Icuiti unveils AV230 head-mounted display

Icuiti, producers of numerous "intelligent display solutions," has rolled out a new head-mounted display to provide "four to five hours" of portable viewing satisfaction. Similar in specification to the company's iWear (not that iWear), the AV230 differs in that it doesn't play favorites with Apple's iPod, and instead works with any video source including DVD players and gaming consoles. The eyewear sports twin 320 x 240 resolution displays, an integrated, rechargeable battery pack, 60Hz refresh rates, automatic 2D / 3D selector, NTSC / PAL support, and a mini-USB charger to "maximize mobility." Reportedly "developed from US Military technology," the goggles provide a "44-inch virtual screen" and can even be worn with prescription eyewear, but they fail to mention the humiliation you'll endure if you're caught rocking these in public. Regardless, the AV230 can be purchased now for private, in-home use for $269, and units should start shipping to brave early adopters in December.

[Via I4U]

[captain obvious @ Nov 13th 2006 2:57PM]

What humiliation? If you're walking around outside with these on then you won't have to worry about humiliation..because you'll be run over. If your on an airplane or train, I wouldn't worry about it either.

NOW...if you're watching porn and you forget where your at.....then well,,,

[Jeff @ Nov 13th 2006 3:05PM]

I'm sorry, but the resolution on my cell phone is higher than that. I don't want to look at a 320x240 44" screen. Ugh. Give me at least 640x480.

[AaronC @ Nov 13th 2006 3:31PM]

Jeff - Icuiti has a higher res version, the DV920. It does up to 1024x768:
http://www.icuiti.com/index.php?page_id=10

[J. R. @ Nov 13th 2006 4:40PM]

Unfortunately all their crap has a FOV of about 23-26deg. For some reason I like the video to 'fill up' my vision.

www.3dvisor.com

They have a model which does 800x600 and has over a 40deg FOV (Field of View). Too bad it costs a bajillion dollars, but it does a lot more than just play video. Plus it uses OLED instead of LCD.

[Steven Palter, MD @ Nov 13th 2006 8:25PM]

I have worked a lot with these displays in medical display development. From the first SONY glasstron which we used as a distraction device to the olympus eyetrek used in the OR etc etc. The current gen used in the OR is from vikingsystems and is based on the military kaiser electro-optics HMD. Once you use a real high res display you see how poor these toys work. The technology is developing so fast that we should see at least medical and then consumer hires lower cost displays within 3 years. I have seen so many prototypes. That is unless the retinal displays hit it first...

[Matthew @ Nov 13th 2006 11:24PM]

Steve,

Have you tried a retinal display? Who is working on them? Are they dangerous?

[kams912 @ Jun 13th 2007 2:49PM]

Let's have a comment from someone that has actually tried these glasses, do you guys also review movies without watching them? Do they work?

[Dave @ Nov 16th 2008 8:04AM]

I tink there COOL and I want a pair... But can you use multiple glasses on a single source ie.2-4 player xbox 360/ps3........????