Flip Phones, AI, Naturally Dumb Glasses, and Enhanced Audio: MWC 2024 Major Impressions

What is like to explore audio technologies in the massive show that is Mobile World Congress. A report from MWC 2024 in Barcelona from an audio product development perspective. Audio for mobile platforms, wireless technologies, wearables and true wireless earbuds and hearables. And lot's of AI! MWC 2024 has nearly returned to pre-pandemic size levels, closing with 101,000 attendees from 205 countries.

Canadian startup AAVAA is aggressively pursuing practical brain-computer interfaces (BCI) for assistive applications, and the company presented its unique headband form-factor at CES 2024 to industry acclaim. Now, AAVAA is announcing the launch of its technology for incorporating into "smart" glasses that can expand possibilities also for consumer applications and expand assistive form-factors.

Facebook/Meta believes that adding features to glasses without improving its primary feature of augmenting/protecting eyesight is the "next big thing" - after the metaverse (which is not to be mentioned). In partnership with EssilorLuxottica, Mark Zuckerberg unveiled a new generation of Ray-Ban Meta "smart glasses" that have speakers on the side, and cameras and microphones in the front. Apparently they are better than the others launched before, that no one bought.