Meta Introduces New Virtual Reality Headset
2022-10-14
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1Meta Platforms recently introduced a device that lets users combine the computer created world with the real one.
2Meta showed off its Quest Pro virtual and mixed reality headset at the company's yearly Connect conference on Tuesday.
3It is expected to be available in stores starting October 25 at a price of $1,500.
4The headset will offer consumers a way to interact with virtual images overlaid onto a full-color picture of the physical world around them.
5The new product is considered important for Meta's Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg.
6It also is the company's latest effort to enter the market for extended reality computing devices that cost a lot of money.
7Last year, Zuckerberg changed his company's name from Facebook to Meta.
8The aim was to show that the company was placing its attention on what it calls the metaverse.
9The metaverse is a computing experience where users share an immersive environment on computers.
10Zuckerberg has spent billions of dollars on the project.
11Reality Labs, the Meta division responsible for building the metaverse, lost $10.2 billion in 2021 and has lost nearly $6 billion so far this year.
12Zuckerberg spoke at the launch event.
13He was recorded partially in video and partially as an avatar.
14He said he expects the mixing of the physical and digital worlds will create new uses for computing.
15"You're going to see entirely new categories of things being built," he said.
16The Quest Pro has several improvements over Meta's existing Quest 2 headset.
17The Quest 2 is a top selling headset in the consumer virtual reality market.
18The Quest Pro has cameras that capture a kind of 3D image of the physical environment around a user.
19This permits actions like placing a virtual painting on a real-world wall or having a virtual ball strike a real table.
20The Quest 2 offers a simpler version of this technology, called passthrough.
21The Quest Pro is lighter and thinner than earlier headsets.
22It has thin lenses and a battery that sits at the back.
23This helps balance the headset and reduce its weight.
24Meta has added tracking sensors to the Quest Pro that can copy users' eye movements and facial expressions, creating a sense that avatars are making eye contact.
25Meta says the Quest Pro can be a productivity tool that designers, architects and other creative professionals can use.
26In addition to offering its own Horizon social and workspace platforms, Meta has also made virtual versions of Microsoft products like Word, Outlook, and Teams available.
27Microsoft chief Satya Nadella joined Zuckerberg to announce the partnership.
28Matthew Ball writes about the metaverse.
29He said he thinks such partnerships are important because they suggested the companies believe that different systems should connect with each other.
30But he added that many people doubt that the different systems will be able to connect.
31He noted that Microsoft and Meta compete on several products related to extended reality.
32Days before its launch, Meta showed reporters the kind of users it wanted to appeal to.
33It showed apps like Tribe XR, a virtual training environment for DJs.
34Tribe XR is a program already available in virtual reality, but a demonstration showed how passthrough technology may give DJs a way to use the app to perform in the real world.
35With the new technology, they can look out past their virtual equipment and see real partygoers.
36Meta said it wants the device to be sold as an additional tool rather than as a replacement for the entry-level Quest 2, which costs $400.
37For now, Quest Pro does not have the complex programs linked to it.
38Observers say Meta might want its metaverse technology to support it.
39The company is still working on a mixed reality experience for its Horizon Workrooms app that would make a person's avatar appear to be present in a real-world conference room with other users, which Meta is calling Magic Rooms.
40The Quest Pro is less costly than existing business devices like Microsoft's HoloLens 2.
41It became available for business use in 2019 and is already present in operating rooms and in factories.
42The cost of a HoloLens 2 starts at about $3,500.
43I'm Andrew Smith. And I'm Caty Weaver.
1Meta Platforms recently introduced a device that lets users combine the computer created world with the real one. 2Meta showed off its Quest Pro virtual and mixed reality headset at the company's yearly Connect conference on Tuesday. It is expected to be available in stores starting October 25 at a price of $1,500. 3The headset will offer consumers a way to interact with virtual images overlaid onto a full-color picture of the physical world around them. 4The new product is considered important for Meta's Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg. It also is the company's latest effort to enter the market for extended reality computing devices that cost a lot of money. 5Last year, Zuckerberg changed his company's name from Facebook to Meta. The aim was to show that the company was placing its attention on what it calls the metaverse. The metaverse is a computing experience where users share an immersive environment on computers. 6Zuckerberg has spent billions of dollars on the project. Reality Labs, the Meta division responsible for building the metaverse, lost $10.2 billion in 2021 and has lost nearly $6 billion so far this year. 7Zuckerberg spoke at the launch event. He was recorded partially in video and partially as an avatar. He said he expects the mixing of the physical and digital worlds will create new uses for computing. 8"You're going to see entirely new categories of things being built," he said. 9The Quest Pro has several improvements over Meta's existing Quest 2 headset. The Quest 2 is a top selling headset in the consumer virtual reality market. 10The Quest Pro has cameras that capture a kind of 3D image of the physical environment around a user. This permits actions like placing a virtual painting on a real-world wall or having a virtual ball strike a real table. 11The Quest 2 offers a simpler version of this technology, called passthrough. 12The Quest Pro is lighter and thinner than earlier headsets. It has thin lenses and a battery that sits at the back. This helps balance the headset and reduce its weight. 13Meta has added tracking sensors to the Quest Pro that can copy users' eye movements and facial expressions, creating a sense that avatars are making eye contact. 14Meta says the Quest Pro can be a productivity tool that designers, architects and other creative professionals can use. 15In addition to offering its own Horizon social and workspace platforms, Meta has also made virtual versions of Microsoft products like Word, Outlook, and Teams available. Microsoft chief Satya Nadella joined Zuckerberg to announce the partnership. 16Matthew Ball writes about the metaverse. He said he thinks such partnerships are important because they suggested the companies believe that different systems should connect with each other. 17But he added that many people doubt that the different systems will be able to connect. He noted that Microsoft and Meta compete on several products related to extended reality. 18Days before its launch, Meta showed reporters the kind of users it wanted to appeal to. It showed apps like Tribe XR, a virtual training environment for DJs. 19Tribe XR is a program already available in virtual reality, but a demonstration showed how passthrough technology may give DJs a way to use the app to perform in the real world. With the new technology, they can look out past their virtual equipment and see real partygoers. 20Meta said it wants the device to be sold as an additional tool rather than as a replacement for the entry-level Quest 2, which costs $400. 21For now, Quest Pro does not have the complex programs linked to it. Observers say Meta might want its metaverse technology to support it. 22The company is still working on a mixed reality experience for its Horizon Workrooms app that would make a person's avatar appear to be present in a real-world conference room with other users, which Meta is calling Magic Rooms. 23The Quest Pro is less costly than existing business devices like Microsoft's HoloLens 2. It became available for business use in 2019 and is already present in operating rooms and in factories. 24The cost of a HoloLens 2 starts at about $3,500. 25I'm Andrew Smith. And I'm Caty Weaver. 26Katie Paul reported this story for Reuters. Andrew Smith adapted it for VOA Learning English. 27____________________________________________________________________ 28Words in This Story 29virtual -adj. an imitation of reality or something real 30headset -n. an electronic device worn on the head that plays pictures and sounds for the user 31overlaid -adj. added on top of something 32immersive -adj. surrounding something or someone and engaging all of a person's senses 33avatar -n. an virtual representation or substitute of a person or character 34category -n. a group of things that are similar in some way 353D (three dimensional) -adj. having, or appearing to have, width, height and length 36platforms -n. programs and equipment that connect and manage computer systems 37DJ (disc jockey) -n. (Abrev.) a person who plays and mixes recorded music at concerts or other live events 38_____________________________________________________________________ 39We want to hear from you. 40We have a new comment system. 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