After a long wait, Meta has finally revealed the much anticipated Meta Quest Pro on the 11th of October 2022 during the Meta Connect 2022 Keynote. Previously known only as “Project Cambria”, this groundbreaking new VR headset is intended to be the first in a series of advanced high-end headsets released by Meta. Aimed mainly at virtual reality and augmented reality developers and creators for the purpose of connection and collaboration, the Meta Quest Pro is equipped with an astounding arsenal of highly advanced features.
Meta Quest Pro Features and Specifications
The combination of pancake optics and the curved battery at the back of the headset makes the Meta Quest Pro the lightest and most balanced of any of the Quest headsets by far.
Pancake lenses are a new type of optic that consists of multiple layers of lenses that bounce light off one another before eventually transmitting that light to the user. The compact nature of pancake optics not only allow the front of the headset to be 40% thinner than the Quest 2, but also generate much sharper graphics and a deeper range of colour.
The Quest pro also has the Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2+ CPU, which is ideal for virtual, augmented and mixed reality. It also features support for 8K 360° video footage and context-aware voice operated user interface. It will also be less likely to overheat, thanks to vastly improved thermal performance.
The only possible problem with Meta Quest Pro is its short battery life. Due to all of its highly advanced capabilities, it has a battery life of between 1 and 2 hours.
Another side effect of the Quest Pro’s cutting-edge technology is its steep price increase. Being mainly focused towards developers, creators and other professionals, the headset costs a staggering $1499. However, it has also been stated that the Quest Pro is not a direct continuation of the quest 2, and the quest 3, despite having no specific release date, will be significantly Less expensive.
The Meta Quest Pro what it means for the Metaverse
Avatars
The series of inward and outward facing sensors allow the headset to be capable of face and eye tracking. This means that avatars in the Metaverse will start behaving more naturally and realistically. This feature is ideal for any meeting or social gathering, as it will allow you, your friends and colleagues to appear to each other as if you are in the same room together, even though you can be in different parts of the world. Every small facial movement, like a smile or the raise of an eyebrow, will be scanned by the headset and translated to your avatar, making it move exactly like you would move in the real world.
The high fidelity, full-colour pass-through that Quest Pro is equipped with gives it the ability to offer one of the most realistic and immersive Augmented reality experiences by far. This lets the real world and the virtual world fade into one another like never before.
Meta’s goal to make software fade away for a fully immersive experience does not stop with augmented reality. The balanced design of the headset makes it more comfortable to wear for extended amounts of time. Additionally, the controllers sport a brand new ergonomic design. Additionally, the LED tracking rings from previous Quests have been replaced with built in tracking sensors, allowing the controllers to track themselves without assistance from the headset itself and making the controllers become a true extension of your hands with full 360° freedom of hand movement.
Meta’s development in the world of Virtual Reality and the Metaverse goes far beyond only the Meta Quest Pro. The research and development team at Meta are working on a variety of different types of technology, most notably a highly advanced user interface that uses electromyography to receive neural signals directly from the user’s wrists and use those signals as device input. This technology is scientifically known as co-adaptation.
Meta has also revealed further development in their effort to create photo-realistic avatars, also known as Codec avatars. The latest codec avatars are revealed to be much more expressive and capable of conveying realistic non-verbal cues such as squinting, widening the eyes, and scrunching the nose. They are also more realistic in terms of physical appearance, reacting to light in an incredibly natural way.
Meta is also working on making the process of creating these avatars faster and more accessible to the average user. While these “instant avatars” aren’t as detailed or advanced as Meta’s second-generation codec avatars, they could be easily created by scanning your face with a smartphone and making a series of facial expressions to let the avatar be capable of your range of facial movement.
While a lot of this technology is still in its early stages of development, it is certain that it will not only revolutionize humanity’s connection to the metaverse, but also our relationship with technology as a whole, as the lines between the digital world and the physical world are becoming increasingly more blurred.