Meta seems to be finally pitching big time with the next iteration of its Ray Ban Stories glasses, based on the latest leaks on new features of a long queue set to be rolled out for the device.

According to a new report by Lowpass, the next version of Meta's camera-lens glasses will be able to let a user stream video directly to Facebook and/or Instagram. It'll also boast a feature to enable viewers speak to you as you stream.
According to Lowpass:

"Live streamers will be able to have a direct conversation with their audience, as the glasses will let comments come through over the built-in headphones. Meta has leaned on Instagram influencers in the past for Ray-Ban Stories, and that's going to be pretty interesting for that crowd."

Indeed, many streamers now roam the streets with a phone on a hand-held gimbal, and comments coming through a device speaker. Streamers are motivated to engage comments because viewers can tip to have an automated voice read their comments aloud; this again facilitates a reply.

This can be problematic in public situations, though, as viewers can pay to have outlandish and sometimes offending remarks read aloud. But if streamers could maintain that interaction, and its related revenue stream, in a private speaker while also remaining able to interact with the world around them, that could be a huge draw for streaming stars.

And more and more, others want to be streamers, emulating their favorite web celebrities, amassing large followings and real income through live broadcasts. The type of content this leads to is being consumed increasingly by younger audiences, which will increasingly yearn to try doing it themselves-this may be an important application for Meta's smart glasses, if indeed it can make such a process possible.

Which appears entirely possible. This generation of Ray Ban Stories already lets users record video and listen to music/answer calls off the device, so streaming seems the almost inevitable step. Technically, this will demand some serious advancement, given the higher demands of continuous video, but this might be the thing that ultimately sells lots more units, and drives continued usage, which has been a major failing of the first version of the device.

According to recent reports, over 90% of users who were part of the first wave of Ray Ban Stories stopped using it. Overall sales have also been much lower than what Meta had anticipated.
The device is apparently a kind of a precursor for the full-feed AR glasses that Meta is still in development, and Meta aims to create a production pipeline that expands into this next stage eventually.

In itself, Ray Ban Stories might have had more applied use, and this new application of direct streaming may be the big pathway, if Meta can get it right.

Meta's also working on improved privacy tools, as well as adaptive volume elements to improve the audio experience.

The updates may not make the next iteration of camera-equipped glasses a product for the masses, as such, but simplified content creation, by direct broadcast streaming and private comments, could be a very worthwhile pathway to increase adoption.