DingTalk, a workplace application developed by Alibaba Group Holdings, plans to launch new augmented reality (AR) glasses that allow users to hold virtual meetings, in the technology giant’s latest move to file a claim in Metaverse.
Alibaba AR Glasses to Have an Automatic Optical Adjustment Function
According to State-run Beijing News report on January 6, Dingding President and Alibaba Vice President Ye Jun stated that AR glasses will have an automatic optical adjustment function that will save nearsighted people from wearing additional glasses.
Jun stated that the new headset enhances DingTalk’s previous AR products and makes the workspace more “immersive,” which is the platform’s way of evolving the metaverse. The official release date of the glasses is unclear.
Dingding partnered with Beijing-based AR startup Nreal to bring the first AR glasses to market in 2020. They introduced the DingTalk application and created a “virtual 3D meeting room” in which users can conduct conference calls using headsets. The product is priced at 13,999 yuan (US $2,202) at Dingding Taobao.
Last September, Nreal received a new round of funding from investors, including Yunfeng Capital from Alibaba founder Jack Ma and Weilai Capital from Chinese electric car maker Weilai.
Dingding had more than 500 million users as of October last year and is hoping to introduce real workplace activity to the metaverse through new gadgets.
Ye Jun Says That DingTalk is Connecting the Digital World and the Physical World
Jun stated that DingTalk is becoming the connection point between the digital world and the physical world, especially in work scenarios.
This move marks Alibaba’s latest move into Metaverse. Many people believe that Metaverse is the next iteration of the internet and a hot new concept in science and technology.
Last year, the e-commerce giant stepped up its investments in the AR industry and recent years has invested at least $1 billion in AR and VR-related startups, including American startup Magic Leap.
In addition to external collaborations and investments, Alibaba’s own technology institution Dharma Academy is also involved in this area.
His XR lab focuses on the research and development of AR and VR technology and has developed a system that can scan offline stores and create a virtual version that can be displayed on the mobile terminal, full product information and even virtual store owners can.
