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Meta's Realistic Avatars Debut on VR and Smart Glasses
24 Sep
Summary
- Holographic avatars are being integrated into Meta's VR and new smart glasses.
- Users create avatars using phone cameras and voice input for realism.
- Avatars are available in early preview, with limited device compatibility for now.
Meta has introduced its advanced holographic avatars, integrating them into its new VR glasses and Meta Ray-Ban Display frames. These avatars aim to enhance the sense of presence during video calls by closely replicating users' facial expressions and voices.
The setup process for these avatars varies by device. For the display-enabled glasses, users create an avatar via the Meta AI app, using their phone's camera to capture facial angles and answering questions to personalize voice nuances. This process, taking approximately five minutes, allows the avatar to approximate real-time expressions during conversations on platforms like WhatsApp and Zoom.
Meta's VR glasses offer a more advanced avatar experience. Leveraging more sophisticated sensors, these devices create full-body avatars that directly interpret facial expressions without explicit training. Initial user experiences describe these VR avatars as more natural and less uncanny than competing technologies, despite some visual distortions at the edges.
Currently, holographic avatars are in an early preview phase with ongoing development. Availability is restricted by device compatibility; for instance, users with Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses can interact with each other, but not with those using VR glasses, and vice-versa. Meta anticipates these avatars will significantly improve the feeling of connection in virtual interactions. Holograms are slated for early access on Meta Ray-Ban Display frames this fall.
