Meta has unveiled a new prototype for augmented reality (AR) glasses, named Orion, which signifies a shift from the company's previous focus on bulky virtual reality (VR) headsets. During the Meta Connect keynote, CEO Mark Zuckerberg showcased these lightweight glasses, weighing only 100 grams, as a glimpse into the future of AR technology. The Orion prototype aims to provide a more comfortable and practical alternative to existing VR devices, which tend to be heavier and less user-friendly. The design of the Orion glasses emphasizes the need for them to be lightweight and resemble traditional eyewear, avoiding the bulkiness associated with VR headsets like the Meta Quest 3. To achieve this, some processing is offloaded to a small wireless "puck" that connects to the glasses, allowing for a more streamlined design. The glasses utilize innovative microprojection technology, where tiny projectors embedded in the arms of the glasses project images into specially designed waveguides. This technology enables the display of holographic images that can be layered over the real world, providing a true augmented reality experience rather than just a passthrough view. Zuckerberg highlighted the challenges of ensuring that the projected images are sharp and bright enough to be visible in various lighting conditions. The Orion glasses boast a field of view of 70 degrees, which is larger than that of competitors like Microsoft's Hololens 2 and Magic Leap One. Users can interact with the holograms through voice commands, hand gestures, and eye tracking, but a notable feature is the "neural interface" wristband. This wristband can detect subtle wrist and finger movements, allowing users to control the AR experience without needing to speak or make large gestures. Overall, the Orion prototype represents Meta's ambition to redefine the AR landscape, moving towards a future where augmented reality is seamlessly integrated into everyday life through lightweight and user-friendly devices.