3D printing has become a popular form of making just about anything. From toys to houses and now even glasses. Luxexcel is a Dutch company producing prescription eyewear. However, the difference from normal eyewear brands is that Luxexcel uses 3d printing to create all their styles – something that caught the eye of Meta.
Techcrunch reported at the end of December that Meta has officially acquired Luxexcel. Though the company was 3D printing prescription glasses, Meta has much bigger plans for them now.
Even before official statements were made, the pair have been suspected of already working on an internal project, Project Aria. Though it wasn’t created for consumer use, the project was made public.
According to Meta “Project Aria is a research device that is worn like regular glasses and will help us build the software — including a live map of 3D spaces — and hardware necessary for future AR devices.”
The suspicion is that Meta has acquired Luxexcel to incorporate AR or augmented reality into prescription glasses – something that has not been done as of yet. The cost to produce anything via 3D printing, in the long run, is typically cheaper than the normal production of goods. This is why Meta acquiring Luxexcel makes sense.
Meta has quietly been merging with promising companies in order to expand its AR and VR divisions. It’s the next logical step for them considering how much money they have poured into the metaverse – they simply can’t allow it to completely flop. More than just the public has been concerned about the fast financial decline of Meta. Its investors are also worried about the VR and AR projects with the lack of revenue.
The merger with Luxexcel though successful is suggested to face backlash as Meta is still dealing with the fallout from trying to acquire Within a VR fitness company. The FTC (Federal Trade Commission) had blocked the deal and now Meta is currently facing an anti-trust court case. As the company continues to buy up VR and AR competition, there is an expectation for them to make the most out of it and have a successful release of an AR or VR product within the next few years.
A native New Englander who migrated to Austin on a whim, Stephanie Dominique is a freelance copywriter, novelist, and certificate enthusiast. When she's not getting howled at by two dachshunds or inhaling enough sugar to put a giant into shock, she is reading, cooking or writing about her passions.
