Meta-company Facebook and Apple Inc. are expected to launch mixed reality glasses next year, which the two companies hope will turn the head-worn device industry into the next big product in the industry. Personal computing.
But there is a significant obstacle to the spread of these devices, as Palmer Loki, co-founder of the virtual reality glasses program "Oculus" - who left the program in early 2017, says that there is no price low enough to convince a large group of people to use reality glasses default.
Facebook's best-selling Quest 2 virtual reality glasses sell for $400, and made up 78% of the emerging virtual reality market in 2021, according to IDC, but users who want next-generation technology will have to spend more than this amount.
The company said - earlier this year - that the upcoming advanced headset from Meta, codenamed "Cambria", is expected to cost at least $800.
It is said that the unannounced "Apple" device may cost thousands of dollars, and this is a huge burden on the pockets of users of new technology products that have not yet become mainstream.
IDC said more than 11 million units of VR headsets were shipped last year, and that number is equal to what Apple sells of iPhones every few weeks.
Attendees use Oculus Go virtual reality headsets during Facebook Inc's annual F8 developers conference in San Jose, California, US May 1, 2018. REUTERS/Stephen Lam
How can the virtual reality glasses market expand?
To expand the market, Meta and Apple will have to convince consumers that more advanced systems are worth the investment. The two companies are reportedly betting on a new technology called mixed reality transit, which requires better screens and more processing power.
If the mixed reality transit works as advertised, the virtual reality glasses will also act as a set of augmented reality glasses that integrate the virtual world with the user's real environment, enhancing the possibilities of applications and use in the real world.
With current virtual reality devices, the experience is limited to what is on the screen of the headset, while in the mixed reality transit technology, the powerful cameras on the outside of the virtual reality headset capture video of the outside world and send it to two or more screens, one of which is in front of the user’s eyes, and this allows developers to By playing mixed reality or superimposing software or graphics on real-world video from outside.
Mixed reality proponents say we will eventually be able to incorporate the technology into a pair of lightweight glasses with clear lenses.
Today's problem is that mixed reality requires a lot of expensive parts and powerful headsets, which limits the size of the market.
In addition to advanced cameras, mixed reality transit devices need depth sensors that can capture detailed video and measurements of the user's surroundings, and they must also track the user's eyes so that power generation graphics are not lost that will not be seen, and need powerful processing capabilities and software to reduce response time so that what is not delayed Seen by the user when viewed inside the headset.
Even more important is the high-resolution screen, which should be denser than a smartphone screen because it is very close to the user's eyes. The average smartphone screen is about 550 pixels per inch, but mixed reality devices require screens of about 3,500 pixels per inch according to Counter Point Research.
Apple is notoriously secretive about its product roadmap, especially when it comes to new categories, and the company has invested heavily in virtual reality research and development in its technology development group, buying several mixed reality startups.
According to Bloomberg and The Information, Apple is developing a mixed reality headset that looks like ski goggles with a powerful homemade chip.
It is said that the headset will support video traffic and advance games and other applications.
At one point Apple aimed to have a resolution at least comparable to a 4K TV for its first headphones, because anything less could result in users seeing individual pixels, the information said.
A model wears the Microsoft HoloLens as he scrolls through a virtual Windows menu in this publicity photo released to Reuters January 21, 2015. Microsoft Corp on Wednesday unveiled the holographic lens device that allows users to see three-dimensional renderings of computer-generated images. The device has no wires and looks like a visor. It ups the stakes in the emerging market for virtual reality, being targeted by Facebook Inc's Oculus. REUTERS/Microsoft Corp./Handout via Reuters (UNITED STATES - Tags: BUSINESS SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY) ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS PICTURE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. REUTERS IS UNABLE TO INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THE AUTHENTICITY, CONTENT, LOCATION OR DATE OF THIS IMAGE. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS. THIS PICTURE IS DISTRIBUTED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY REUTERS, AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS. NO SALES. NO ARCHIVES
Public opinion on the prices of mixed reality devices
SlashGear conducted a survey on the prices of virtual reality glasses, and the respondents expressed their dissatisfaction with the new price.
The vast majority of 590 respondents said they would not pay $400 for the Oculus Quest 2.
In terms of replacement headsets of equal or better quality, the PlayStation VR is $50 cheaper, but requires you to get a PlayStation 4 (PS4).
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