Olympus's Head Mount Display
By Ryan Block 
posted Jun 7th 2005 11:40AM
posted Jun 7th 2005 11:40AM
We're starting to wonder what bizarre government tax initiatives are tempting all these companies into dropping
boatloads of cash into wearable display
technology development that clearly no one's all that excited about, but Olympus is the latest on the bandwagon with
their HMD (Head Mount Display). Sure, it may just be another glasses-based heads up display system intended to give the
wearer essential details like email notification or train schedules and the like, but it's got the added bonus of
having a cable run down the back of your head and neck. Call us in a few years when it's all properly miniaturized and
wireless, ok guys?
[Via Akihabara News]
It actually is partially govt incentives. The military needs displays like this. So they are made. Olympus has been making HMDs for a few years now, so has Sony.
Not avaiable to the public (yet) but Microoptical has TWO such devices, and here's the kicker they cost around 8000USD. A tad rich for my bleed. These devices are available as "OEM development kits".
From their webpage:
"The DV-1 Wireless Digital Viewer, utilizing standard Bluetooth protocol, communicates with a wide range of devices including PDAs, tablet PCs and other electronic instruments. The DV-1 provides mobile information viewing for today’s on-the-move workforce and consumers. ....
The EG-8 evaluation kit comprises a set of nonprescription eyeglasses with a viewing system that’s integrated within the eyeglass lens. Unlike other MicroOptical monocular viewers which position the display in front of the lens, the optics and technology of the EG-8 are actually incorporated within the eyeglass lens...."
.drt
#29 is, all apologies and due respect, wrong. (IMHO)
Trademark law is a pain in the @$$. Apple has to put up a vigorous defense of their trademark, or risk losing it. iPed really is so similar to iPod that from a legal standpoint, they don't have a choice. It sucks that iPed is such a good name for their product.
If 'Though Out's lawyers had any brains at all, they certainly warned the company that a legal challenge was all but guaranteed. They chose to take their chances, and they lost. Time to gracefully apologize and change the name to iStand or something. 'Cause they can't hope to win this one.