HMZ-T2
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Sony unveils 3D head-mounted display for surgeons to peer inside you
Sony's 3D head-mounted displays have been asking for a place in your film-watching and gaming routines since 2011, but now their latest HMD is volunteering to act as the viewing end of medical endoscopes. Hirai and Co. have just unveiled what amounts to a retooled HMZ-T2, dubbed the HMM-3000MT, which helps surgeons peek inside a patient's body in 2D or 3D -- the latter of which is said to improve precision. By eliminating the need to keep tabs on an external screen, the electronics giant thinks doctors won't have to restrict their posture and movement. Though the hardware carries the same 720p 0.7-inch OLED panels as its sibling, it's been tweaked for use in a standing position with beefed up support for balance and comfort. The hardware also packs a picture-in-picture feature to catch different views of operations, and even the ability to rotate and flip video feeds. While the headgear has been approved for use in Japan, it hasn't been confirmed for a launch in other territories. In other words, don't expect to see it if you go under the knife relatively soon.
Caption contest: Sony imagines the future of commuting, involves its 3D visors
Musing on a dystopian near-future where you really don't want to see your fellow commuters, Sony Japan's Twitter account just offered us the above image. Is this what's going to happen when the likes of Sony and Google have managed to supplant our affection for smartphones with eyewear tech? Mat: "We're going to need more charging sockets." James: "Perhaps not the best time to be watching Unstoppable." Richard Lai: "You're seeing this ad because your fellow passengers are also watching this." Tim: "Nice shoes." Steve: "We've arrived? I'll just finish the movie while crossing this intersection." Dan: "Trainspotting? I haven't seen a train in years." Jon Fingas: "Seeing where you're going is so 2012." Brad: "We just can't get enough of that amazing Galaxy S 4 launch event." Edgar: "Glass? Where we're going, we don't need Glass." Ben: "Where am I? What's happened to my life? Oooh, a new episode of Deadliest Catch!" Darren: "Geordi La Forge is all up in these royalties." Terrence: Blah, blah, bah, something, something, something, private porn watching. Brian: "You guys are going to the X-Men auditions, too? Cool. Didn't want to miss my stop." David: "Do you know where we are? Hmm, about ten minutes into the season finale of Game of Thrones." Jon Turi: "Victims of the Krazy Glue prankster all try to go about their day." Michael: "Sony says all your face are belong to us." Don: "Wow. This is just like being on a train." Myriam: "So those grab-handles double as VR glasses, right?
Strapping on Sony's HMZ-T2 Personal 3D Viewer
Sony's HMZ-T2 Personal 3D Viewer certainly gives off a good first impression. The device looks sleek, like something out of the future, the sort of streamlined future that movies have been promising us since Metropolis. Actually strapping the thing to your head is a slightly different experience.The unit had a tendency to slide down my nose during my hands-on session at TGS, though this was alleviated somewhat with the straps tightened. Essentially, the entire weight of the HMZ-T2 is distributed between a pad that rests on the forehead and the strap that circles the user's head. Even with straps tightened, it can be difficult to keep the HMZ-T2 stable, which is especially important to experience the headset's 3D display. I found myself having to adjust it frequently.
Sony's HMZ-T2 3D headset at TGS: gaming at close range (video)
Sony's second generation 3D visor didn't make a big splash back at IFA, but the HMZ-T2 certainly has a pigeonhole at Tokyo's premier gaming event. In addition to the headset's substitutional reality prototype, the standard model stakes claim to almost a fifth of PlayStation's demo area. With all the local buzz, we decided to weigh in on how the $900 headgear shapes up as a gaming display. The answer? Heavily. Out of necessity, the HMZ-T2 crams the majority of its hardware in front of the users eyeballs, bearing most of its weight on the nose. Over extended gaming sessions, we could see this becoming uncomfortable -- and indeed, in our short time with the device we found our neck relaxing, begging to give in to the weight of the device. As silly as hung-head gaming might appear, however, the visual effect certainly does the trick -- creating the illusion of a large 3D television 4-6 feet in front of the user. It didn't add anything to Hot Shots Golf 6 in terms of gameplay or experience, but it certainly comes in a more compact form than a full size television. The fancy headgear could surely be a boon for gamers living in a tight space, but folks with room (and cash) to spare are probably better off with a proper flat screen. On the other hand, visors are way more futuristic looking. Don't believe us? See us get our Geordi La Forge on after the break.
Sony 'Prototype-SR' spotted at TGS 2012: the HMZ-T2 tacks on a camera, plays with user perception (video)
Remember the Sony HMZ-T2 3D head-mounted display that we tried on back at IFA? Well, it's being prominently featured here at TGS, too. Tucked away at a smaller, much more modest booth around the corner, however, is something a smidge more interesting. Kept behind glass and a safe distance away from our grubby mitts and sweaty foreheads resides the "Prototype-SR" (Substitutional Reality) that was outed on YouTube last week. Essentially, the unit appears to be the HMZ-T2 with a front-mounted camera for head tracking and camera functionality -- the sort of thing that will provide what's being called a 360-degree immersive entertainment experience. From what we can tell from the booth monitors, the unit displays 3D video overlaid in real space for the person wearing the device. Details are scarce and extremely limited demos were available in an apparent lottery (no luck here). You can rest assured that if we're able to snag one, though, we'll be sure to offer up some impressions. For now, take a look at the camera-wielding set of hi-tech goggles in the gallery below and the aforementioned video awaits just past the break.
Grab Sony's HMZ-T2 head-mounted display and play these games at Tokyo Game Show
Forget about that messy Oculus Rift, business -- Sony's got a properly futuristic looking (and shiny!) head-mounted display for gaming, too, and it's gonna make another public appearance at this year's Tokyo Game Show. Of course, Sony's effort doesn't also offer head tracking, but, again, it's much nicer looking, so we're willing to excuse major technical differences. A whole litany of games will be playable with the HMZ-T2 device at TGS, from Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance to Assassin's Creed 3 (some games are only demoable with the HMZ device, oddly). As we learned earlier today, the HMZ-T2 goes on sale (in Japan at least) this October for nearly $900. That Oculus Rift is starting to sound much more appealing, eh?
Sony reveals HMZ-T2 head-mounted display pricing, launch date and features in Japan
Sony rolled out its first head-mounted 3D visor last fall, and announced the HMZ-T2 followup recently at IFA 2012. Now in Japan it has revealed few more details about the changes it's made this time around as well as a release date and pricing. Scheduled to hit shelves on October 13th, the HMZ-T2 features all the upgrades we'd heard about: lighter total weight, redesigned head strap for improved comfort, ear buds instead of headphones plus 24p cinema support and a "Clear" panel drive mode for fast moving content. While we still don't have a US price the Japanese damage is 70,000 yen ($894), a 10,000 yen ($127) boost over last year's model which cost $799 in the US. Sony Japan has also put together an "Institute for Immersive Pleasure" Facebook page , and plans to show it off again at the Tokyo Game Show. Check out our hands-on impressions from IFA here, we'll let you know when there's more release information for other regions.%Gallery-163907%%Gallery-163650%
Sony HMZ-T2 3D display, heads-in
Sony didn't exactly go out of its way to talk up the new HMZ-T2 during its press conference the other day at IFA, never actually mentioning it on stage. The device did, however, pop up in a small corner of the company's show booth. The reason for the silence is pretty clear, when you get down to it -- not a lot has changed here. Really, the T2 is just a minor update to a first generation product, most of its changes revolving around making the admittedly slightly uncomfortable wearable a bit easier on your head. It's 100 grams lighter than its predecessor and features improvements to its adjustable parts. The head pad is larger and can be moved to better fit your head, the strap can be adjusted at a number of points and the sliders beneath the 0.7-inch OLED monitors can be adjusted independently from one another. Oh, and while there are Virtualphone built-in, there's also a headphone jack, so you can bring your own pair. All in all, we have to say it did feel a bit more comfortable than the set we tried on for the first time roughly this time last year. The headset also features different viewing modes, including 24p True Cinema for slower paced movies and Clear mode for action scenes, as well as Auto Color Temperature to help improve the picture. All told, however, it's not much to write home about -- if you were thinking of picking up the T1, this guy is certainly an improvement. If you've already got one to call your own, however, it's probably not worth the upgrade when it hits later this year. %Gallery-163907%
Sony quietly drops new HMZ-T2 Personal 3D viewer at IFA
Sony almost sneaked this one by us at today's IFA press event. In fact, it was never mentioned on stage and practically buried in the day's flood of PR. The HMZ-T2 is the company's next generation wearable 3D display. Aesthetically it doesn't appear very different from last year's T1 and, spec-wise, things seem largely the same as well. Put the head-mounted unit on and you'll be presented with a pair of 0.7-inch OLED monitors that deliver 45 degrees of three-dimensional entertainment. There's also the same Virtualphones tech baked in, that create the illusion of a 360-degree 5.1 surround sound system. The T2 distinguishes itself primarily through a refined design that makes it lighter and more comfortable (without resorting to shape-shifting liquid metal, either). For more, check out the PR below. %Gallery-163650%
