Meta has just announced some new information about Aria Gen 2 - the next-generation smart glasses of the company. This is a not-for-consument research platform, but Meta's hardware shows the company's rapid growth and long-term vision in wearables, artificial intelligence, and space computing.
Aria Gen 2 is designed as a research tool for enhanced reality, AI and robots. This device is equipped with a full eye movement tracking system, capable of recording the perspective of each eye, convergence point, blink of an eye, copper heart, copper diameter and cornea.
The glasses also integrate many computer vision cameras, supporting 3D monitoring of hand and object movements with high accuracy - enough to train robot hands. Inside the nasal cavity, there is a PPG heart rate sensor (similar to an Apple Watch) and a contact microphone that improves recording ability in noisy environments. Unlike the previous generation, the Aria Gen 2 glasses frame can be folded, lighter and is produced in 8 different sizes, suitable for many face styles.
In terms of hardware, the glasses have a 12MP RGB camera, 7 space-oriented microphones, environmental light sensors, accelerators, rotary rotations, stereo speakers and USB-C ports. Meta calls the Aria Gen 2 a testing platform and the device is increasingly more like a pair of computer glasses than regular glasses.
While Meta is publicly developing bulky and uncommercially unfeasible prototypes, Apple is said to be quietly preparing to enter this market next year. According to many sources, CEO Tim Cook is determined to create an industry-leading product before Meta can surpass it.
However, the possibility of Apple surpassing Meta to launch a truly breakthrough device is still a question mark. Just like in the AI field, Apple's biggest challenge is how to move fast enough so as not to be left behind by pioneering technologies - before its products reach users.
