From afar you can see the sky-colored glasses of Meta's laboratory. The view is impressive when a green environment embraces the enormous structure that receives hundreds of fans and those curious about new technologies. Now it can be said that the metaverse has a home and it is called Meta Reality Labs.

In the same place we can not only find the innovation laboratory but also the place that acts as an official showcase to market products related to virtual and augmented reality. The current basics and the latest launches find a place within each of the shelves that give life to the first Meta store.

Mark Zuckerberg's company knew how to get the most out of its rebranding process - it went from being called Facebook to Meta in 2021 - and began working on what would be called one of the many cutting-edge technologies that are being developed: virtual reality and augmented reality. What is each one about and how are they different? Here we go.

Regarding virtual reality or VR, we can begin by saying that it refers to that technology that allows users to completely immerse themselves in a virtual universe, achieving the simulation of a complete sensory experience. This experience is carried out within an environment parallel to reality with the help of special helmets or lenses -known as VR glasses-. 

While augmented reality or AR does not imply total immersion as in the previous case, it offers the possibility of acting as a complement to the real environment through digital elements. Technologies like these are what help you see how a piece of furniture would look in your living room before buying it, for example. In this case, special glasses are not necessary, but it is useful to know that both technologies can be perfectly combined and enhanced to achieve high-level simulations.

The Metaverse Laboratory

When we talk about Meta Reality Labs we are referring to one of the business units of Meta Platforms that is exclusively dedicated to the development of virtual reality and augmented reality hardware and software. Among them, the products known as Quest and Quest 2 are a faithful example of the innovation work that the team of experts has been carrying out for several years.

The work team is made up of developers, researchers, engineers and designers, all willing to pursue a common goal.

The innovation culture of this laboratory contains distinguishable elements such as unlimited human potential, connection, connectivity and inclusion. In it, we worked hard to make technology the glue that unites people, beyond physical and temporal distance.

As a result of the event known as Cambridge Analytica, one of the first points worked on in the Meta Reality Labs Principles of Responsible Innovation manual has to do with privacy during product testing. As a decalogue, the laboratory's official website lists a series of guidelines that highlight the guarantee of privacy offered by this task. 

One of the lines to highlight summarizes that testers must agree to operational guidelines and that, for example, these people should not use the devices in areas where privacy is expected, such as bathrooms, places of worship or doctors' offices.

The official Meta store

As part of the creative and development process, from Meta the proposal is clear as day: place the user and their experience at the center of attention. Here the client is seen as a precious rose that deserves all the attention, because Meta is no longer only interested in marketing its creations but also in consumers being able to corroborate the quality and performance at both the software and hardware levels. As part of a commercial strategy, having a physical store a few meters from the workplace will help Meta to fully understand and know the needs and requirements of its main recipients.

This is how in a space of approximately 500 square meters, the first official Meta location is located - on its own Silicon Valley campus - in which all types of tech products such as VR headsets, virtual reality viewers and smart glasses in collaboration with Ray Ban - allowing you to take photos and 30-second videos - are available to visitors.

In relation to how important the user experience is for Meta and its laboratory, it is worth highlighting that absolutely everything on this site fuels the exploratory behavior of users, so that they feel attracted to carry out tests while enjoying delving into the virtual universe. In fact, one of the most striking sectors of the store takes us to a curved LED screen - it extends over a large wall - that reflects the vision of whoever is testing the virtual reality viewer.

As a reason for a technical stop, the CEO and founder of Lab9, Alejandro Jatib, had the opportunity to learn about and live the Meta experience in first person. The success of the demonstrations was such that when he left the store, he chose to purchase the first model of the Quest virtual reality viewer. Guaranteed fun!

In line with these principles, visitors can learn about the company's latest release, Quest 2, with which they can enjoy video games such as Bear Saber, Golf Plus, Real VR Fishing and Supernatural.

As a plus, people can also visit Facebook's video chat devices called Portal, which allows you to chat with contacts on the social network and Messenger via video call and without having to use your hands - it achieved great relevance during the 2020 and 2021 pandemic.