At the 2024 connect Meta unveiled Orion – an Augmented Reality glasses prototype that includes a Neural Wristband.
The wristband is used to control the OS and is powered by EMG – it represents the product of the work started by the CTRL-labs startup and carried on by the team at meta over the past 5+ years, during which time I was teach-lead for ML infrastructure. It’s super exciting to see this technology I was a part of being shared with the world, and hopefully in products soon!
From The Verge – “It’s truly one of the most magical experiences I’ve had with a piece of new technology”
Update: Meta Neural Band Ships Publicly
In September 2025, Meta announced the Meta Neural Band — a consumer EMG wristband shipping as part of the Meta Ray-Ban Display bundle at $799. The wristband became available in US stores on September 30, 2025, at Best Buy, LensCrafters, Sunglass Hut, and Ray-Ban stores.
The Neural Band reads subtle finger movements via surface EMG and translates them into commands for the glasses. It represents the culmination of the work started at CTRL-Labs and carried on by the team at Meta over 6+ years, with nearly 200,000 research participants.
At CES 2026, Meta demonstrated expanded uses for the EMG wristband beyond glasses, including a Garmin automotive proof of concept and accessibility research with the University of Utah.