eMagin USB powered OLED 3D visor

The promise of the near view display is there, though prior implementations have been poor. A head-mounted screen should theoretically provide the equivalent to a very large disply viewed from a few meters away, for immersive gaming and other virtual reality endeavors. The trouble is, users usually walk away with headaches and nausea instead of a great gaming experience. EMagin is throwing some OLED into the mix and hoping that puts them into the sweet spot with their Z800 3D visor (at right — you'd think a graphics company could put some effort into some decent hi-res prototype shots, but no). The viewer will include stereovision and headtracking features as well as audio output and input (via noise-cancelling microphone). The total system cost will be lower than the equivalent near view with LCD, as well as consuming less power. The USB device supposedly simulates a 105-inch view at 12 feet, at a resolution of 800 x 600. We'll believe it when we see it, which won't be til at least Q2.

[EdZ @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

The firm said its Z800 allows for a virtual 105-inch view at 12 feet, at a resolution of 800 x 3 x 600 pixels, includes stereo sound, stereo vision, a noise cancelling microphone and uses USB to power the headset.

<-- From the article.
800 x 3 x 600? Whre does the 3 come in? I could understand a '2' for stereo vision, but 3?


Anyway, if they can drive the price down so it's equal to/below current LCD glasses of the same spec (800x600 glasses are pretty pricey at the moment, especially stereo ones) they'll have a pretty good market position.

[scott @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

105" view at 12 feet...hmmm...wouldn't it be much, much, much more impressive if they simply claimed that it simulates a 46,200 foot screen at 12 miles? i mean, come on, think about getting 60fps playing games on a 46,000 foot screen! that's some impressive hardware!

[Blacky @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

#1: "800 x 3 x 600? Whre does the 3 come in? I could understand a '2' for stereo vision, but 3?"

Some companies count every subpixel (red, blue, yellow) as one pixel. If I remember correctly, the Sony AIBO for example is said to have a "megapixel-camera" (640 x 480 x 3 = 1MP). A bit stupid.

800 x 600 x 3 only means, that the screens will provide "real" 800x600 - nothing spectacular.

[Stimson Andover @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

I recently tried out the Z800 at ITEC. My observations:

1. The cable connecting the headset to the control box was almost as thick as my pinkie and was continually trying to pull the visor off my face.

2. The visor was heavy and pinched my nose.

3. I wear eyeglasses and there were no diopter adjustments. That really sucks for eyeglass wearers.

4. The display contrast was very low at only about 200:1. Newer LCD screens have contrast ratios 5-10x better.

5. SVGA is so '90s. I also tried the Icuiti binocular SXGA display in Japan and it was an awesome experience compared to the SVGA.

[John Court @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

Simpson, which ITEC conference was that?

[bigpat @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

I look forward to seeing the reports from the e3 expo. Hopefully VR gaming won't just be a a $5 two minute diversion at the arcade anymore.

Oh and why would you need eye glasses with these? At least if you are nearsighted then wouldn't the image be close enough to your eye to bring the focus close enough not to need them?

Well, anyway, I hear they have redesigned the prototype, so hopefully they have addressed some of ergonomics.

[cutlass @ Dec 19th 2005 1:22AM]

The Z800 is shipping and some of the early personal reviews are cropping up on various msg boards. Apparently the head tracker works very well. You'll need to download 3d drivers from Nvidia unless you have a card that already supports it. Comments so far are pretty positive. I am interested, but I'd still like to see a review from one of the respected game sites.