Apple files for head-mounted laser display patent, death of style imminent

Dorks we may be, but we're just not ready for head-mounted displays to hit the mainstream -- which is why this patent application for laser-based headgear from Apple makes us cringe just as hard as the MyVu product line. Apple wants to up the nerd factor immeasurably by putting all the image processing and generation hardware in a belt-clipped processing box, which will allow the glasses to shrink down and potentially be indistinguishable from regular glasses. Laser-generated images from the box are then transmitted to wedge optics in the glasses via a fiber optic cable, and hey -- you're watching The Office on your glasses with a processing box clipped to your belt. Can you say "coolest guy in school?" Yeah, didn't think so -- no amount of white plastic and brushed aluminum will ever make this okay. The application just went public today, so there's a long way to go before Apple actually gets this patent -- here's hoping we get a similarly long reprieve from ubiquitous head-mounted displays.

[Via Unwired View]

[Janvier @ Apr 17th 2008 2:41PM]

Knowing Apple, they're definitely going to make them stylish.

[Jordan @ Apr 17th 2008 3:13PM]

minimalist ≠ stylish.

[aardvark sandwich @ Apr 17th 2008 3:18PM]

Jordan:

lol minimalism IS a style.

[Marc @ Apr 17th 2008 3:35PM]

minimalism is THE style

[Nate the Prophet @ Apr 17th 2008 4:13PM]

Am I the only one who things these would be kinda cool?

I mean, you could watch movies on a plane on a decent sized screen (relative) vs. the little iPod/iPhone or even laptop screen. Toss in some noise-canceling earbuds and you're looking at a very portable virtual home theater.

Oh well, I guess I'm a dork :)

[coffee @ Apr 17th 2008 4:18PM]

It Just Dorks?

[BlowURmindBowel @ Apr 17th 2008 4:25PM]

Typical apple style may be considered minimalist, but that doesn't mean it isn't CRAPPY minimalist. Sacrificing durability and "anti-smudge-ability" for the purpose of style is like getting really chic glasses that don't correct your vision...

Give me a beige box that I can hide behind my desk, and no one gets a mechanical pencil in the neck!!!

[j Stevens. @ Apr 17th 2008 2:44PM]

wow, this is very original.

[PGP-Protector @ Apr 17th 2008 2:46PM]

It's Apple.
It will sell
People will buy.

[Erik @ Apr 17th 2008 6:04PM]

You forgot one:

People will claim it's never been done before.

[Dan Davis @ Apr 17th 2008 2:46PM]

"Dorks we may be, but we're just not ready for head-mounted displays to hit the mainstream"

I beg to differ. I think (good) head-mounted displays are long past due.

[webon @ Apr 17th 2008 2:59PM]

D D Dork

[Chicksta @ Apr 17th 2008 2:47PM]

This would be great for sharks...

[Kizorblade @ Apr 17th 2008 2:48PM]

With frickin' lazer beams!

[DWells55 @ Apr 17th 2008 3:53PM]

Yes, Kizorblade, that was the joke.

[Prhime @ Apr 17th 2008 2:50PM]

Nintendo..VR Boy redone...rethought.. rebranded

Apple continues its forge into gaming with a new halo project.

As reported from the year 20XX (see what i just did)

[Wonderkid @ Apr 17th 2008 2:51PM]

If you use the Google to look for one of Apple's old but visionary concept videos, along with the Apple Navigator, you will find a very good simulation of a man and a woman sitting at a table outside a cafe chatting.

The catch?

One is speaking in French and the other (wearing glasses) sees a real time translation projected in real time onto the inside of his glasses. This enables him to respond quickly - almost as if he understands what she is saying.

The real benefit of this system is that it is totally non intrusive - as long as you wear glasses of course!

Ideally though, one should learn to speak the language, else we're all going to become very lazy and dumb.

[Ignatius @ Apr 17th 2008 3:06PM]

Or perhaps, instead of speaking a few thousand languages, we decide on one?

I don't feel like learning five different languages just to speak to people who live in the same country as me.

[Chris @ Apr 17th 2008 3:19PM]

Yeah, all those damn foreigners ought to learn to speak American like good decent folks!

):

[Ignatius @ Apr 17th 2008 3:30PM]

I didn't say that, I just don't like the idea of being forced to learn new languages in my own country.

[ben @ Apr 17th 2008 3:44PM]

Yeah, I really see a businessman telling a foreign executive: "You're in America, you should be speaking our language." It's going to ironic when you have to do business in China in 20 years, and they ask why you don't know Mandarin... wait, that won't happen, because you'll be here yelling at some poor guy who can't pronounce fries.

[Aaron Wanker @ Apr 17th 2008 4:01PM]

I agree with Ben...

In school, I couldn't stand it, when my classmates would feel bad for the Korean foreign exchange students who started learning English in second grade, but would complain because they chose to take spanish (we had French, Spanish, Latin or Sales and Marketing [as a language replacement]). I personally like learning languages, I've taken 7 years of French, and plan on learning German, because it's awesome.

[Yuri @ Apr 17th 2008 5:02PM]

Chris, I think it's good that people actually take the time to learn at least the basics of another language.

I say this because even if we were to all speak the same language, our cultures will be totally different.

I think everyone should have to learn a bit about the rest of the world.

I say this as a fluent speaker of two languages (Japanese and English), while studying French and Korean.

If we were to cut out things like foreign language and multicultural studies, then everyone would soon become very ignorant and the world would break into a bunch of isolationist countries where we'd then never get the opportunity to venture outside of our back yards.

Back on topic, I like the idea of this, but it's been done and I've messed with a pair of MyVu. I just like the idea of privacy when in public areas for, say, school, or when I have nothing better to do during 14hr flights overseas.

[Kris @ Apr 17th 2008 2:55PM]

I remember seeing bluetooth earpieces becoming popular, and being completely disgusted and turned off knowing it would never catch on. Yet, I ate my own words when I purchased the Apple designed earpiece for my iPhone, and loved it.

Apple isn't stupid, and if this filing is real, it's a good patent to have.

[BlowURmindBowel @ Apr 17th 2008 4:30PM]

I love how you tried to silently make the connection between earbuds being popular and the fact that apple desgned one...

I didn't even know apple made one... Wait, I think I figured it out: is it the ONLY one that works with the iPhone? It wouldn't surprise me...

[welchb @ Apr 17th 2008 5:11PM]

You love it? I loathe my apple bluetooth headset. It is the biggest waste of gadgetmoney I've ever spent. It only works when the phone is within ~2 feet of my phone. If I try to put my phone in my pocket with the BT in my ear, there is nothing but static.

[Chris G @ Apr 17th 2008 3:03PM]

want some Snow Crash?

[Chebwa @ Apr 17th 2008 3:04PM]

Cancer: 1
Humanity: 0

[Alex @ Apr 17th 2008 3:33PM]

That was also my first thought.

[Brad @ Apr 18th 2008 3:38AM]

Cancer? From what? It's a low-powered (< 5mA) laser sitting at your waist. A pager probably puts off more radiation.

"Stop progress! I'm ignorant so it scares me!"

[Chebwa @ Apr 18th 2008 10:28AM]

"Stop joking around! I'm such a tightass know-it-all dickhead it scares me!"

[Erik @ Apr 17th 2008 3:08PM]

Don't you think the "image processing and generation hardware in a belt-clipped processing box" could be included in future iPods? Just a thought.

[Eddie W @ Apr 17th 2008 4:07PM]

That was my thought. It will just be glasses plugged into ipods and put into your pocket. This could easily be a huge trend as long as you didn't have to wear bulky glasses.

[MeAtyPi @ Apr 17th 2008 3:13PM]

Get ready, to melt your eyeballs with envy!!

[Jordan @ Apr 17th 2008 3:14PM]

High five Engadget! The MyVu link doesn't work.

[aardvark sandwich @ Apr 17th 2008 3:16PM]

OK, now they're just messing with us :P

[YoMomma @ Apr 17th 2008 3:24PM]

im sure this product will look like ALL other Apple products. they should hire some designers.......

[Jason @ Apr 17th 2008 3:29PM]

So... since other companies already hold the patents on laser glasses and stuff, like Microvision, what exactly is this patent for?

How can you patent stuff that's already been patented? -.-;

[Captain Obviousness @ Apr 17th 2008 3:34PM]

It was not filed today, it was filed 18 months ago

[John Stracke @ Apr 17th 2008 4:44PM]

Most patent applications become visible 18 months after filing.

[raul @ Apr 17th 2008 3:36PM]

I'm no apple fan (neither linux), but...

"The telephone has too many shortcomings to be seriously considered as a means of communication"; Western Union - 1876

"Man will not fly for 50 years"; Orville Wright

Can't quote "the ipod will never sell", but I remember someone said it... :p

"we're just not ready for head-mounted displays to hit the mainstream"; Engadget - 2008

The point is no one was successful with it until now, just like the what happened to mp3 players until the ipod came out.
If apple can make it right I sure hope they make it as fast as possible. One can only hope they can make it in the first place.

[Johan S @ Apr 17th 2008 4:17PM]

"we're just not ready for head-mounted displays to hit the mainstream"; Engadget - 2008

Engadget can easily weasel from that one. After all, if it comes out tomorrow and is a major hit, engadget can say "oh, we WEREN'T ready yesterday .. but we're ready today".

[Alex @ Apr 17th 2008 3:38PM]

Psycho, groupie, cocaine, crazy
Psycho groupie coke
Do you really want to think and stop
Stop your eyes from flowing out...

(Extra stress on the last line)

Anyone?! If you were a cool dude you'd know what I'm talking about.

[Ian @ Apr 18th 2008 4:35AM]

pff SOAD kicks ass

[Frank @ Apr 17th 2008 3:46PM]

system of a down
cool dude award?

[Alex @ Apr 17th 2008 5:50PM]

Hell yeah!
Why didn't you just reply to my comment?

[Chris @ Apr 17th 2008 4:00PM]

apple wouldn't release something that isn't stylish. not sure why we are ripping on a drawing. years of development and design is going to happen. they are just patenting it first for legal reasons.

[T-Bone @ Apr 17th 2008 5:13PM]

Exactly. I don't know why everyone is bashing the look in the patent. It is just there to get the idea across.

[Lance @ Apr 17th 2008 4:02PM]

Yes, but what if "a belt-clipped processing box" is an iPhone or iPod, and the glasses just hook up like a pair of headphones.

[Blaktornado @ Apr 17th 2008 4:06PM]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MV5lzMclx7Y

It's the Apple Vista!