REAL-TIME AVATAR

New Meta VR headset arriving this October, confirms Mark Zuckerberg

META IS SET to introduce a new virtual reality (VR) headset in October 2022, company CEO Mark Zuckerberg revealed on 25 August.

Speaking on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast, Zuckerberg said that the features of the device will help in creating a feeling of “social presence” for the users.

October is the month when Meta holds its Connect VR conference. This means that the device will be launched either at the event or in time for it.

“There’s more non-verbal communication when people are with each other than verbal communication,” Zuckerberg said. According to him, the device will, therefore, have advanced eye- and facialtracking features, which will make digital avatars react with the same

expressions as that of the users at the same time.

“The ability to now have kind of eye contact in virtual reality,” Zuckerberg said. “Have your face be tracked so that way your avatar ̶ it’s not just this still thing, but if you smile or if you frown or if you pout, or whatever your expression is, have that translate in realtime to your avatar,” he added.

Zuckerberg, however, didn’t reveal the name of the device, leaving open space for speculation as to what exactly is Meta launching.

Reports suggest that the device he mentioned could be the one dubbed Project Cambria. According to CNBC, the device will at least cost USD800 ̶ almost double that of the existing Quest 2 VR headset.