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Meta and EssilorLuxottica have extended their partnership, promising to revolutionise the future of AR glasses and set a new benchmark in smart eyewear technology.
A New Era for AR Glasses: Meta and EssilorLuxottica's Extended Partnership
Meta and EssilorLuxottica have entered a long-term contract extending into the 2030s, a significant milestone in their partnership focused on developing multi-generational smart eyewear products. This strategic collaboration underscores their strong working relationship and sets the stage for transformative advancements in augmented reality (AR) glasses.
EssilorLuxottica, known for the Ray-Ban Stories AR product, has achieved notable sales success with this device, distributing it across multiple countries, including the US, UK, Australia, and several European nations. Building on this success, the extended partnership aims to drive future innovations in smart eyewear technology, potentially redefining how immersive meetings and virtual spaces are experienced.
The collaboration is set to enhance Meta's immersive meetings policy and contribute to the evolution of immersive spaces and virtual meeting environments. By integrating these innovations with Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Mesh, and the Mesh app, the partnership will advance the future of work through improved virtual meeting spaces and enhanced team collaboration.
As Meta Quest continues to lead in VR technology, this partnership will likely expand the capabilities of immersive meetings and virtual meeting spaces, leveraging both Meta's and EssilorLuxottica's expertise to shape the next generation of smart eyewear.
Ray-Ban Stories: A Proven Success
Ray-Ban Stories, the AR smart glasses developed in collaboration with Meta, have exceeded initial sales expectations, marking a significant milestone for both companies. This success has prompted Meta to acquire a 5 percent stake in EssilorLuxottica, further solidifying their commitment to the partnership.
The remarkable demand for Ray-Bans smart glasses highlights the market’s readiness for AR smart glasses, reflecting a growing consumer appetite for innovative technology integrated into daily life. The product's widespread distribution across international markets underscores its popularity and acceptance.
Looking ahead, this success is poised to influence the development of future AR glasses, with potential implications for immersive meetings and virtual reality. As Meta and EssilorLuxottica continue their collaboration, the integration of these AR technologies into platforms like Microsoft Teams and Microsoft Mesh is likely to enhance virtual meeting spaces. This partnership may also drive advancements in the use of Meta Quest devices within the corporate metaverse, shaping the future of work and how teams interact in virtual environments.
The Financial Implications of Meta's Stake in EssilorLuxottica
According to calculations by Reuters, based on LSEG data, Meta's 5 percent stake in EssilorLuxottica is valued at approximately $4.73 billion, with the overall company valuation surpassing $94 billion. This investment highlights Meta's confidence in the future of AR smart glasses and underscores its commitment to spearheading advancements in this growing technology sector.
The financial implications of this stake are profound, reflecting both the current market value and the substantial potential for growth and innovation in the smart eyewear industry. This investment is expected to accelerate the development of new AR technologies and products, potentially influencing the corporate metaverse and how virtual reality integrates with daily business operations.
As AR smart glasses become increasingly integral to the enterprise space, they are likely to enhance Microsoft Teams meetings and the overall meeting experience. Innovations in AR technology could improve features like avatar interactions, screen sharing areas, and meeting options, thus refining how teams collaborate in remote work settings. The advancement of these technologies may also transform virtual reality applications within the corporate metaverse, offering new ways to engage in teams meetings and virtual interactions.
CEO Insights: The Visionaries Behind the Partnership
Francesco Milleri, Chairman and CEO of EssilorLuxottica, expressed his enthusiasm for the extended partnership with Meta, highlighting the remarkable progress achieved so far. He emphasised that the collaboration is still in its early stages but has already marked a crucial milestone in their journey to transform glasses into a gateway to the connected world.
Mark Zuckerberg, founder and CEO of Meta, echoed this excitement about the long-term roadmap for AR smart glasses. He envisions a tremendous opportunity to position glasses as the next major technology platform, seamlessly integrating them into everyday fashion. Both leaders are optimistic about the future, believing that this partnership holds the potential to revolutionise the smart eyewear industry and redefine virtual presence.
Their vision includes enhancing the functionality of AR glasses in the enterprise sector. Future developments may significantly impact how avatars are used in brainstorming sessions, conversations, and screen sharing areas, ultimately enriching immersive experiences. As VR in business continues to evolve, these advancements aim to facilitate more seamless connections, whether joining virtual meetings or interacting through immersive environments.
The Future Roadmap: What's Next for AR Smart Glasses and immersive spaces?
Meta's roadmap for AR smart glasses is becoming increasingly defined as the company aims to build on the success of Ray-Ban Stories. Mark Zuckerberg has been vocal about his belief in the potential of this technology, highlighting significant advancements in custom silicon and display stack development.
At SIGGRAPH this year, Zuckerberg detailed Meta's dual approach to AR smart glasses. The company is focusing on two key objectives: developing ideal holographic AR glasses and making them more akin to regular eyewear rather than bulky VR headsets. This vision reflects Meta's commitment to integrating AR technology seamlessly into everyday glasses, thereby expanding the possibilities within the smart glasses market.
Meta's future plans involve enhancing how users experience and connect within virtual worlds. This includes improving features such as the screen share area in virtual meetings, facilitating better face connections, and enhancing the overall virtual presence. Integrations with tools like the Teams desktop app and Mesh for Teams will further enrich the ability to view, join, and share content in virtual environments. These innovations are designed to provide a more connected and immersive experience, pushing the boundaries of how AR technology can transform work and interactions within virtual spaces.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Can you have immersive meetings in the metaverse?
Yes, you can have meetings in the metaverse, offering a novel way to collaborate and connect in virtual spaces. Here are some ways to conduct a meeting in the metaverse:
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Horizon Workrooms: Horizon Workrooms allows for virtual meetings in immersive spaces. Anyone can join a Horizon Workroom meeting using the web app on their computer. For a full VR experience, you can download the Workrooms app and use a Meta Quest headset. This platform aligns with Meta’s immersive meetings policy and provides an enhanced meeting experience within the metaverse.
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Metaverse: Metaverse is a web-based platform that facilitates virtual meeting spaces which you can access without the requirement of a VR headset. This makes it accessible for users who prefer or need to participate from a desktop or laptop, integrating seamlessly into various work environments.
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Immersed: Immersed is an app that allows you to attend Microsoft Teams meetings using an avatar in a virtual environment. This integration provides an immersive experience by connecting your virtual presence with Microsoft Teams, leveraging tools like Microsoft Mesh and the Mesh app to enhance collaboration in immersive spaces.
These platforms exemplify how the metaverse is transforming traditional meetings into dynamic, immersive interactions, driven by advancements in virtual reality and digital avatars. As the corporate metaverse evolves, these tools will continue to offer innovative ways to connect and collaborate within both virtual and augmented workspaces.
What are the guidelines for virtual meetings?
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Be Prepared: Arrive on time, review any materials sent ahead of time, and come with questions or comments. This helps ensure a productive discussion and effective use of the meeting time.
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Test Your Equipment: Verify that your camera, video, Wi-Fi, and screen sharing functions are working properly before the meeting. This includes ensuring compatibility with Microsoft Mesh or the Mesh app, and any other software you plan to use.
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Choose the Right Software: Ensure you're using the appropriate software for the meeting, whether it’s Microsoft Teams, the Mesh app, or another platform. This will help facilitate smooth communication and integration with metaverse tools.
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Be Aware of Your Surroundings: Choose a quiet place without distractions. If you're working in a shared space, be mindful of noise from other appliances and background activities to avoid disrupting the meeting.
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Be Respectful: Mute yourself when you're not speaking and avoid interrupting others. This helps maintain a respectful and orderly environment, particularly in virtual settings like Microsoft Mesh or metaverse meetings.
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Be Engaged: Give your full attention to the meeting, use active listening techniques, and employ facial expressions to show that you are engaged. This is crucial in maintaining a connection and presence, whether in Microsoft Teams or other virtual environments.
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Participate: Actively contribute to the discussion and share your screen if you have relevant materials. Engagement in discussions and presentations is important for effective collaboration.
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Stay on Task: Keep the conversation focused on the meeting's agenda. If discussions start to stray, gently steer them back on track to ensure all relevant topics are covered.
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Make a Closing Remark: Before the meeting concludes, summarise next actions, deliverables, and schedules for moving forward. This helps clarify responsibilities and timelines for all participants.
These guidelines are designed to enhance the effectiveness of virtual meetings in various settings, including Microsoft Mesh and the broader metaverse. They ensure that participants are well-prepared, engaged, and able to make the most of their virtual meeting experience.
What is 3D in a Teams meeting?
Microsoft has broadened access to Microsoft Mesh, enhancing Microsoft Teams with immersive 3D spaces that aim to make virtual meetings feel more like in-person interactions. These immersive spaces are powered by Microsoft Mesh, Microsoft's mixed reality platform, and can be utilised for various types of meetings, including:
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Weekly Scrums or Stand-ups: Facilitate team check-ins and updates in a virtual environment that mimics a physical meeting space.
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Brainstorming Sessions: Engage in creative discussions and collaborative thinking within a 3D setting that encourages interaction and idea sharing.
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Casual Meetings: Host informal gatherings or team-building activities in a relaxed virtual space.
To access immersive spaces in Microsoft Teams, users can select View > Immersive Space (3D). This feature allows you to join and interact within a virtual environment, and you can further enhance your experience using a Meta Quest VR device.
These advancements reflect Microsoft’s commitment to integrating the metaverse into everyday work practices, providing users with a more engaging and versatile meeting experience. Whether you’re joining a meeting or setting up a center for team collaboration, Microsoft Mesh and immersive spaces are designed to transform how teams connect and collaborate in the virtual world.
