Meta 2

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Meta 2
Basic Info
VR/AR Virtual Reality
Type Head-mounted display
Platform Windows, Mac OS
Creator Meta
Developer Meta
Price $949.00
Website https://www.metavision.com
Requires PC
Predecessor Meta 1
Successor Meta 3
System
Storage
Display
Resolution 2560 x 1440
Refresh Rate 60 Hz
Image
Field of View 90-degree field of view
Optics
Tracking
Tracking 6DOF?
Rotational Tracking IMUs
Audio
Audio 4 speaker near-ear audio system
Camera 720p front-facing camera
Connectivity
Connectivity 9 foot cable for video, data, and power (HDMI Version 1.4b)
Device
Sensors Sensor array for hand interactions and positional tracking
Input Gesture
Cable Length 9 ft

Introduction

The Meta 2 Development Kit wants to capture the imagination of content creators, artists, and makers who want to change the world.[1] According to the official website, "the Meta 2 Development Kit offers the widest field of view, the most intuitive access to digital information and direct hand interaction with holograms." The kit is currently available as a pre-order for $949.00, supporting Unity, the most popular 3D engine in the world.

Features

The headset uses a unique neuroscience-driven interface to access, manipulate and share digital information easily and naturally. The company call this The Neural Path of Least Resistance. and they see it as a new zero-learning-curve approach to computing.[1]

"The Meta 2 sensor array makes positional tracking possible to see, grab and move holograms just like physical objects. You can also track objects, such as a pen or paint brush. Meta 2 provides a new kind of operating environment where you can arrange your holographic apps and objects. You can lay out your workspace and things stay exactly where you put them. You and a friend or colleague can even interact with the holograms simultaneously," states the company on their official website.[1]

The technology has still a long way to go before it can hit the mass market, however. "The sensors and tracking were shaky and didn't capture my hand movements completely. Still, demos of reaching out to pull a shoe from an Amazon webpage to see it in 3D right in front of me or moving videos around the room were impressive," writes Lily Prasuethsut for Wareable.com

Hardware

Unveiled at TEDx 2016 by Meta CEO Meron Gribetz, the Meta 2 VR headset features a full 90-degree field of view and 2560 x 1440 high-dpi display.[1] The see-through headset makes everything below the eyebrow-level transparent. allowing users to make eye contact with others. The headset itself is lightweight and designed to be as comfortable as possible.[2] Several tech reporters have commented on how well Meta 2 accommodates for people who wear glasses.[3]

As stated by Road to VR, Meta 2 is a tethered device which requires the horsepower of a computer to display everything it can.[4] This could prove to be a huge obsticle to success for the company as other VR leader are pushing for untethered solutions. This version of the Meta is tethered to a computer via a 9-foot cable, either HDMI 1.4b or DisplayPort. Eventually the headset will be a standalone device, but like competitors, the technology isn’t quite there at an affordable price.[5]

There’s also a 720p webcam on the front, allowing users to interact in augmented reality space with familiar control methods like a keyboard, or a Web browser.

Technical Specifications

Meta 2 Tech Specs

  • 2550x1440 resolution (60 Hz refresh rate)
  • Large field of view (90°)
  • Four speaker near-ear audio system
  • Nine-foot HDMI cable for video, data & power
  • 720p front-facing camera
  • Sensor array for hand interactions and positional tracking
  • Meta operating environment

Recommended PC Requirements

  • Graphics: NVIDIA GTX 960 / AMD R9 280
  • CPU: Intel Core i7 (desktop CPU)
  • Memory: 8GB RAM
  • Game Engine: 64-bit Unity 5.3x
  • Storage: 10GB
  • Video: HDMI 1.4b
  • Sound Card: Intel HD-compatible sound card
  • USB Ports: USB 3.0
  • OS: Windows 8.1 64-bit or newer

Software

The Meta 2 development kit includes SDK to build and share tools.[6] Apps built on the Meta 2 Development Kit will be in Unity 3D version 5 or higher. [7]

Apps

Customers can go do the Dev Center and scroll to the bottom of the page, where they will see all apps for Meta products available for download.[8] With Meta 2, users can run Windows applications. Mac support is planned for later this year, along with a steady stream of native holographic Meta apps in the months ahead.[1]

Developer

Developers can use the freely available SDK to build and share tools. The included Meta 2 SDK is built on top of the most popular 3D engine in the world. Unity® enables you to create holographic apps quickly and easily with Unity and C#. The SDK includes SLAM, hands interaction tracking, occlusion, collaboration, neurointerface design guidelines, example code, apps, documentation, and support. Join the largest community of AR developers in the world.[1]

Accessories

The Meta 2 development kit is designed to create holographic apps, tools, and experiences. Its open nature makes it possible to integrate with a wide range of accessories.

Background

Meta is a Silicon Valley company known for making augmented reality products. The company was founded in 2013 by Meron Gribetz, who was at the time studying neuroscience and computer science at Columbia University under tutelage of Steven Feiner.[9]

History

  • On May 17, 2013, Meta launched a crowdfunded Kickstarter campaign.[10]
  • In the Fall of 2013, Feiner joined as Lead Advisor.[11]
  • In 2014, Meta won best heads-up display award for the Meta Pro at the Consumer Electronics Show.[12]
  • In January 2015, Meta announced a $23 million Series A round.[13]
  • On February 17, 2016, Meta unveiled their second-generation product at TED.[14]
  • On June 13, 2016, Meta announced they had raised another $50M in venture funding.[15]

Videos

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 https://www.metavision.com/
  2. http://www.digitaltrends.com/virtual-reality/meta-2-ar-dev-kit/
  3. https://www.wareable.com/ar/meta-2-review
  4. http://www.roadtovr.com/meta-2-development-kit-hands-on-could-do-for-augmented-reality-what-oculus-rift-dk1-did-for-virtual-reality/
  5. http://www.digitaltrends.com/virtual-reality/meta-2-ar-dev-kit/
  6. https://buy.metavision.com/products/meta2
  7. https://www.metavision.com/faq#meta2-tech-questions
  8. https://www.metavision.com/faq#meta-apps-questions
  9. http://www.cnet.com/news/metas-spaceglasses-promise-mobile-augmented-reality/
  10. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/551975293/meta-the-most-advanced-augmented-reality-interface
  11. http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2013/07/29/change-agents-meron-gribetz-meta-3d-glasses/2579315/
  12. http://www.forbes.com/pictures/fdef45mdfe/meron-gribetz-28-2/
  13. http://blogs.wsj.com/venturecapital/2015/01/28/augmented-reality-headset-maker-meta-secures-23-million/
  14. http://uploadvr.com/meta-2-ar-glasses-ted/
  15. https://techcrunch.com/2016/06/13/meta-raises-another-50m-as-it-gears-up-for-the-next-version-of-its-ar-headset-and-china/