Personal video player paired with wearable display
posted Dec 7th 2004 8:58AM
Alright, no more griping about how the screens on personal video players are too small (well, you can still complain if you really want to, that's why we love you guys), ok? The screens on these things are never going to get much bigger than six or seven or maybe eight inches (at that point you're better off using a laptop or a tablet PC), so some anonymous Chinese manufacturer is selling a new 20GB & 40GB personal video player that dispenses with the screen entirely and instead bundling it with a wearable display that will supposedly make it seem like you're watching a 36-inch display that's floating in front of you (big emphasis on the supposedly, here). Not the first PVP to come without a screen, and wearable displays are a dime-a-dozen (well, not exactly, but you know what we mean), but as DAPreview notes, for whatever reason no one had ever sold these together before. There are tons of downsides to this approach, like you that can't really carry the whole thing around in your pocket or walk around town with it, but the biggest obstacle as we see it is that you'll look like a complete tool using this thing in public. Oh, and in case you're wondering, the Digital GE DG-THDAV6 supports playback of MPEG-1, MPEG-2, and MPEG-4 video files.
Well, I see this as one of the potential futures of display technology for portable devices, but the other one would be on the device and so would seem to contradict your statement. The whole roll-out or fold-out type of display made possible by liquid polymer - plastic flexible displays. They have prototypes that do monochrome right now, and I'm sure color isn't too far off. It's more convenient in some ways to have a visor, but it be more portable to have a roll-out/fold-out display that adds an extra 1/4 of thickness to the device but provides a screen that's 20" or more in width...
This would be great for my 3D visualisations. I often visit clients (architects) and play them walkthroughs on my laptop. This'd surely enhance the immersive experience.
All,
According to the specs for the HMD, head mounted display-- it optionally supports wireless. I wonder if any true VGA or NSTC version is available. This wirelessness would be most interesting in a VGA version. This would be the final string to be cut for truly wireless computer systems (of course we are talking portable systems). First the keyboard, the mouse, audio (ala cellphones wireless headset/mic)... using Bluetooth (www.bluetooth.com), and the emerging Zigbee standard (www.zigbee.org) wireless capabilities plus a wireless portable monitor ..... we will have true PAN personal area networks. "Look Ma no strings!!!"
I know that one HMD company, MicroOptical (http://www.microopticalcorp.com), has a wireless VGA model, the DV-1. Alas its an OEM kit, with a single unit price of $8000USD. OUCH! The wired version, the SV-6 and the SV-3 supports VGA at 640x480. They also offer a NSTC/PAL model, the CV-3, which also supports the same resolution.
One thing I like about the MicroOptical design, as oppose to the mentioned product, is that it mounts on a pair of regular glasses (Wonder how well it works with the progressive lens that are being palmed off on everyone today?). So one can walk around and not have blinders on.... Now the next question is, If you are looking at the Matrix, and a MAC truck is comin’… can you really jump over it?
The MicroOptical wired HMD's are expensive, but not as expensive as others. The price is up there with the high-end LCD monitors but has less resolution, 640x480. I had a chance to try out one of the VGA models at a wearable computing conference a couple of years ago. I also saw a dual version demo for 3D applications, can't remember if it was MicroOptical or another organization.
BTW. I think that engadget should also cover wearable computers. These are the gadgets of the future!!!!
Are you calling Phillip Torrone a tool?
http://www.engadget.com/entry/2872212676610755/#comments
(scroll up just a bit)
I bought one of these wearable displays recently, I was hoping I would be able to watch TV while laying in bed :-), but I had to return it. The quality of the image was OK (240 pixels vertical, comparable to VHS), but the display was not comfortable at all, my eyes would get really tired after only a few minutes. I think we are a long way from having this as a mainstream technology.
When you say wearable, do you mean something that you'd want to wear? or something that can technically be worn? These techno dudes should, may be, get out a little more.
Quote from Bjorn:
"When you say wearable, do you mean something that you'd want to wear? or something that can technically be worn? ....."
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Both.
Wearable computers are computers that are, literally worn. The current generation of wearable systems is either carried in a pouch; hook to a belt, or in the lining of a coat/vest. The latter being more research oriented.
On going research and development efforts are actually integrating circuits into fabrics. And the fabrics are fashioned into clothes you ware. Depending how deep the technically-challenged among us want to get, you can visit the following sites and browse around. Better yet go googling on keywords like "wearable computing", "smart fabrics".....
As always the technical terms become diluted as the technology emerges, alas, “wearable computing” is not immune.
Some links(more technical ones supplied on request):
Layman’s (layperson’s?) oriented:
“Ready to Wear: Long the stuff of science fiction, body-worn computers are making their way into the workplace”. Karen Bannan, CFO Magazine November 01, 2004
http://www.cfo.com/article.cfm/3328900?f=RequiredReading