Mark Zuckerberg shows off several prototypes of Meta's virtual reality (VR) headset. This VR headset will be Meta's and Zuckerberg's weapon to realize the metaverse.
According to Zuckerberg, Meta's ultimate goal in developing a VR headset is to create a device that can pass the 'visual Turing Test', where the virtual world is increasingly indistinguishable from the real world.
"I think we are now in the middle of a big step towards realism. I think it won't be long before we can create scenes with essentially perfect precision," Zuckerberg said, as quoted from The Verge, Tuesday (21/6/2022).
Zuckerberg emphasized Meta's commitment to launch a high-end VR headset codenamed Project Cambria in 2022. Cambria not only supports VR but also mixed reality thanks to a high-resolution camera that can display video feeds on the internal screen.
After launching Cambria, Meta plans to launch two variants of the VR headset. The first variant is for general consumers, such as the Quest 2 headset that is currently available, and the second variant brings the latest technology for the needs of professionals.
In his presentation with Chief Scientist of Reality Labs Michael Abrash, Zuckerberg showcased five prototypes of the VR headset developed by Meta. First there is Butterscotch which can match the quality of the retina of the human eye.
Mark Zuckerberg Showcases Meta VR Headset Prototype Photo: Meta
This VR headset offers 2.5 times higher resolution than Quest 2 allowing users to read the bottom of the Snellen chart for an eye test. Zuckerberg says Butterscotch offers 55 pixels per field-of-view degree.
Second there is a prototype called Starburst whose design is much larger and impractical to be mounted on the head. This headset produces HDR lighting with brightness levels up to 20,000 nits.
Next up is the Holocake 2, which is designed as a slim and light VR headset. This headset relies on a holographic lens which is flatter than the curved lens used in the Quest 2.
Meta also showcased another prototype called Half Dome, which uses a varifocal lens that can help the user's eyes to focus better in VR, resulting in more comfortable eyes and clearer vision.
Finally there is a prototype called Mirror Lake which looks more like ski goggles than a VR device. This headset combines the thin optical capabilities of Holocake 2, the HDR capabilities of Starburst, and the high resolution of Butterscotch.
Mirror Lake will also have an external display that can display the user's eyes and facial expressions on the screen. Meta, through Reality Labs, actually showed off a prototype of this technology last year, but it looks like they still need a few years to make it happen.