What’s Missing From Meta Pro? Handtracking
If you have ever worn an Oculus Pro (or any of the VR glasses), it probably didn’t take you much time to try to “grab” something in the virtual world. Seems so obvious, right? The feature is called handtracking: the ability to track the movement of the hands and fingers in AR technology. It is currently the missing thing in all next-gen glasses and a key boundary to overcome in the close future. A future that might already be here.
Meta Pro — a device unlike any other?
Meta has released a tool for developers in the professional product category. The device definitely leaves the gaming industry behind. Its most important feature is the passthrough function (which is nothing but augmented reality technology), however, it also attracts content that supports wider use — for example, shopping or marketing. Immersive product experience is the future — but that future should include functions the VR glasses up to now were unable to deliver, like handtracking technology.
“To support the immersive experience, it is essential that the user is as involved as possible and enjoy the user journey” — says Udeme Etentuk, CEO/Founder of AR Analytics, a startup focusing on the development of data and research-based AR tools and platforms. “If users have the opportunity to use their hands, they will involuntarily initiate an interaction with the immersive content. To be able to touch, rotate and examine the virtual objects are key to this experience.”
Handtracking challenges
The technology itself is still in the early stages of development, and it’s not yet clear when or if it will be widely adopted as there are a number of technical challenges involved. The technology requires high-quality cameras and sensors to accurately track hand movements. Also, sophisticated software algorithms are needed to process and interpret the data. But all big tech companies work to overcome these issues.
At the time of writing (that is, 22/2,2023), Mark Zuckerberg has just released a short video on Instagram, featuring handtracking. Many say the showoff was aimed to get ahead of Apple’s game on the field. The upcoming Apple VR glass, Reality One is rumoured to have no controller, advanced passthrough, an amazing display and high-end design (of course) — and, obviously, accurate hand tracking.
What we do
“We at AR Analytics currently focus on the fashion and the creative industry with our technology. While the AR technology is still in the early stages of development, it has the potential to revolutionize the fashion industry by creating more interactive and immersive experiences for customers” — added Udeme Etentuk. “That is why every deep-tech company is looking towards virtual reality solutions and its main challenges, passthrough and handtracking.”
Handtracking has the potential to be a game-changer for the fashion industry where there are several possible applications of the technology. It could be used in virtual fitting rooms, allowing customers to virtually try on clothes and accessories using their hands to manipulate the digital garments.
The technology could provide a more immersive and interactive shopping experience and could be especially useful for online shopping and retail. Personalized shopping could also include the ability to virtually mix and match different outfits or accessories using hand gestures.
Another potential use of handtracking in fashion is the creation of interactive fashion shows or product launches. Designers can create interactive displays or installations that allow attendees to engage with the event in new and innovative ways. (Read more about digital solutions in fashion in our previous article.)
So what AR Analytics does compared to Meta, Apple and others? Exactly this:
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