Facebook creates an augmented reality headset with the aim ultimately to bring them to market, it is clear from the many messages about job openings, research projects and forward-looking statements the company’s executives. Now, in the CNBC report States that Facebook has signed a deal with Luxottica, the Italian parent company of Ray-Ban to help design a new AR headset.
Citing “people familiar with the matter,” the report by CNBC says that the glasses have an internal code name is Orion and is designed to replace smartphones, allowing users “to receive calls, display information […] on a small screen and broadcast it live to friends and followers in social networks “.
From this description it is unclear whether the device to function more like a normal AR headset (HoloLens, Magic Leap), which is designed for positioning of digital images into a physical 3D environment, or a pair of smart glasses (Google Glass, Vuzix Blade) that just puts useful information without integrating it in the environment as such. In the report both mixed terminology, so it is unclear what version will be designed in the proposed device.
In the report, which has not received comment from either Facebook or from Luxottica, stated that the device should appear in consumers somewhere between 2023 and 2025.
The partnership is a direct result of the efforts of Facebook to reduce the size of the device to the attractive form factor, the report said.
In particular, Luxottica in 2014 signed a partnership agreement with Google to develop and distribution of additional frames for Google Glass to make smart glasses a piece of fashion.
Luxottica produces optical frames and sunglasses under license for a number of brands including Armani, Burberry, Chanel, Coach, Dolce & Gabbana, Polo Ralph Lauren, Prada and Versace. Own brands include Ray-Ban, Oakley, Oliver Peoples and Persol.
Italian multi-billion dollar company also manages Sunglass Hut, LensCrafters, Pearle Vision, Sears Optical and Target Optical, which makes it the world’s largest company in the industry of points.
While Luxottica has been criticized for monopolistic policies, it is clear that the brand understands and marketing of luxury and design, and all that AR to the first generation of Facebook will definitely need, because it makes significant steps to arouse the interest of consumers.
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