Meta Expands Ray-Ban Smart Glasses Capabilities with Hand Gesture Messaging and New Features

Meta has unveiled an expanded feature set for its Ray-Ban Display smart glasses, bringing gesture-based text input to all users alongside new capabilities for video recording, real-time translation, and broader application compatibility.

The centerpiece of the update is the ability to compose messages using hand movements alone, eliminating the need to physically interact with a smartphone. The technology operates through a neural bracelet paired with the glasses, which detects hand and finger gestures and converts them into text commands. This functionality extends across WhatsApp, Messenger, and Instagram, as well as other messaging platforms available on both Android and iOS devices.

While Meta initially showcased this technology during the glasses' announcement, it did not reach users at launch. The company began piloting the feature in limited form last January, focusing on WhatsApp and Messenger users.

A second major addition is the "Display Recording" feature, which captures video that merges the on-screen lens display with the wearer's real-world view, complete with ambient audio. This hybrid approach combines augmented reality elements with conventional video content.

On the navigation front, Meta has expanded its live walking directions feature to cover the entire United States territory and major global destinations including London, Paris, and Rome.

The company has also integrated instant text translation into WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger, while adding voice message translation capabilities to private conversations on Instagram.

To support developer innovation, Meta has opened a preview program for smart glasses application development and enabled direct web application creation, establishing the groundwork for a more expansive ecosystem of applications designed specifically for the device.