[News] Meta & Stanford Showcase Prototype of Glasses-Sized Ultra-Thin XR Holographic Display

According to Road to VR, researchers from Meta Reality Labs and Stanford University, led by electrical engineering professor Gordon Wetzstein, have introduced a new holographic display that could enable virtual and mixed reality experiences in a form factor comparable to standard eyeglasses.

As noted in the report, a paper published in Nature Photonics outlines the prototype device, which combines ultra-thin custom waveguide holography with AI-powered algorithms to generate highly realistic 3D visuals.

Unlike traditional XR headsets that simulate depth using flat stereoscopic images, this system creates true holograms by reconstructing the full light field—resulting in more realistic and natural 3D visuals, according to the report.

The report also explains that while the device uses waveguides, its optics are not transparent like those in HoloLens 2 or Magic Leap One. For this reason, it is described as a mixed reality display rather than augmented reality.

Notably, the optical stack measures just 3 millimeters thick and incorporates a custom waveguide along with a Spatial Light Modulator (SLM), as highlighted in the report. The SLM modulates light at the pixel level to project “full-resolution holographic light field rendering” directly to the eye.

In addition, the system is designed to deliver immersive 3D visuals not only across a wide field of view (FOV) but also within a large eyebox, allowing users to shift their gaze or move their eyes without losing focus or image clarity, the report adds.

As further noted, this project is considered the second phase in an ongoing trilogy. Last year, Wetzstein’s lab unveiled the enabling waveguide technology. This year, the team has developed a working prototype. The final phase—a market-ready product—may still be several years away.

This development follows a recent unveiling by researchers at Meta’s Reality Labs, who introduced ultra-wide field-of-view VR and MR headsets that use novel optics to maintain a compact, goggle-style form factor. Unlike the current project, those headsets rely on “high-curvature reflective polarizers” rather than waveguides, the report notes.

(Photo credit: Meta)

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