Smart Glasses

Story of the week

Last week, Meta unveiled a variety of new products at the Meta Connect conference event in Menlo Park, California. The products unveiled included a virtual reality headset, AI products and potentially most interestingly the new updated version of the Meta X Ray Bans Stories smart glasses.

Starting at quite a reasonable $299, the new glasses will be available in over 150 lens and frame combinations. The glasses have the capability to livestream to Facebook or Instagram, and engage with Meta’s AI assistant by using just your voice.

If you want to know more, below is a CNET hands-on of the product:

Meta’s bet on smart glasses

Since the introduction of Google Glass in 2013, there has been somewhat of an underwhelming response to the technology. Despite being a multi-billion dollar market, smart glasses have not become mainstream like once hoped by the tech companies who develop them.

As mentioned above, Meta releases two headsets that serve different purposes at their event last week; The Meta Quest 3 VR headset, which gives immerses users in virtual worlds, providing an VR experience and the Smart glasses which enhance the users experience of the real world. The view in the future is that these products will at some stage intertwine (think the design of the smart glasses with the capabilities of both products. Such integration could lead to a revolutionary mixed reality experience where users seamlessly transition between virtual and augmented realities.

These updates come a few months after Apple announced the Vision Pro. In Apples own words, the vision pro “seamlessly blends digital content with your physical space.” With a cost of over $3,000, the vision pro is around 10x the cost of Meta’s VR products.

Will smart glasses become mainstream?

While wearable tech, particularly smart glasses, holds immense promise, its path to mainstream adoption is still evolving. These updates from Meta and the launch of the Vision Pro from Apple is a sign that tech companies are still bullish on smart glasses and virtual reality in general. It will be really interesting to see whether smart glasses will become part of our every day lives or just another gadget collecting dust in our attics (a very expensive one if you decide to buy the vision pro).

Industries such as healthcare, manufacturing, and logistics have already embraced smart glasses to enhance worker productivity and streamline tasks. For instance, technicians can access critical information hands-free, improving efficiency and reducing errors. In the consumer space, some have adopted smart glasses for capturing life's moments without having to hold up a device.

Yet, for smart glasses to become an every day essential, they must offer tangible benefits that go beyond novelty. These devices need to enhance our sense of sight, boost productivity, and seamlessly integrate into our daily routines. The key lies in finding that delicate balance between innovation and practicality, ensuring that wearable tech truly becomes an indispensable part of our lives.

What else is going on in the world of tech?

Want a dental plan endorsed by Tom Hanks? Well, you may have to keep waiting. The two-time oscar winner has warned his instagram followers that he has no affiliation to a dental plan advert using his likeness with deepfake technology.

Sam Bankman-Fried’s trial begins tomorrow (Tues 3rd Oct). The founder of controversial crypto startup FTX faces 8 charges including wire fraud on customers and lenders.

Is your new iPhone 15 overheating? Apple have announced that there is a bug causing the new model to overheat and are working on software updates to fix the issue.

Weekly Shoutout

Books – Creative Blindness by Dave Trott. A wonderful collection of short stories and insights about how creativity can come from the most unusual places.