Meta x Ray-Ban:
A Smart Display in Stylish Frames – Now with Garmin Tech Inside
Meta, in collaboration with Ray-Ban, is launching a new generation of smart glasses - priced around $800. But this time, they’re not going it alone: Garmin is also on board, bringing its expertise in sensor technology, location services, and real-time data into the mix.
At the end of this article, you’ll find a must-watch talk from Meta Connect 2025 where Mark Zuckerberg unveils the new Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses in a concise 12-minute presentation.
What makes these glasses stand out? They're not only stylish but also intelligently engineered. Key features include:
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Information directly in your field of view - no need to reach for your phone
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Real-time translation into nearly any language
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Gesture control via a neural wristband that reads your muscle signals
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Garmin-powered insights, such as enhanced navigation, activity tracking, or biometric data integration (depending on final implementation)
This kind of cross-brand collaboration signals a major leap forward - not just in hardware, but in ecosystem thinking. We're seeing the emergence of wearables that are not only interface devices but ambient UX platforms - bridging health, mobility, communication, and context-aware computing.
This new class of wearables might transform our relationship with digital interfaces in the same way the iPhone once did. Instead of staring at screens, we interact with information where it naturally fits: in the real-world context around us.
I've had the chance to test similar concepts—like Google Glass and a motorcycle helmet with a built-in HUD. Impressive at the time, but still very much experimental.
My first experience with HUDs was over 10 years ago, and I’ve written about them before—the potential was already exciting back then. Former Articles about HUD
Now, the technology finally feels ready for real-world impact.
Design Question: Will Smart Glasses Replace the Smartphone?
Will smart glasses eventually replace our phones - or simply complement them?
The benefits are clear: hands-free interaction, instant access to contextual data, and a UX that's intuitive and immersive.
But there are challenges, too:
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Long-term comfort: Glasses aren’t always ideal for all-day wear
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Visual visibility: Glasses are more noticeable than a subtle glance at a phone
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Social acceptance: Not everyone feels comfortable when someone is wearing a smart device on their face
What we may see is coexistence - much like laptops and tablets today. Or will smartphones fade into the background like the BlackBerry, which I still occasionally miss for its tactile keyboard?
UX Potential Across Medicine, Industry, and Retail
Some of the most promising use cases right now involve environments where contextual information and hands-free operation are critical.
Emergency Services & Healthcare
Smart glasses can significantly ease the cognitive load on emergency responders in high-pressure scenarios. Vital signs, medication info, and triage protocols can be displayed right in their field of view - no need to look away from the patient. In this context, UX isn’t just about efficiency - it’s about saving lives. The goal: the right data, at the right time, with zero friction.
Aviation & Maintenance
Whether in the cockpit or on the tarmac, smart glasses can display checklists, diagnostic data, or step-by-step procedures. This not only boosts safety but also reduces mental strain by keeping technicians in the workflow. The UX principle here is clear: reduce cognitive switching and maintain focus through situationally aware content.
Retail & Logistics
In retail environments, smart glasses can dramatically improve efficiency in inventory management and customer service. Associates get product details, stock levels, or even personalized customer data delivered in real time - AI-enhanced and context-aware. For UX designers, this means rethinking interaction patterns beyond touch and screens, into a fully ambient, assistive UX model.
Combined with artificial intelligence, these systems point to a new interface paradigm: adaptive experiences that respond to context, without requiring explicit user input - or even a traditional UI.
Throwback: My Early Hotel Concept Using Google Glass
Several years ago, I designed a smart glasses concept for the hospitality industry - using the first-generation Google Glass. The idea was a smarter concierge: real-time access to guest data, bookings, recommendations, and indoor navigation - all available without leaving the front desk. This kind of smart glasses solution was especially valuable for concierges when they weren’t stationed behind the front desk but instead greeting or assisting guests in the lobby or outside the hotel, enabling seamless, on-the-spot service.
At the time, the technology wasn’t quite there. Today, things are different.
Conclusion: The Interface of the Future Isn’t in Your Hand
What was once vision is now product reality. We’re at the beginning of an interface revolution - moving away from screens, toward immersive, context-sensitive UX experiences.
Whether it’s HUDs in vehicles, on motorcycle or industrial helmets, or mixed-reality glasses for everyday use, or even neural input - our points of interaction with technology are shifting.
As designers, our responsibility is to shape this new reality in a way that’s usable, inclusive, and human-centered.
What Do You Think?
Will smart glasses replace smartphones?
Are we ready for a new interface paradigm - or will mobile UX continue to dominate?
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