Mark Zuckerberg of Meta envisions a future where smart glasses equipped with holographic displays will gradually replace mobile phones as the primary tools for communication and computation. In a recent discussion with YouTuber Kane “Kalloway” Sutter, the influential tech billionaire delved into various subjects such as artificial intelligence and open-source technologies.
When asked about Meta’s most anticipated upcoming product, Zuckerberg enthusiastically backed a pair of glasses designed to be worn on the face. These glasses would incorporate cameras, microphones, speakers, and a full field-of-view (FOV) holographic display.
While critics in the advertising and tech communities have enjoyed poking fun at Meta’s shift from the “Facebook” social media platform to focusing on the development of the metaverse, Zuckerberg remains optimistic about the potential of smartglasses superseding smartphones as the next big innovation. He clarified to Kalloway that smart glasses with holographic displays wouldn’t entirely replace smartphones, similar to how smartphones didn’t entirely replace desktop or laptop computers.
However, Zuckerberg believes that with advancements in hardware and software, smart glasses could become sufficiently practical for most individuals to keep their phones mostly in their pockets. Meta is aiming to refine its technology by introducing three distinct products, starting with a displayless glasses model featuring voice AI (similar to Ray-Ban Meta), followed by a partial heads-up display without full holography, and concluding with a premium version boasting a complete FOV holographic display.
The objective is to bridge the gap between Ray-Ban Meta’s displayless design and bulky headsets primarily designed for virtual reality, aligning more with augmented/mixed reality applications. Zuckerberg envisions that glasses with a full FOV holographic display could facilitate seamless real-time communication, information overlays, and a heads-up display akin to those seen in video games or military equipment, all without being significantly bulkier than standard glasses.
Zuckerberg and Kalloway also discussed the idea of obtaining information through glasses rather than relying on smartphones, as constantly checking smartphones can lead to disconnection. They highlighted the potential for smart glasses to serve as the primary interface for a neural device, offering a less invasive alternative to options like Elon Musk’s Neuralink.
Meta is actively developing a neural wristband, a wearable device that interprets nerve signals to facilitate digital communications without the need for invasive brain procedures. Combining this technology with Meta’s holographic displays could transform everyday reality into a limitless Web3 environment for work and play.
While there is no precise timeline for the release of these products, Zuckerberg mentioned that Meta is prioritizing ensuring that these innovations are perfected before making them available to the public, with early feedback indicating a promising outlook.