Facebook presented its long-awaited smart glasses in collaboration with Ray-Ban, a nascent wearables sector that focuses on photo capture rather than augmented reality.
The Ray-Ban Stories spectacles, which are a direct competitor to Snapchat’s Spectacles, were unveiled on Thursday by the social network. Users may capture photos and video, listen to music, and answer phone calls using the $299 Facebook glasses, which include EssilorLuxottica SA-owned Ray-traditional Ban’s Wayfarer frame style. While they don’t have augmented reality (AR), the technology that overlays digital content on the real world, Facebook says it hopes to add it in the future.
The glasses will be controlled by a few physical buttons, including a “capture” button for recording media and an on/off switch. Swiping to alter the volume or answering a phone call will be possible thanks to a touch pad on the right arm of the spectacles. An integrated white LED will light up to alert everyone in the vicinity that a video is being taken.
The smart sunglasses are available in a variety of colour and lens combinations and come in three classic Ray-Ban shapes. Prescription lenses are totally compatible with the Ray-Ban Stories. The spectacles will cost $299 when new, with polarised and transition lens versions costing more.
It released a guide describing how to responsibly use the glasses, such as turning them off in private locations like public restrooms and avoiding utilising them for unlawful activities like harassing or recording sensitive information like PIN passwords.
