Meta’s decision to no longer require a Facebook login for a virtual reality headset is the first step to enable companies to create a work account for the device.
Starting in August, the company will no longer need a Facebook account to use its VR hardware. Conversely, people will create a new profile, called a meta account, it is not connected to their social media.
Next year, Meta plans to enable companies to create business meta accounts for workers, manage VR headsets and provide single entry for employees. Meta does not provide further details about this ability.
Facebook login requirements have triggered complaints and concerns of privacy, making several organizations find solutions. Stanford University uses a meta headset in his course at VR, said Jeremy Bailenson, Founder Director of the Virtual Human Interaction Lab Institution. To ensure student privacy, the lab must find the help of meta in creating an anonymous accounts for class use.
“[I] are happy to see the separation of hardware from social media,” Bailenson said.
The Osso VR training company offers simulation operations to teach surgery techniques to doctors. Many medical schools and health care companies use Meta Quest 2 headsets to access the Osso training program because the price label is $ 299 devices and high immersion levels, said CEO Justin Barad.
However, trainees must enter with their social media accounts before entering the Osso platform, the requirements that seem unnecessary.
“[This] must be seen as a suboptimal system,” Barad said. “It feels cut off from the existing use case.”
This new change must increase the possibility of health care companies using Quest 2 for training, said Barad.
Next month, people who use the meta headset must create a meta account and adjust the appearance of the avatar and their profile name.
Meta has an initial advantage in the VR headset market. Quest 2 companies contributed 90% of headset sales in the first quarter of this year, according to IDC. Device sales far exceed the pico headset second place second place, which holds 4.5% of the market.
However, Meta faces fierce competition for Augmented Reality (AR) and VR customers. Hololens 2 Ar Microsoft $ 3,500 headset has a foothold in the company’s market because features such as managing access to data through Azure Active Directory Microsoft. Microsoft also plans to acquire Blizzard Activision, bringing the company’s expertise in developing the virtual world to play games to Microsoft’s AR and VR products in the future.
Apple’s rival plans to release a VR or AR headset next year, according to Bloomberg. The company has not openly announced the device.
Mike Gleason is a reporter who includes integrated communication and collaboration tools. He previously covered the community in the Metrowst Massachusetts region for Milford Daily News, Walpole Times, Sharon Advocate and Medfield Press. He also worked for newspapers in Central Massachusetts and Southwest Vermont and served as local editors for the patch. He can be found on Twitter at @mgleason_tt.