Is this the dawn of a new reality?
Meta's Orion; stepping into the looking glass & future of wearables.
Imagine waking up, slipping on a pair of glasses, and watching the world transform into an augmented reality world. Street signs bloom with interactive directions, your refrigerator suggests recipes based on its contents, and distant friends appear as holograms in your living room, sharing a laugh as if they were right beside you. This isn't a scene from sci-fi—it's a new tech that Meta is teasing, unveiling Orion, their groundbreaking augmented reality glasses which are currently in development, a few years out from reaching us en mass….
“Orion bridges the physical and virtual worlds, putting people at the center so they can be more present, connected and empowered in the world."
Virtual and augmented reality, the Metaverse, this is Zucks big vision, investing tens of BILLIONS developing this stuff… He couldn’t contain his excitement as he shared their news…
"These are the first glasses that can deliver a deep sense of presence, and I think that this is gonna be the next major computing platform." Zuck
As Orion aims to blur the line between our physical world and the digital realm, offering a seamless blend, that honestly feels both thrilling and, as well, a little unsettling…! Orion has transparent lenses and no wires, it really is quite something. See for yourself, with Zuck here…
As we stand on the threshold of a new frontier in digital communication, I find myself thinking about whats flowing beneath the surface of this for us all… If, or when we embrace these possible new technological marvels that will be coming our way... Orion could send waves through the very fabric of our daily lives—it's worth considering where those waves might carry us to…
What are we gazing into?
Our eyes are a gateway to how we perceive reality. With Orion projecting holographic images directly into our line of sight, we're entering uncharted territory for visual engagement. Prolonged exposure to screens has long been associated with digital eye strain, headaches, and disrupted sleep patterns. Could the constant overlay of augmented reality intensify these issues? While the desire for a boundless digital landscape is strong, we must ask ourselves what effect it might have on our vision and health.
Navigating our neural pathways…
Our brains are incredible, adaptable organs, but they thrive on balance and periods of rest. Introducing a perpetual stream of digital stimuli could impact our minds in ways we don't yet fully understand. Studies have suggested that excessive screen time can affect attention spans and even alter neural pathways. With Orion's immersive experience, are we risking overloading our nervous systems, potentially leading to increased anxiety or decreased ability to focus on the true wonders of the natural world around us?
Threads of connection… Weaving with the ethical considerations…
There's a delicate weaving that makes up our social interactions and personal privacy. Orion's ability to integrate contextual AI means it doesn't just respond to our commands—it anticipates our needs by sensing our environment. With this convenience comes some Inner Unicorn Questions… 🦄
Who has access to this data?
How is our information being used, and can it be exploited?
In a world where every glance and gesture could be monitored, the fabric of our privacy may fray even further..
Also, think about this for a moment… As we become more engrossed in personalised digital experiences, will we risk unraveling the threads that connect us to one another even more, especially when sharing physical space together?
Think about two (or more) people sat at a dinner table looking at their phones, now what happens with us all wearing these? Or on the train, bus, in line for the post office. Will we ever make eye contact with strangers again?
Will we be so present in the augmented world (NB. quote:"These are the first glasses that can deliver a deep sense of presence…” ) that we will be even more distracted in our physical spaces? What boundaries around our device use would we need to have then??
Will shared moments lose their authenticity if filtered through an augmented lens? Or will digital augmentation with our loved ones and coworkers that live far away - bring us closer together?
I HAVE ALL THE QUESTIONS… tell me some of yours! I’d love to hear your instinctual response to this technology.
I meannnn, I know I’d love to see my besties who live overseas or just across the country sometimes (not all the time, as I still love an old school phone call) as holograms projecting into my room!! It does sound/ feel pretty cool doesn't it?!
Crossing the Bridge… More Questions We Need to Ask 🦄
Orion represents a bridge to a new realm of possibilities—a place where some of the limitations of physical reality melt away along with our mobile handheld devices…. Before we step onto this bridge, I believe it's crucial for us to look down and to see what's flowing beneath…
What are the long-term effects of immersing ourselves in augmented reality on our physical health, particularly our eyes and brains?
How might continuous digital stimulation impact our mental well-being and neurological functions?
In embracing this technology, are we prepared to safeguard our privacy and navigate the ethical complexities it introduces?
How will the integration of AR glasses reshape our social landscapes and the way we connect with others, including nature / the earth?
Innovation calls us forward, but wisdom urges us to pause.
I have been getting the message a lot this past week that we are ‘the future ancestors’… I took part in an amazing equinox workshop in Glastonbury with the wonderful ladies of
who helped this to come through… Do check them out as it was pure magic and woke me up to more of mine.Please, as we peer into this new looking glass, let's ensure we're not only captivated by the incredible possibilities of this new tech, coupled with Ai, its gonna be wild… So we must also be mindful of the distortions that might accompany it.
I do not believe in shying away from progress and I trust in change, but as we will step into it, as it comes for us and at us, in this new aquarian age, as we do so, lets do so with our eyes wide open, our hearts attuned, and the BIG questions at the ready.
After all, the future isn't just something that happens to us—it's something we shape with every choice we make today.
WE ARE THE FUTURE ANCESTORS.
Let’s be thinking seven generations ahead like our ancestors once did.✨
Oh my goodness, so many questions too! The quote you mentioned about these being "the first glasses that can deliver a deep sense of presence" makes me uncomfortable if I'm honest, but then is that because I just don't fully understand it? I definitely worry about a lot of the things you've mentioned here... And yet I see the benefits that all of the new technology could offer us too.
I wonder what the inner unicorns of Zuck et al are saying about all this? I'd be fascinated to know!!
And finally, thank you so much - both for the mention of Project Earthwork and for joining us last weekend. It was an absolute joy to finally meet you in person, and an honour to share space with you xx
I think this will follow a familiar cycle - people will get onto the bandwagon, love it for a few years, then start to realize its not all the Zuck said it would be. Then wait for another company to create something else to love and then hate.
I'll skip this. From a financial perspective living in a developing country most businesses here are there to exploit the consumer. This technology will create more divides than the bonds it wishes to strengthen.