FACEBOOK is teaming up with Ray-Ban to bring us its first pair of “smart glasses”.
CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced the collaboration at the virtual Facebook Connect event.
Facebook’s Project Aria research unit is currently working on augmented reality glasses.
However, the Ray-Ban offering will not have a display or have true AR capabilities.
This means they could be similar to Snap Spectacles, which are smart glasses that take photos and record videos.
Ray-Ban maker EssilorLuxottica will create the stylish frames for the glasses.
Andrew Bosworth, Facebook’s vice president of the Reality Labs division, said: “We’re passionate about exploring devices that can give people better ways to connect with those closest to them.
“Wearables have the potential to do that.
“With EssilorLuxottica we have an equally ambitious partner who’ll lend their expertise and world-class brand catalogue to the first truly fashionable smart glasses.”
Facebook Reality Labs VP, Hugo Barra, tweeted: “Beyond thrilled to finally share a sneak peek of our Facebook partnership with Ray-Ban!
“Our first smart glasses will launch next year, and that’s just the beginning… The future will be a classic and it’s coming in 2021.
“Our partnership came together over the last couple of years as I got to know Rocco Basilico, the GM of Ray-Ban.
“We’ve spent hours talking about the future, and how fashion & technology would join hands over the next decade to define the evolution of mobile computing.”
Here's what you need to know
In other news, videos of a top-secret virtual reality headset developed by Facebook have leaked online.
Facebook has been branded a “danger to public health” as a shock report reveals staggering failure to crack down on fake news.
And, Facebook’s messenger has started to merge with Instagram chat.
What are your thoughts on the Facebook and Ray-Ban collaboration? Let us know in the comments…
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