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Will we see the launch of Facebook’s fully activated AR glasses in 2021?
Facebook previewed its work on its new Project Aria AR glasses last September, which included examples of full digital overlays that would be visible through the device – like safety alerts when walking down the street.
But now Facebook appears to be tempering expectations about what its smart glasses will be able to do, at least in the early stages, with the company’s head of VR and AR, Andrew Bosworth, offering new perspectives. on what the project will look like, and when the device will be available for purchase.
In an interview with Bloomberg and in a separate post on the Facebook Tech Blog, Bosworth described the company’s strategy for the coming year with respect to both AR and VR.
On Facebook’s upcoming wearable devices, Bosworth says tThe first glimpses of its initial device “will come sooner rather than later”, with the launch of its first smart glasses, in partnership with manufacturer Ray-Ban Luxottica, which will soon be revealed.
But they probably won’t be what you expect:
“They are certainly connected glasses, they certainly offer a lot of features, [but] we’re pretty shy about the specific features we provide. We’re excited about it, but we don’t want to overdo it. We don’t even call it augmented reality, we just call it ‘smart glasses’. “
Which seems like a bummer – so it won’t be AR-compatible glasses as originally planned?
Bosworth further explained that while users will not initially be able to overlay digital objects on top of their view of the real world, the device will provide functional benefits for capturing moments.
According to Bloomberg:
“A common situation cited by Bosworth is that parents try to record memories with their young children:” By the time you pick up the phone, not only have you probably missed it, but if you don’t miss it, you are watching. probably the real event but through your phone, “he said.” If you have the right technology, it can get away from you. “
Which is a lot like Snapchat’s Spectacles, trendy sunglasses that double as a digital camera, making it easy to capture what you see as you see it.
The glasses are seen as Snapchat’s own initial foray into fully integrated AR, but technology and production limitations have slowed that development, which has apparently limited the device.
Could Facebook be facing the same challenges?
Facebook could also face production challenges due to COVID-19 shutdowns in different regions – Sony and Microsoft, for example, have struggled to meet demand for their latest gaming consoles due to delays in the release. creation of components caused by pandemic mitigation efforts.
It appears to be a step back from Facebook’s initial ambitions, although Bosworth was careful not to reveal too much, so the device could be even more functional when officially announced.
But maybe AR won’t reach that next level yet.
On the virtual reality front, Bosworth says Facebook’s Oculus VR division has had a big 2020, with lockdowns pushing more people to seek alternative forms of home entertainment.
“Oculus Quest 2 is our fastest growing VR headset, thanks to the convergence of major VR form factors and content created by our developer community. Quest 2 exceeded the monthly active count of the original Quest by less than seven weeks, and more and more people are using it to stay fit, play games with friends, and collaborate for work. And we continue to diversify our user base, with more women using Quest. 2 than any of our previous helmets. “
A key next step for VR will be making remote working easier, with virtual workspaces meant to recreate the office environment for more effective collaboration and engagement with remote workers.
Which still seems a bit of a leap for most businesses, but global lockdowns have shed new light on what’s possible when it comes to working remotely, which will likely lead to a continued shift away from traditional office spaces in order to reduce costs and open up. new opportunities.
If Facebook can do it right, then VR could very well play a key role in this area, reducing the impacts of lack of physical presence, while opening up new ways of working for the future.
It’s hard to say how close we will get to either front this year, but metrics point to some exciting opportunities on the horizon, where Facebook will look to become a bigger fixture in more areas of the world. our daily life.
Is this a good thing? We’ll find out soon, with the first iteration of Facebook’s smart glasses being revealed in the near future.
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