Meta has announced a developer preview of the Meta Wearables Device Access Toolkit, which will be made available later this year. The toolkit lets developers create apps to work with Meta's smart glasses.  

Announcing the preview on the Meta developers' blog, the company said that its Ray-Ban Meta glasses have achieved millions in sales worldwide. The glasses incorporate open-ear speakers, hands-free camera capture and on-the-go AI assistant. 

Meta says the first version of the toolkit has access to the on-device sensors, including the camera, open-ear audio and mic access. This will let developers design POV experiences by using the camera that captures the user's viewpoint. The toolkit can also be used for hands-free information retrieval and communication.

The FAQ says:

"Initially, you will have camera access via the toolkit, and you can access the microphone and speakers on our AI glasses via iOS/Android Bluetooth profiles."

The glasses let wearers send text and voice messages hands free, answer and make phone calls, and ask for information using 'Hey Meta' to get recommendations, translations, get and set reminders, and more generally ask for information. The glasses also come with an ultra HD high definition camera built-in and bluetooth speakers. 

During the preview, developers will be able to access the toolkit, build prototypes, test sensor-based experiences, and distribute to testers using Meta's beta testing platform in the Wearables Developer Center. Publishing will be available to limited audiences in the preview phase. The preview toolkit comes with pre-built libraries and sample apps, as well as detailed technical specifications and documentation of the features of the Meta Wearables Device Access Toolkit. 

Meta is also providing testing tools and environments during the preview. The blog post says this should help test applications in a controlled and isolated setting, identifying and resolving any potential issues before general availability. Meta says this should contribute to a smoother launch for your products and an optimal user experience; presumably it will also iron out some of the glitches from Meta's side too.

The AI capabilities of the glasses, including voice commands, isn't part of the initial developer preview, but is described as a key area Meta is exploring for future updates. Access to display capability is also currently out of scope for the preview release. Developers will still be able to access the camera sensors of Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses via the Meta Wearables Device Access Toolkit and access the audio and mic via Bluetooth.

While there have been a number of attempts to get people interested in smart glasses, Meta seems to be doing well on getting other organizations to work with them on third party apps. The developers of the 18Birdies golf app say using the glasses with the app will provide real-time yardages, club recommendations, and seamless social capture for golfers. Meta says Disney's Imagineering R&D team is working on early prototypes to see how AI glasses could help give guests access to tips while in their parks, and streaming services like Twitch will enable creators to livestream straight from their glasses. 

There's a waiting list for developers interested in trying the new toolkit.  

More Information

Meta Smart Glasses Toolkit Waiting List

Meta AI Glasses Website

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