordable. Meta plans to unveil more devices over the coming years.
"We'll be using Orion as an internal development kit," Zuckerberg explained at the end of the presentation, "but we'll also be working with a handful of external partners to make sure we get various content, and we can really fine-tune the software and the experience – so that when we have the next version of this hardware, we're ready to develop our first consumer holographic AR glasses.
For now, think of Orion as a time machine."
Alex Heath from The Verge has already had the opportunity to try out Project Orion – as can be seen in a video. For example, Heath took video calls in the demo living room and played a kind of spatial pong with Mark Zuckerberg.
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(jpw)
