Meta could make a big presentation to live streamers with the next iteration of its Ray Ban Stories eyewear, based on the latest rumors about new features that will be added to the device.
According to a new report from Lowpass, the next iteration of the camera-equipped Meta glasses will allow wearers to do just that stream video directly to Facebook and/or Instagram, including features to let viewers talk to you while streaming.
Second Passabasso:
“Live streamers will be able to communicate directly with their audience, with the glasses delivering audio commentary via built-in headphones. Meta has used Instagram influencers in the past to promote Ray-Ban Stories, and this new feature could be a major attraction for that audience.”
In fact, many streamers now roam the streets with their phone on a handheld gimbal, and the comments come through the device’s speaker. Streamers are incentivized to engage with comments, because users can donate money to have their comments read by an automated voice, increasing the likelihood of a response.
In public situations, however, this can be problematic, because viewers may pay to read outlandish and often offensive comments aloud. But if streamers could maintain that interaction, and associated revenue stream, via a private speaker, while still being able to engage with the world around them, that could be a major draw for streaming stars.
And more and more people are looking to become streamers, following the example of their favorite web celebrities, who are amassing large followings and real-life income through their live broadcasts. Young people growing up consuming this content will increasingly want to try it themselves, which could make it a key application for Meta’s smart glasses, if indeed it can enable such a process.
Which seems entirely possible. The current version of Ray Ban Stories already allows users to capture video and listen to music/answer calls via the device, so extending it to streaming seems like an almost logical step. Technically, this will require significant development given the more advanced requirements of continuous video, but it could be the thing that will end up displacing many more drives and drive their continued use, which was a major failing of the first version of the device.
Recent reports suggest that ov90% of Ray Ban Stories first wave users stopped using themwhile overall sales were significantly lower than Meta had expected.
The device is ostensibly the precursor to Meta’s full-feed AR glasses, which are still in development, with Meta looking to establish a production pipeline that will eventually expand into the next stage.
But Ray Ban Stories, by itself, could have broadened the use, and this new application, for direct streaming, could prove to be a significant path, if Meta can get it right.
Meta is also working on improved privacy tools, as well as adaptive volume elements to enhance the audio experience.
The updates may not make the next phase of camera eyewear a must-have for the majority, as such, but streamlined content creation, via live broadcast streaming and private commentary, could be a valuable path to greater adoption.
