A month-long trial of Meta’s smartglasses has highlighted concerns over privacy, usability and real-world application, as the wearable technology continues to draw mixed reactions from users and experts despite growing global sales.

The device, developed by Meta in collaboration with Ray-Ban, integrates a camera and an artificial intelligence assistant capable of responding to voice commands.

The assistant can provide directions, identify objects and read messages aloud, with users able to select from a range of celebrity-inspired voices, including one modeled on Judi Dench.

The company’s chief executive, Mark Zuckerberg, has said smartglasses could become a primary computing interface over the next decade, potentially replacing some smartphone functions such as taking photos, making calls and navigating.

Meta reported global sales of more than 7 million units in 2025.In practice, however, the experience of using the glasses appears uneven. Voice commands are not always accurately processed, and responses from the assistant can be incomplete or delayed.

Users often find themselves verifying outputs on their phones, undermining the intended hands-free functionality.The device’s visual recognition capabilities are also limited.

While it can identify basic objects and settings, it struggles with more complex queries. In one instance, it provided a generic description of an artwork at Tate Modern without offering meaningful context or interpretation. Similarly, attempts to identify specific items such as clothing accessories or provide product-related information were unsuccessful.

Real-time translation, another promoted feature, has also shown inconsistencies. During conversational tests, translations appeared with a delay and lacked clarity, resulting in less effective communication compared with established tools such as smartphone-based translation applications.

Public reaction to the glasses has been cautious. Users report that the most common question from others is whether they are being recorded. The presence of a built-in camera, even with a small LED indicator designed to signal recording, has contributed to discomfort among bystanders.

The indicator can be difficult to notice, particularly in well-lit environments, raising concerns about transparency.The device has gained traction among content creators, who use it to capture first-person footage.

However, it has also been associated with controversial use cases, including recording individuals in public without their knowledge. This perception has contributed to the emergence of the nickname “pervert glasses” in online discourse.Industry experts say the technology lacks clearly defined everyday applications.

Iain Rice, a professor of industrial artificial intelligence at Birmingham City University, said smartglasses may eventually find niche uses but currently do not offer compelling reasons for widespread adoption. He noted that previous attempts at similar technology, such as early smartglasses, faced limited uptake due to similar concerns.

Rice also questioned whether consumer demand aligns with the product’s design. While Meta has focused on aesthetics to make the glasses more appealing, he said it remains unclear whether users are willing to adopt wearable devices that are not essential to daily life.

The development of smartglasses comes as Meta continues to invest in emerging technologies, including its previously emphasized metaverse strategy. The company has reportedly scaled back some aspects of that initiative after significant financial investment, reflecting broader challenges in identifying sustainable use cases for new digital platforms.

Privacy remains a central issue in the adoption of wearable recording devices. While there are currently no specific laws in the United Kingdom prohibiting recording in public spaces, the introduction of discreet, always-available cameras raises questions about consent and personal boundaries.

Some users argue that the ability to record interactions enhances personal safety, while others view it as intrusive.Meta has stated that users are responsible for complying with legal and ethical standards when using the device.

A company spokesperson said the terms of service require users to operate the glasses “in a safe, respectful manner” and not engage in activities that infringe on privacy or constitute harassment.The experience of extended use suggests that familiarity with the device can reduce initial hesitation, potentially increasing reliance on its features.

However, this adaptation may also normalize behaviors that raise ethical concerns, particularly in relation to recording others without explicit awareness.

As smartglasses continue to evolve, their adoption is likely to depend on improvements in functionality, clearer use cases and regulatory frameworks addressing privacy and data use.

For now, the technology remains at an early stage, with its long-term role in consumer electronics still uncertain.

Swedish scientist Alfred Nobel’s legacy of invention and the Nobel Prize highlights Sweden’s longstanding role as a global leader in knowledge advancement. Saudi scientist Omar Yaghi’s recent Nobel Prize win underscores the growing scientific and cultural ties between the two nations, enhancing collaboration and mutual inspiration.

Sweden’s success in innovation is closely tied to its education system, which promotes equality, creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving from early childhood through free higher education. Ambassador Petra Menander emphasizes that this system nurtures talent that drives sustainable innovation and cross-border collaboration.

Even a simple morning routine in Saudi Arabia reflects Swedish ingenuity. Checking the temperature uses the Celsius scale, created by Anders Celsius, while clothing may include the Swedish invention, the zipper, or brands such as H&M. Refrigeration is made more efficient thanks to the modern absorption refrigerator developed in Sweden, and breakfast items are often stored in Tetra Pak cartons.

Safety in daily commuting is enhanced by the Swedish three-point seatbelt, invented by Volvo, which revolutionized car safety and became freely available worldwide. Swedish technology continues to enrich entertainment with Ericsson’s Bluetooth enabling wireless connectivity and Spotify offering access to globally popular music.

Swedish contributions extend to industries and companies in Saudi Arabia, with Tetra Pak serving more than 80 percent of the Middle East’s food and beverage producers. The company emphasizes protecting food, people, and the environment while ensuring safety and sustainability. These innovations demonstrate Sweden’s commitment to global solutions and practical applications in everyday life.

The Swedish Embassy in Riyadh plays a vital role in fostering innovation through partnerships, education, and research collaborations with Saudi entities. These efforts encourage knowledge sharing, startup development, and the growth of creative industries, reflecting a culture of lifelong learning and cross-border cooperation.

Sweden’s innovative spirit is evident in its thriving startup ecosystem, ranked as the leading ecosystem in the EU and the sixth globally. New startups inspire others, creating a continuous cycle of innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainable growth that benefits both Sweden and Saudi Arabia.

The influence of Swedish culture also encourages openness, collaboration, and the pursuit of ideas that improve lives while supporting safety and sustainability. Cooperation between Sweden and Saudi Arabia continues to expand across education, science, technology, and cultural initiatives, strengthening regional ties and creating opportunities for shared growth.

Ambassador Menander highlights the evolving relationship, noting that both countries benefit from exchanging knowledge, experiences, and innovative solutions. She hopes the partnership will flourish, allowing both nations to thrive through shared expertise and mutual interests.

From daily routines to global collaborations, Swedish innovation enriches lives in Saudi Arabia, blending safety, convenience, and creativity into practical applications. This culture of knowledge and invention continues to strengthen international connections, inspire emerging talent, and promote sustainable progress in the region.

The meeting reflected both nations’ mutual commitment to expanding cooperation across multiple sectors, diplomacy, bilateral relations, Saudi Arabia, Armenia, international cooperation, trade relations, political dialogue, economic development, cultural exchange, regional partnership.

During the meeting, the two sides reviewed the progress of Saudi-Armenian relations and explored opportunities to enhance collaboration in trade, investment, technology, education, and tourism.

Both parties emphasized their shared interest in building strong institutional ties that foster stability and sustainable development, mutual respect, and global peace, diplomacy, partnership, development cooperation, trade growth, joint ventures, innovation, cultural cooperation, mutual understanding, economic prosperity.

The discussions also focused on strengthening inter-parliamentary relations and fostering legislative cooperation between the Shoura Council and the Armenian National Assembly.

This exchange will enable both countries to share experiences, legislative practices, and governance frameworks that can promote mutual learning and policy advancement, governance, diplomacy, lawmaking, inter-parliamentary relations, strategic dialogue, institutional collaboration, global partnership, shared vision, leadership, reform initiatives.

The meeting underlined the importance of continuous dialogue and consultation as both nations look to deepen their engagement in key areas of mutual benefit.

The exchange also reaffirmed the commitment to peace, respect for sovereignty, and regional stability, which are essential for achieving long-term prosperity and understanding between nations, peace, stability, cooperation, bilateral dialogue, partnership development, international relations, regional peace, political cooperation, national progress, diplomatic trust.

The visit of the Saudi parliamentary delegation symbolizes the growing importance of parliamentary diplomacy as a bridge to stronger international ties.

Such visits create direct communication channels that encourage collaboration, people-to-people connections, and shared visions for sustainable development and regional growth, parliamentary diplomacy, people-to-people ties, sustainable cooperation, international friendship, diplomatic partnership, regional growth, innovation, mutual benefit, policy exchange, global progress.

In a related development, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan held a meeting in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

The two foreign ministers discussed ways to enhance bilateral relations and exchanged views on regional and international issues of common interest, foreign affairs, global diplomacy, international dialogue, foreign policy, bilateral discussions, cooperation, mutual goals, peace diplomacy, sustainable relations, global engagement.

Following their talks, both countries signed a memorandum of understanding on political consultations, laying the groundwork for regular discussions on international issues, mutual interests, and shared initiatives.

This agreement further strengthens the foundation of trust and collaboration between the two countries, setting a clear roadmap for future political engagement and cooperation, memorandum of understanding, political consultation, diplomatic relations, trust building, bilateral agreements, policy dialogue, shared development, international cooperation, peace initiatives, global alignment.

Armenia and Saudi Arabia have increasingly emphasized their mutual respect for cultural diversity and cooperation in heritage preservation, education, and tourism.

This focus not only encourages economic partnerships but also builds cultural bridges that promote deeper people-to-people understanding and lasting friendship, cultural diplomacy, heritage exchange, tourism growth, education collaboration, cultural cooperation, people engagement, soft diplomacy, international friendship, global culture, regional unity.

The growing partnership between Saudi Arabia and Armenia represents a shared vision for global peace, innovation, and sustainable progress.

Both nations are working toward strengthening economic and diplomatic frameworks that ensure lasting stability and development for future generations, emphasizing cooperation over conflict, and unity over division, international harmony, peace building, sustainability, development goals, global cooperation, economic growth, mutual trust, visionary leadership, partnership success, shared future.

As the seeds of cooperation continue to grow, the meeting between the Armenian President and the Saudi Shoura Council delegation stands as a symbol of optimism and collaboration.

It reflects the positive transformation of Saudi-Armenian relations and their commitment to building a better, more interconnected future for their people and the region, friendship, unity, collaboration, progress, innovation, diplomacy, global peace, sustainable relations, economic development, shared prosperity.

The meeting, held at the Jeddah governorate’s headquarters, reflected the growing partnership between the two nations across various fields, including culture, trade, technology, and sustainable urban development.

Both sides exchanged cordial conversations and discussed areas of mutual interest, reaffirming their shared vision for stronger collaboration and long-term friendship.

The discussion was attended by Japanese Consul General in Jeddah Daisuke Yamamoto and members of Governor Koike’s delegation.

The meeting provided an opportunity to strengthen diplomatic and cultural ties, emphasizing the importance of people-to-people connections and the role of cities as gateways for international cooperation.

The dialogue highlighted how Jeddah, as one of Saudi Arabia’s leading coastal cities, and Tokyo, one of the world’s most dynamic metropolises, share a mutual interest in innovation, smart city development, and sustainable growth.

Governor Koike’s visit to Saudi Arabia formed part of her wider regional tour across the Middle East, showcasing Japan’s dedication to fostering partnerships with Arab countries.

Earlier in the week, she attended the Future Investment Initiative 2025 in Riyadh, where she shared insights on Tokyo’s ambition to become a global financial and creative hub.

During the conference, she joined a panel discussion alongside the renowned creator of “Captain Tsubasa,” Yoichi Takahashi, emphasizing how Japan’s creative industries, particularly manga and anime, can serve as powerful tools for global cultural exchange and tourism development.

Her visit to Jeddah came as both nations continue to explore new opportunities for collaboration in creative industries, renewable energy, education, and tourism.

The meeting also symbolized the strong diplomatic friendship that has long connected Japan and Saudi Arabia, built upon mutual respect, shared values, and a commitment to economic progress and innovation.

The discussions reflected optimism about the potential for joint ventures, knowledge exchange, and cultural initiatives that will contribute to the prosperity of both societies.

The meeting between the Tokyo and Jeddah governors highlighted the growing synergy between Japan’s technological expertise and Saudi Arabia’s transformative Vision 2030 agenda.

With Jeddah emerging as a center for tourism and urban modernization, and Tokyo serving as a model for innovation and smart infrastructure, both sides expressed interest in exchanging ideas and strategies to develop sustainable and resilient cities.

They discussed enhancing cooperation in areas such as renewable energy solutions, digital transformation, and cultural heritage preservation.

Governor Koike praised Saudi Arabia’s ongoing development projects, noting the remarkable progress in urban planning, green initiatives, and efforts to create a diversified economy.

She expressed admiration for Jeddah’s vibrant culture and its role as a historical gateway to the Kingdom. In return, Prince Saud bin Abdullah bin Jalawi commended Japan’s leadership in technology, education, and cultural innovation, acknowledging the importance of collaboration in achieving shared development goals.

The meeting also emphasized the role of cultural diplomacy in building bridges between nations.

Through initiatives such as cultural festivals, student exchange programs, and creative partnerships, Japan and Saudi Arabia aim to deepen mutual understanding and strengthen global cooperation.

Koike’s visit to the region, which included stops in the UAE, Kuwait, and Egypt, demonstrates Japan’s growing engagement with the Middle East and its commitment to long-term collaboration built on trust and respect.

As the meeting concluded, both leaders expressed optimism about the future of Tokyo-Jeddah relations, envisioning a partnership that promotes innovation, creativity, and sustainable growth.

The dialogue reinforced the shared belief that collaboration between cities can serve as a foundation for stronger global relations and mutual prosperity.

The visit, marked by high-level meetings and landmark policy shifts, has been described by Mohammed Alhamed, Founder and President of the Saudi Elite Group, as a reaffirmation of the Kingdom’s position as the “Capital of Global Peace.”

“This visit rebuilds a true commitment between these two allies,” Alhamed said, highlighting the potential for renewed cooperation in defense, security, and economic development. “It continues the joint mission of making the world a safer place,” he added.

Among the most significant outcomes of the visit is the reported removal of U.S. sanctions on Syria, a move made following a special request by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. If confirmed, this would signal a dramatic shift in U.S. foreign policy in the region, reflecting Riyadh’s increasing influence in shaping regional stability.

The visit also reaffirmed the Kingdom’s ambitious investment strategy, with $600 billion earmarked for American products and industries, spanning defense, healthcare, energy, technology, infrastructure, and even sports. These investments are expected to generate thousands of jobs on both sides and deepen economic interdependence between the two nations.

Trump’s reception in Riyadh, complete with ceremonial grandeur and strategic substance, mirrors the significance Saudi Arabia places on its relationship with the United States. It also reflects the Kingdom’s broader vision of regional diplomacy—one that emphasizes economic partnership, peace-building, and pragmatic diplomacy.

For Washington, the renewed engagement signals a return to trusted allies in the Gulf, while for Riyadh, it’s a clear sign of global recognition of its central role in international affairs.

As Alhamed noted, this visit doesn’t just signal the strengthening of bilateral ties—it may well mark the beginning of a new era of strategic equilibrium in the Middle East.

A spacecraft that plowed into a small, harmless asteroid millions of miles away succeeded in shifting its orbit, NASA said Tuesday in announcing the results of its save-the-world test.

Muslims were far more ahead when Europe was in dark ages.

Ever since Islam was born, Muslims have been leading the way. When we look at the history, we come to know about the richness of it.

When we study it we will know that Muslims were the one who were always busy in seeking knowledge.

Today when we look at West or Europe we tend to think that how advanced they are in different fields.

Muslims were far more ahead when Europe was in dark ages. They were kept in confusion and ignorance by their priests and Churches and were made to think that Muslims are ignorant and these arrogant people used to consider us as infidels.

The learning and knowledge capitals of the world were cities governed by Muslims for example Baghdad, Cairo, Damascus, Cordova (Andalusia) etc.

Today when we talk about universities and look at Oxford, Stanford or Yale like universities where we dream of studying but we should know it were the Muslims who introduced university to the world.

The oldest and still functional university is in Fez, Morocco known by the name of University of Quarouiyine (Karueein) founded in 859 C.E. by Fatima al Fihri.

Camera

We see the extensive use of cameras in today’s world, we see cameras on the street, in our homes, in our pockets on our Smartphone.

We talk about megapixels. But this camera was invented by Ibn al Haytham who refused the Greek concept that an invisible beam of light comes out of our eyes and with its help we can see.

Instead he used a pinhole to demonstrate his point that is the light reflects of an object and enters our eyes and we see. He also discovered the camera obscure phenomenon that is how we see images upright due to the connection between optic nerve and brain.

Surgery and Surgical Tools

Surgery and surgical tools were also invented by Muslims in 10th century. It was Abul Qasim Khalaf ibn al-Abbad al-Zahrawi (Abulcasis), in his medical encyclopedia al-Tadrif, there is a monograph on Surgery. He also staged over 200 surgical tools which later became a revolutionary concept. It was also the first ever monograph on surgical tools.

Flying Machine

About Flying machine, Wright Brothers comes to our mind. But we should know that it was a Muslim by the name of Abbas ibn Firnas who was the one who first attempted to fly.

He jumped from a minaret of the grand mosque with a loose cloak stiffed with wooden struts but was not able to fly but his fall was slowed by it. Hence it is said that it was the first parachute. But he did not give up and in 875 C.E. he tried again and this time with the structure of silk and eagle feather he jumped from a mountain and flew for some time before crash landing.

It is said that if he would have given his apparatus a tail he would have become successful. He became the inspiration for the Italian artist Leonardo da Vinci 600 years later.

Coffee

Coffee has an interesting background story. An Arab named Khalid was with his goats on the southern Ethiopian slopes where he found out that his goats became lively after eating a particular berry.

He took the berries and boiled them and gave it the name of “al-qahwa”. Then it was exported to Yemen where Sufis started drinking it to remain awake all night for their rituals. Then in 15th century it reached Makkah and then Turkey and from where in 1645 it made its way to Venice. It arrived in England and was brought by Pasqua Rosee, who was a Turk in 1650. He was the one who opened the first coffee shop in London at Lombard Street and the English called it Coffee.

Chemistry

Jabir Ibn Hayyan is one of the names famous in the domain of Chemistry. He converted alchemy into Chemistry. He was the founder of modern Chemistry.

He was the one who emphasized on systematic experimentation. He invented the method of distillation that is separating the liquids through differences in their boiling points. He also invented different processes and apparatus that are still used today and they are liquefaction, crystallization, distillation, purification, oxidization, evaporation and filtration.

He is also the inventor of alembic still which is used in the creation of perfumes and alcoholic sprits. Discovery of sulphuric and nitric acid is credited to him.

Earth’s Sphericity

Earth’s Sphericity, it was Ibn Hazm in the 9th Century against all odds said that the sun is always vertical to a particular spot on earth and found his proof for the earth being sphere. He and his colleagues during Caliph Mamun’s reign predicted so accurately the earth’s circumference, that their calculations turned out to be less than 200 Km off. And later it was Abu Abd Allah Muhammad al-Idrisi al Qurtibi al Hasani al Sabti (al-Idrisi) who introduced it to the west.

Algebra

Algebra was derived from the title of a monograph Kitab al-Jabr Wa’l Mugabala by Muhammad ibn Musa Al- Khwarizmi in 9th century. It was a different perspective than of Greek’s which was based on geometry. He was the one to introduce the concepts of Algebraic Reduction and Balancing, Cancellation and Like Terms and raising a number to a power.

Calendar

Omar al Khayam developed a calendar which is more exact than Gregorian according to Sedillot who is the authority on the subject. He measured the length of the year as 365.24219858156 days while today it is 365.242190 days.

Blood Circulation

Blood circulatory system was discovered by Ibn al-Nafis Damishqi al-Misri 300 years before William Harvey re-discovered it.

It was he who gave a description of bronchi and interaction between human body’s vessels for air and blood. He also elaborated the function of the coronary arteries as feeding the cardiac muscle.

Abu Ali al-Husayn ibn Abdullah ibn Sina’s Book Al-Qanun fi al-tabib (Canon of Medicine) is the most famous single book in the history of medicine used by Medical Schools in East and West for 500 years.

“It was the first book dealing with evidence based medicine, experimental medicine, clinical trials, randomized controlled trials, efficacy tests, risk factor analysis and the idea of the syndrome in the diagnosis of specific disease”, said Toby Huff.

Chemical Equivalents

Chemical elements and equivalents is found in the work of Jabir Ibn Hayyan who gave the seeds of modern classification of elements into metals and non metals. The concept of chemical equivalents might be traced back to ibn Hayyan. He is also credited with the discovery of Hydrochloric Acid (HCl).

Algorithms

Now a days, we talk about computers, smartphones but have you ever wondered, what is the basic of all this, Algorithms. It comes from Muhammad ibn Musa Al- Khwarizmi’s Latin name ‘algoritmi’. As we know without algorithm there wouldn’t be any computers.

Other Inventions

These are only some of the discoveries and inventions made by Muslims , the list goes on and on like:
• Ethanol, Nitric Acid, Aqua Regia, Petroleum Distillation (Muhammad ibn Zakariya al Razi)
• Food Chains (Al-Jahiz)
• Hard Soap, Glycerin from Olive Oil (Al-Jahiz)
• Observatory and Research Institute (Al-Shammisiyya Observatory in Baghdad)
• Syringe was invented by Ammar ibn Ali-Mawsili in 9th century. He used a hallow glass tube, which he used as a suction to remove cataracts from patients eyes.
• Binomial Theorem (1st formulation by Al Karaji quoted by Al-Samaw’al)
• Magnifying Glass and Convex Lenses (Ibn al-Haytham)
• Blood Measurement Device (Al-Jazari)
• Glass manufacturing (Abbas ibn Firnas)
• Mental institute (Ahmad ibn Tulun )
• Metabolism (Ibn al-Nafees)
• Inhalation anasthesia (Al-Zahrawi and Ibn Zuhr)

Conclusion

Muslims have been asked to ponder and contemplate on the surroundings in the Holy Book Quran, so that spirit of enquiry led to the investigation of scientific methods and ultimately the evolution of modern science.

And it were the Arabs who introduced this spirit and methods of investigation, experiment, observation, measurement, the development of mathematics to Europe.

Unfortunately, modern Muslims have disgraced their ancestors. Look at the cities which were once the hubs of knowledge to the world, now spoiled to ruins.

Muslims should introspect and contemplate that who they are, what were their contributions, what is their image as Muslims, indeed they are the followers of the religion which is complete and that religion is based on knowledge.

So, Muslims should be leading the way. It is just a matter of taking the first step. They must change their attitude and involve in attaining knowledge.

Muqqadas Firdous holds Master’s Degree in Business and PG Diploma in Education Management. He tweets under @muqqadasfirdous.

Featured Image taken from 1001Inventions.com.