Today, Meta shared (via The Verge) a few new details about Aria Gen 2, its next-generation experimental smart glasses.
While they’re still not meant for consumers, the hardware show just how fast Meta is moving and how far ahead it is thinking when it comes to the future of wearables, AI, and spatial computing.
And unlike the Aria Gen 1, the frame folds.
Per Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman, Tim Cook is “hell-bent on creating an industry-leading product before Meta can.” Whether Apple will actually succeed in leapfrogging Meta and launch an industry-leading product remains to be seen.
But much like with AI, Apple’s biggest challenge will be to move fast enough not to let cutting-edge tech become obsolete before (or rather, if) it finally hits the market.
Through The Verge, Meta revealed some new information today regarding Aria Gen 2, their next-generation experimental smart glasses.
Even though the hardware isn’t yet intended for consumers, it demonstrates how quickly Meta is developing and how far ahead it is in terms of wearables, artificial intelligence, and spatial computing. It also shows how fast Apple will need to work if it wants to do more than just try to catch up. once more.
Gen 2. Aria.
With a comprehensive eye-tracking system that tracks “gaze per eye, vergence point, blink detection, pupil center estimation, pupil diameter, corneal center, etc.,” the Aria Gen 2 was created as a research platform for augmented reality, artificial intelligence, and robotics. “.”.
Additionally, it has several computer vision cameras for 3D hand and object tracking, which Meta claims is accurate enough to train robotic hands. It’s interesting to note that Apple recently released research on this topic.
An Apple Watch-like PPG heart rate sensor and a contact microphone that enhances audio recording in noisy settings are located inside the nosepad. The frame folds, unlike the Aria Gen 1.
In addition to being lighter than previously, it comes in eight sizes that “account for a number of human factors including head breadth and nose bridge variation.”. “.”.
Additional hardware consists of:.
a 12-megapixel RGB camera.
Seven spatial microphones.
A sensor for ambient light.
gyroscope and accelerometer.
stereo speakers.
USB-C connector.
It certainly looks more like a pair of computer glasses than just glasses, which is why Meta refers to the Aria Gen 2 as a “testbed.”. However, it’s difficult to look at this gadget and not wonder that sooner or later, people will actually wear something similar.
Open versus. Private prototyping.
According to reports, Apple plans to enter this market by the end of next year as Meta iterates publicly (yes, with large, costly, and commercially unviable prototypes). According to Mark Gurman of Bloomberg, Tim Cook is “determined to develop a market-leading product before Meta can.”. “.”.
It remains to be seen whether Apple will truly be able to outperform Meta and introduce a product that leads the industry. Similar to AI, Apple’s biggest obstacle will be to move quickly enough to prevent cutting-edge technology from becoming outdated before—or rather, if—it is released onto the market.
