Here are some of the top technology inventions and innovations for augmented and virtual reality in 2022:
• Meta (formerly Facebook) announced Project Cambria, a high-end VR headset slated for release in 2022. It will feature mixed reality capabilities, eye tracking, face tracking and higher resolution displays.
• Apple is rumored to be working on multiple AR/VR headset and glasses products, though no releases are expected until 2023 at the earliest.
• Varjo launched the XR-3, a high-end VR headset with super high resolution displays for industrial and enterprise use cases.
• Microsoft unveiled the HoloLens 2 Enterprise Edition, targeting business customers with features for remote assistance, layout and design, and education.
• Niantic released the first developer kit for light-weighted AR glasses, as the company works to enable the next generation of augmented reality experiences.
• Several companies showcased prototypes of AR contact lenses and glasses, including Mojo Vision, Innovega and EyeView Digital. However, consumer products remain years away.
• Spatial released WebXR, enabling AR experiences to run within a web browser for the first time on AR headsets. This could lower the barrier to creating AR content.
• Unity acquired Ziva Dynamics, expanding its tools for creating realistic virtual humans in real time for VR, AR, and the metaverse.
• AI-generated 3D avatars advanced, pushing the frontier for realistic virtual representations of humans in digital worlds.
While most of the innovation in 2022 centered around enterprise applications of VR and AR, there were developments that lay the groundwork for the future of consumer AR glasses and the broader metaverse. Resolution, field of view, miniaturization and AI will continue to be the main drivers of progress going forward.
