US agency on Meta's next smart glasses that may have a display: 'This model will enable…'

Facebook-parent Meta is reportedly planning to announce its next smart glasses at its upcoming annual Connect developer conference. A report citing sources familiar with the company's plans claims that the tech giant is expected to introduce its first-ever consumer-ready glasses with a display, as well as a wristband that will allow users to control the glasses with hand gestures. According to a letter found by CNBC, that was sent by the US Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) to a lawyer representing Meta in July, explained that the rumoured smart glasses will allow users to capture and share media, make calls, exchange messages, play audio and interact with an AI assistant through voice, display, or manual input.. However, the report claims that the letter withheld the company and product names. The report claims that a source familiar with the matter has confirmed that it referred to Meta’s rumoured Hypernova glasses .


What US Customs and Border Patrol said about Meta’s next smart glasses

“This model will enable the user to take and share photos and videos, make phone calls and video calls, send and receive messages, listen to audio playback and interact with an AI assistant in different forms and methods, including voice, display, and manual interactions,” CBP wrote in the letter.

The report also noted that the CBP letter was part of standard correspondence between companies and the US government to determine a consumer product’s country of origin. It describes the item as “New Smart Glasses” with a lens display that lets users interact with visual content from its smart features, along with components for retrieving, processing, and rendering image data.

Meta’s Hypernova glasses are also expected to come bundled with a wristband powered by technology from CTRL Labs, the neural tech startup Meta acquired in 2019. CTRL Labs focuses on developing systems that let users control devices through arm gestures.

The wristband is seen as an essential input tool for Meta’s future AR glasses, and data collected through Hypernova could help refine it. Unlike Apple’s Vision Pro, which relies on camera-based motion tracking, Meta’s wristband may use sEMG sensors to detect and interpret electrical signals from hand movements, the report notes.

However, development has faced hurdles. Performance can be affected if the wristband is worn too loosely, and testing has revealed challenges depending on which arm it’s used on, differences between men and women, and usage with long sleeves, the report added.

These two new devices are expected to be the highlight of Meta Connect, which is set to take place next month. This two-day conference for developers is focused on virtual and augmented reality. The conference, formerly known as Oculus Connect, was renamed in 2021 after Facebook's parent company rebranded to Meta.