The functions of a smartphone at the end of the nose that a spy would not have denied. After Snapchat and its Spectacles or the audio specialist Bose and its Frames, the Meta group has teamed up with the Ray-Ban brand to produce a pair of smart Wayfarers. Beautifully finished and truly protective, this connected accessory incorporates three microphones and speakers in its branches that allow you to listen to music or make calls with the most correct sound quality. No bone conduction to diffuse the audio but mini-speakers which resonate well in peace but can also disturb your close entourage at full power.
They could be useful, for example, for listening to the radio or music on a bicycle by limiting the risk of accidents linked to the use of headphones but also the fine which sanctions, it must be remembered, the use of a headphones or wireless earphones on a two-wheeler.
A simple LED to signal the recording
Sold at 329 euros, these glasses connect to your smartphone and the dedicated application (iOS and Android) Facebook View. You will therefore need to have a Facebook or Instagram account in order to share the content produced on the fly. Because the most interesting part of the device is based on its ability to film in square format for 30 seconds or 60 seconds or take a photo. Just press a small button on the right branch to trigger shooting with two small 5 megapixel cameras. Footage is clean in all circumstances and the HD quality is equivalent to video shot with a mid-range smartphone.
A simple white LED then lights up to signal the recording. It becomes almost impossible for people around to realize that they are being filmed despite this small discreet and concealable point of light. The issues of consent and privacy then arise.
Regularly pinned down for breaches in the protection of personal data, the Meta group ventures into minefield with these glasses that collect sounds and images. “We have planned an information campaign and reminders to respect privacy during installation,” defends Hind Hobeika, head of augmented reality products at Meta. Mark Zuckerberg’s group puts forward safeguards such as stopping glasses that become simple sun protection once turned off. But also the impossibility of filming for more than a minute or of making video calls and live videos. The minimum service to ensure that innovative technology is not, like many inventions, hijacked by malevolent spirits.