Sunday Runday
On Android Central, Michael Hicks, Wearables Editor, discusses the intersection of wearables, apps, and health technology as he seeks to optimize his fitness and wellness journey.
The anticipation surrounding Meta’s latest collaboration with a popular artist, Join, was palpable among its devoted fan base. Despite this, its most market-appealing aspect has little to do with glasses themselves; instead, it’s the electromyography (EMG) band controller designed for monitoring neural signals that I predict will soon be prominently displayed on store shelves or in Quest packaging.
Meta’s Electromyography (EMG) technology is undeniably advanced, making it an ideal foundation for a flagship wearable device such as a Meta watch or tracker rather than just an accent. It’s widely acknowledged that Meta is actively monitoring its users’ activity.
The notion that Mark Zuckerberg’s announcement of Meta’s EMG band, which enables users to “ship a signal out of your mind to the gadget” via a “neural interface,” might evoke images of unsettling telepathic technology is understandable. In reality, the technology behind this innovation is relatively straightforward.
Currently, advanced smartwatches are capable of detecting various hand gestures, such as waving or forming a fist, through the integration of heart rate monitoring and accelerometer/gyroscopic technologies. VR headsets and AR glasses utilize computer vision to interpret pinch gestures for seamless hand-tracking controls. When both conditions are met, erroneous outputs arise from missed signals or incorrect assumptions.
The Electromyography (EMG) band eliminates intermediate visual or tactile barriers. Whenever you perform a pinching gesture, your brain dispatches a precise neural signal to your arm muscles, prompting them to execute the action. As the band senses a mere touch of your fingertips, it assumes you’re already applying gentle pressure, making errors in tracking virtually impossible; therefore, there’s no need to exaggerate or amplify the subtle movements.
During our hands-on demo of the Orion glasses, we found that they functioned seamlessly, effectively dispelling any notion that eye-tracking technology like EMG is merely a novelty. The brain’s intuitive signals are detected through subtle arm movements.
While Samsung and Apple enthusiastically employ gestures to render their smartwatches sleek and user-friendly, I confess that I rarely utilize them on mine due to the awkwardness of performing elaborate fist-or-wrist-shaking motions to dismiss calls or open apps, which can be overly finicky and frustrating to remember.
A Meta smartwatch equipped with innovative EMG (Electromyography) shortcuts could revolutionize the industry, rendering traditional watch manufacturers’ offerings seem outdated in comparison, while enabling users to access a broader range of intuitive commands that wouldn’t compromise their natural gestures or require awkward finger movements.
Such a wearable device could potentially incorporate various sensors, including electromyography capabilities as well? Given Facebook’s sprawling empire of digital platforms and apps, I’ve long expected them to venture into the realm of wearable technology. While Quest headsets can make educated estimates about the amount of energy expended based on head and arm movements, having accurate real-time heart rate data displayed directly in the headset during exercise routines would be truly remarkable? Would you consider that a potential factor in determining the game’s difficulty level?
The underlying issue, however, is that the query itself is a complex software program. Meta likely won’t prioritize a Pixel Watch with an iOS-compatible operating system, as they have a large following of iPhone users. Would a Meta wearable OS without critical cellular integration and third-party apps remain a feasible option in the market? Can it effectively align with various conventional wellness frameworks and health coaching programs to remain competitive in the saturated market?
Although I’ve received no response regarding these inquiries, I’m aware that Meta has intermittently explored smartwatch technology over the years.
Again in 2022, Meta . According to a Bloomberg report, this smartwatch boasted an impressive battery life of up to 18 hours per charge, featuring not one but two high-resolution cameras: a 5-megapixel lens mounted on the watch face and a 12-megapixel camera discreetly integrated into the underside, accessible by detaching the watch face.
The wearable device featured a range of connectivity options, including Wi-Fi, LTE, and GPS tracking, alongside everyday exercise monitoring, exercises, a photo gallery, heart rate monitoring, calendar, settings, and breathing controls. It came pre-loaded with popular Meta apps like Instagram and WhatsApp, and was priced at $349.
Meta reportedly scrapped the project due to issues with the electroencephalography technology, which failed to integrate seamlessly with the prototype’s design, specifically the underside camera that read nerve signals from the wrist.
In response to rumors and speculation about its future in the wearables market, Meta has reportedly begun working on two new smartwatch prototypes for release next year. By November 2022, the corporation had begun shedding approximately 11,000 employees.
Picture 1 of 3
Next year, we uncovered the truth after receiving a tip-off from Kamila Wojciechowski: Meta was reportedly leveraging Android software and a Qualcomm processor to further its ambitions. While the brand-new design featured refined sensor enhancements, it was disappointing to see that the removable watch face couldn’t store images to be taken later.
Following the initial announcement, Meta remained tight-lipped about its smartwatch plans, while Mark Zuckerberg touted the potential of the technology, claiming it could be “incorporated into a product within the next few years.”
However, last month, leaker Evan Blass publicly released an inventory of Meta Quest codenames, claiming one model could potentially be a watch, allegedly similar to a cancelled prototype dubbed Milan, whereas Vegas were rumored to represent two generations of budget-friendly Quest headsets – the Vega 1 and Vega 2 being rebranded variants of the 128GB and 256GB Meta Quest 3S, lending credibility to these claims.
Nick Sutrich inquired with the Meta Orion workforce regarding the feasibility of integrating EMG technology into a smartwatch design that emphasizes health-related features.
Currently, our primary objective is to leverage MEG’s capabilities in wearable technologies such as smart glasses and augmented reality devices; ultimately, this could prove to be a straightforward means of managing any device.
The prospect of an EMG-powered smartwatch is significantly diminished by this development. Between intervals, insiders reveal that Meta plans to actively promote the EMG band shortly, but initial focus will be on its new AR glasses prototype, dubbed Hypernova.
Notwithstanding Meta’s potential involvement in a novel smartwatch, I wouldn’t be surprised if the EMG band served as its differentiator, eclipsing camera capabilities that can’t deliver high-resolution, on-the-go photos comparable to those of any smartphone.
While the EMG band can function as a standalone controller for smart glasses, its true potential lies in pairing with watch technology to help Meta establish a comprehensive ecosystem of devices, much like other major tech companies have done.
