Social media giant Facebook has launched its smart glasses in collaboration with EssilorLuxottica’s Ray-Ban brand.
Facebook explained that Ray-Ban Stories were smart glasses that would allow wearers to capture photos and videos, listen to music, make phone calls and share updates to the social media platform. The price has been set at $299 and the frames have been made available in 20 different styles online and in select retail locations.
The release of Ray-Ban Stories represented the first product launch to come from Facebook’s multi-year partnership with eyewear giant EssilorLuxottica.
A Facebook statement said the frames featured dual integrated five-megapixel cameras with Facebook Assistant voice commands that were also capable of recording 30 second videos. Open-ear speakers and a three-microphone audio array have also been built in for voice-call functionality.
Privacy concerns have been considered, with photo capture or video recording activating a hardwired-LED light to inform others when they are being recorded. Facebook has also published a responsible wear guide for wearers that recommends turning the frames off in private places and respecting people’s preferences on being recorded.
Facebook has created a dedicated app, Facebook View, to pair with the frames that it said allowed ‘seamless’ sharing of customers’ ‘point of view’ with friends and social media followers.