Meta’s long XR innovation journey may have bumps in the road. Last month, the Seattle Department of Labor and Industries issued a citation to Meta’s Reality Labs division to highlight health and safety risks at the Matrix testing facility and said it would close the space until Meta meets its operating standards or if the Menlo Park-based company is able to do so. It is possible. Fight against your decisions. The department submitted revised filings last month to issue citations in 2022.
Meta is now responding to King County Superior Court seeking to vacate the order while maintaining Matrix facilities in compliance with all local health and safety standards.
The Seattle department issued its most recent citation in mid-December, and Meta plans to fight the filing in June.
The Reality Labs division is critical to Meta’s immersive roadmap. This space is where Meta conducts significant research and development on XR hardware and software, including its recently revealed secret smart glasses.
Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth The company noted that it is developing an AR product that is “the most exciting prototype we have to date.” The CTO also said, “If you say something like this, you might get in trouble. I think it might be the most advanced technology on the planet in that area. “In consumer electronics, it may be the most advanced product we have ever produced as a species.”
Mehta v. Seattle Department of Labor and Industries
The Seattle Department of Labor and Industries citation targets the materials Meta uses to develop its prototype devices. The department states that Meta must eliminate “all hazardous substances during its operations” or provide evidence of improved compliance.
The Seattle Department of Labor and Industries also issued two more citations to Meta in its December update, including one for failing to reduce original risks and one covering additional risks at the Matrix facility.
Additionally, a Seattle Department of Labor and Industries representative stated:
Our mission is to keep Washington workers safe. When hazards arise in the workplace, employers have a responsibility to take effective steps to address them so that employees can return home to their families at the end of the day.
But Mehta insisted the health and safety of employees remains the company’s “top priority,” adding, “We are working closely with state officials to take all necessary precautions to ensure a safe work environment.”
A Meta spokesperson also said:
By requiring the discontinuation of several work practices in cleanrooms at Matrix facilities, the Order imposes significant ongoing costs on Meta, which Meta may not be able to recover. (Seattle Department of Labor and Industries) did not provide Meta with prior notice that it was considering issuing an immediate injunction, nor did it attempt to obtain Meta’s consent to voluntarily close any portion of the Matrix facility prior to issuing the injunction. And before issuing the order, it did not explain what Meta would need to do to avoid such a closure.
This news comes as Meta targets a busy 2024 as it works to optimize its product offering of MR and AR devices.
According to a report this week, Meta has reduced the price of its Quest 2 VR headset and accessories to increase adoption of VR technology. The company believes that making VR headsets more accessible to people at home is key to driving widespread adoption and acceptance of the technology. As people become more comfortable with immersive technologies in their personal lives, they will be more likely to consider using AR/VR/MR devices in the workplace.
Meta’s price drop means you can get the 128GB Quest 2 for $249.99 and the 256GB Quest 2 for $299.99. A refurbished 128GB device is priced at $229.99, and a 256GB device is priced at $269.99. The company has also reduced the prices of Quest 2 accessories, including the Elite Strap, Carrying Case, Elite Strap with Battery, Active Pack, and Fit Pack.