Meta aims for athletes with new smart glasses

Meta is expanding its smart glasses lineup with a new model designed specifically for athletes, according to a report by Bloomberg. This follows the company’s successful partnership with Ray-Ban on its first generation of smart glasses, now branded “Ray-Ban Meta”. The new glasses, based on an Oakley frame, will feature a centrally positioned camera to minimise weight, crucial for athletic performance. They will also provide performance feedback through integrated data tracking. This move suggests Meta aims to broaden the appeal of smart glasses to a wider consumer base.

Beyond this athlete-focused model, Meta is also developing a higher-priced version of the Ray-Ban Meta, featuring a small display for notifications, photos, and simple apps. While not fully augmented reality (AR) enabled, this represents a step towards Meta’s goal of releasing fully functional AR glasses by 2027. The company is also exploring other AI-powered devices, such as camera-equipped earbuds and a smart watch, according to the report.

Meta believes smart glasses will eventually surpass smartphones in popularity and practicality. Its commitment to driving down costs underscores its ambition to expand market reach and belief in the transformative potential of AR.

Sources: Bloomberg (behind paywall), Social Media Today, TechCrunch

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