While many VR headset users may have found the devices inconvenient to use while wearing glasses, this could soon change as Facebook-parent Meta acknowledged the acquisition of Luxexcel, which makes prescription lenses for smart glasses.
Luxexcel first gained recognition for its 3D-printed prescription eyewear, but more recently company has expanded its focus to include the development of lenses for smart glasses that may be produced with integrated technology such as LCDs and holographic film.
It has been speculated that the two businesses had collaborated on Meta’s Project Aria, a prototype device that can be “worn like regular glasses” and which Meta will use to develop the hardware and software for prospective augmented reality (AR) technologies.
This is not the first time Meta has attempted to enter the market for AR smart wear.
Geeky Nigeria reports that in September 2021, Meta introduced the Ray-Ban Stories, a set of smart glasses that allow users to make hands-free, voice-controlled calls on Facebook and WhatsApp while also taking pictures and videos.
It seems expected that Meta will use Luxexcel’s technology after acquiring it to create prescription augmented reality glasses, a device that has long been predicted to result from Meta’s billion-dollar investment in its Reality Labs.
Meta headsets have recently drawn criticism for their heaviness, heat production, and inconvenience. Through a relationship with a business like Luxexcel, Meta may be able to better target people who wear glasses and have access to the expertise of a business with a more in-depth understanding of optics.
Meta is committed to continuing the advancement of AR/VR hardware and software even though its metaverse division, Reality Labs, is suffering billions of dollars in losses.
