Ray-Ban Stories… New Smart Glasses from Facebook

Facebook has released its first pair of smart glasses in partnership with eyewear brand Ray-Ban; the new glasses are offering people who wear them the ability to capture photos and videos without even the need to use their phone.

Although there are similar smart glasses already in the market, such as Snapchat Spectacles; the new Facebook glasses, which are called Ray-Ban Stories allow people to capture and store up to 500 images and 35 videos to share them in seconds on social media platforms including Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, WhatsApp, Twitter, TikTok and Snapchat through Facebook View free to use the app.

Ray-Ban Stories come with two 5-megapixel cameras, three microphones, and built-in speakers to make calls and respond to your voice commands. Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg said that this device is presenting “a future where phones are no longer a central part of our lives”, saying that “glasses are going to be an important part of building the next computing platform”.

And if you're worried about being surreptitiously recorded, Facebook has announced that these glasses will create a dual-LED warning indicator on the camera, which will flash if you're recording a video or taking photos, to alert people near you.

Those stylish smart glasses will include all popular Ray-Ban designs such as Wayfarer, Round, and Meteor; they come with 6 different types of lenses, including prescription options; and they are also available in 5 different colors: Black Glitter, matte black, glossy blue, glossy olive, glossy brown.

All Ray-Ban Stories models come with a battery-powered charging case, which can last about 6 hours of use, according to Facebook. As far as the weight and comfort of the glasses, they’re only barely heavier than a traditional pair of Wayfarers. Many people found them to be comfortable, even more than a few pairs of regular sunglasses.

Ray-Ban Stories’ smart glasses and Facebook View are ads-free experiences, which means you won’t see any ads when using the glasses or app. They also announced that they won’t use the content of your photos and videos for personalized ads. However, the privacy terms of social media apps will be applied the moment you share Ray-Ban Stories content to any of them.

These new smart glasses only cost about $299 alone and $329 equipped with polarized lenses; although some people may find them expensive, they are considered a fun alternative to the GoPro camera for ordinary consumers. You can get your own Ray-Ban Stories now on the Ray-Ban website.

As we already know, smart glasses have always been a dangerous market. We have all witness Google Glass commercial failure due to privacy concerns. Especially after some bars in San Francisco reportedly banned anyone from wearing them, and some residents even reacted with violence.

However, we think Facebook wants to gradually normalize wearable surveillance technology, which many people currently have deep and understandable reservations about. Also, branding glasses with Ray-Ban make them look more stylish rather than just a high-tech smart glass, and the ability to share your captures to different social media platforms is pretty amazing.

So, who exactly is Facebook Ray-Ban Stories for? We are not sure exactly, to be honest. They are a fun gadget, that some people would feel comfortable about wearing every day in public without anybody noticing that they have cameras or high tech in them. However, we are all considered that these technologies will require intensive data capture and processing of our bodies, homes, and other intimate data, but, let’s all hope for the best this time!