Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses get an Audio Only mode for driving, Engadget reports

Engadget reported that the glasses were not designed to provide real-time driving directions, so owners who want to keep wearing them in a car should rely on the Audio Only setting rather than any turn-by-turn feature. With the mode active, the report said, the glasses behave much like regular Meta Ray-Ban AI glasses, offering audio for calls and voice commands without on-screen information.

Owners do not have to remember to switch modes every time they get in. The Meta AI app includes a Driving Detection feature that uses the glasses' internal sensors to work out when the wearer is in a moving vehicle. Once driving is detected, the display is disabled automatically. When the wearer reaches the destination and steps out of the car, the display turns back on.

Setup takes only a few seconds, according to the report. Owners open the Meta AI app on a phone, go to Settings, select the glasses and tap Device Settings, then turn on Audio Only and set Driving Detection to active. The app may ask for special permission before the feature is enabled, because it also needs access to the phone's sensors. The mode can be toggled manually as well, by saying "Hey Meta, turn on/off audio only."

Engadget said the glasses currently cannot be used for driving navigation. They support pedestrian navigation only, and their interface is not designed for high-speed travel: it lacks the real-time traffic updates, lane guidance and complex mapping needed on a highway. For driving directions, the report advises sticking with a phone's GPS or a car's built-in navigation system.

Aside from safety, Engadget noted that turning off the display while driving can save battery for when it is really needed, and described a break from screens and excessive notifications as another benefit. The report was published as smart glasses are quietly becoming part of some people's daily routines for checking notifications and making calls, a convenience that the report said turns into a distraction quickly behind the wheel.