Facebook's new patent attempts to make 'AR glasses' a reality

The glasses will be used in virtual reality, augmented reality, mixed reality or a combination of the three


Tech Desk August 20, 2017
PHOTO: UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE

Facebook's efforts to cement a place in the ‘Augmented Reality’ market was given a boost when a patent showed the firm developing AR glasses.

In a patent published on Thursday, the device which "may augment views of a physical, real-world environment with computer-generated elements" and may "be included in an eye-wear comprising a frame and a display assembly that presents media to a user's eyes."

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Facebook’s VR branch Oculus is said to be developing the “waveguide display” which has a two-dimensional scanner.

PHOTO: UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE

The glasses could be used in virtual reality, augmented reality, mixed reality, or a combination of the three.

As intriguing as it sounds, Oculus’ chief Scientist had stated that AR glasses will take at least 5 years to become a reality, so it’s best not to make any inferences with regards to Facebook’s immediate AR future.

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The waveguide display will use lasers that transmit light onto the lens displays, transforming into images and video and being projected into the user's eyes.

Future wearers can potentially look forward to viewing AR with coordinated audio via connected speakers or headphones.

 

This article originally appeared on Mashable.

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