Meta recently unveiled the prototype of its first Orion holographic AR smart glasses. After trying them on, CNBC reporter remarked that the most impressive aspects of Meta's Orion augmented reality glasses are their lightweight and comfort rather than flashy computer graphics effects.

The Orion glasses are black and have a thick frame, equipped with a wireless 'disk' device that allows the device to run applications like holographic digital chess or ping pong, inserting these digital graphics into the real world.

This experimental eyewear is part of Meta CEO Zuckerberg's multi-billion-dollar plan to build the next generation of personal computing devices for the so-called metaverse. Although Orion cannot fully immerse users in the virtual world yet, it can overlay digital images onto the real world. Unlike bulky virtual reality headsets, CNBC reporter noted that wearing the Orion glasses is comfortable.

"When wearing these glasses, it feels no different from wearing a heavier pair of regular glasses, and they are not uncomfortable to wear."

Although the current Orion augmented reality glasses may look like movie props, the reporter believes that as technology advances, they will become more compact.

While wearing these augmented reality glasses, the reporter was able to see holographic icons of apps like Instagram, Facebook, as well as additional features like browsers and video games in a small office at Meta headquarters, seamlessly integrating these digital icons with her surrounding real environment.

For example, journalists can see these digitally overlaid icons on the real world, which is an improvement over the "perspective" technology currently used in virtual reality devices. Perspective technology uses external cameras on the headsets to display digital representations of the real world and blend them with computer graphics, presenting them to the user on the device screen.

In contrast, Orion overlays digital images in the real world through a more expensive method. The lenses of Orion are not made of traditional glass or plastics, but of silicon carbide. When the mini projector embedded in Orion's eyeglass arms projects a beam onto the silicon carbide lens, users can see "holographic images" in their field of view. Journalists said this experience "feels very natural".

When the holographic images are turned off, journalists said:

"It feels like wearing regular glasses or sunglasses, without any disturbance or discomfort."

Users can open, close, and scroll through these applications with a wristband. Journalists described this wristband as similar to the old lightweight Fitbit, and the finger movements and gestures accurately controlled these digital icons. "The wristband can sense your finger and hand movements, so your hand can be placed next to your body."

In a demonstration, Orion glasses can recognize a variety of ingredients scattered on the table, such as chia seeds, and project a suitable recipe, holographically displayed above the real ingredients.

An impressive demonstration for the journalist was when her friend called in a video call from another room, her friend's face could appear in holographic form in front of her, and the entire 3D video call experience was 'very clear'. The journalist also noticed that the resolution of the graphics would change based on her placement in the field of view. This shocked her, even to the point of questioning whether the producer could really see her (in fact, he could not).

'I can see him clearly, but he can't see me. However, I can hear him speaking, which feels like I'm talking to him using FaceTime, but in reality, he is inside my glasses.'