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Interactive data eyeglasses could bring the PC to your face, won't fix nearsightedness
Leave it the mad scientists at Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft to concoct this one. Rather than just figuring out a way to read back information in one-way fashion on one's glasses (think Sixth Sense, but with eyewear), these folks are diving right in to the real stuff: bidirectional communication. In essence, their goal for the interactive data eyeglasses is to track eye movement in order to allow ones retinas to scroll through menus, flip through options and zoom in / out on a map. Obviously, a microdisplay will be necessary as well, but that's just half the battle. We'll confess -- we're still not humble enough to take our Vuzix HMD out in public, but we just might swap our Transitions™ for a set of these.[Via OLED-Display]
Darren Murph06.04.2009
ATC3K action cam beautifully retrofitted into ski goggles
Remember Oregon Scientific's ATC3K digital action camera? Yeah, it's back and better than ever. Over at Biobug, one rather talented modder has decided to integrate said device into his UVEX ski goggles, and the result is nothing short of breathtaking. All that was required was a soldering iron, some cabling, a Dremel cutting tool, an ATC3K camera, AA battery box and a small plastic case. Oh, and time -- lots and lots of spare time. Hit the read link for a pictorial trip down assembly lane, and feel free to create your own for this winter's best-ever YouTube vids.
Darren Murph05.19.2009
New cable brings iPhone, 3D support to Vuzix eyewear
We know your pain, Vuzix users. You hop on the subway just trying to enjoy a little in-your-face action before the workday begins, and within minutes the accusations and stereotypes start flying. "Look, it's Geordi La Forge!" "LeVar Burton, what's good?!" "Can I try my Zune on that?" Depressing, really. Unfortunately for you, Vuzix's latest cable will not make any of that any more sufferable, though it will enable you to use your existing eyewear with Apple's iPhone and enjoy the spoils of side-by-side, interlaced and anaglyph 3D content. Said cable will be bundled in with the company's iWear AV230XL, though existing customers will definitely want to snag the standalone version for $39.95. The full release is after the break.
Darren Murph04.02.2009
Vuzix dips toes in augmented reality, makes video eyewear cool again
Nintendo ain't the only company making waves at the Game Developers Conference this year -- oh no, we've also got Vuzix gettin' down and dirty with a brand new addition to its video eyewear segment. Said outfit has teamed up with metaio in order to showcase a new Augmented Reality Accessory Kit for the VR920 head-mounted display. The bundle will include the CamAR -- a clip-on USB camera that is designed to accurately track objects and the user's position in three-dimensional space -- along with the PhasAR wireless augmented reality input controller. When these are used in unison, users are able to simultaneously see what's going on in the Matrix and in the display. For instance, imagine reading a book that's tied into a program on the VR920; as you read along, images can pop up and complement the text. Far out, right? The full release is after the break, and we've been told that the attachment should sell for around $100 on top of the $399 VR920 when it ships around mid-Summer.
Darren Murph03.25.2009
Vuzix's $249.95 iWear AV310 Widescreen eyewear now shipping globally
It's taken awhile for Vuzix's iWear AV310 Widescreen to escape the show floor and begin shipping en masse, but those looking for a little on-the-go video can finally strap a set on after handing over $249.95. Reportedly, these things throw up a virtual 52-foot screen viewed from 9-feet (we take it that means "big"), and there's independent +2 to -5 diopter focus levels on each side in order to keep things from blurring out on you. You can also expect upwards of five hours from a single AA battery, and given the adjustable, hypoallergenic nose piece and the "comfort fit" earbuds, we'd say you just might be able to survive 5.5 (give or take) straight episodes of 24. If you're curious as to where to find a pair, head to Brookstone, SkyMall, MicroCenter, Hammacher Schlemmer or Vuzix.com. Full release is after the break.%Gallery-45372%
Darren Murph02.20.2009
Vuzix to unveil new, less cool-looking HMD at CES
Looks like we'll all get our first good look at Vuzix's newest head-mounted display -- the Wrap 920AV -- at CES in a few days. They're apparently very similar to the company's previous offering, though they boast a totally fresh appearance. Vuzix promises that the optics have been improved and will offer a better viewing experience, but we don't have any other specifics about the device yet. We'll definitely check them out in Vegas, but we have to say: the Geordi La Forge look was way better than the new wrap-shades, guys.
Laura June Dziuban01.02.2009
Apple patents motion-sensitive HMD concept in defiance of good taste
Apple has added to its legacy of zany patents a head-mounted display with head-tracking technology intended to reduce viewer fatigue and disorientation (and induce nausea, if we're lucky) by simulating a theater or other viewing environment. The wearer of the device can pick a seat in the fake theater and then manipulate the image, zoom in and out, and look around thanks to an accelerometer and gyroscope built into the goggles. Few of these patents make it to market, but if you're eager to throw social acceptability out the window, there are already iPod and iPhone-compatible head-mounted displays on the market -- you'll just have to do without the positioning gimmick until Apple is crazy enough to actually sell this thing. [Via TUAW]
Samuel Axon11.07.2008
Nikon announces Media Port UP300x head-mounted PMP
Just when we were getting used to having most Nikon announcements thoroughly preceded by a flood of leaks, the company's managed to totally surprise us by introducing a new head-mounted display with PMP features -- and it actually looks pretty sweet. The WiFi-enabled 8GB Media Port UP UP300x has a .44-inch 640 x 480 screen that appears to be the equivalent of a 50-inch image viewed from about 10 feet away, and includes a motion sensor that allows media functions to be controlled through head movements. (There's also a "basic" 4GB UP300 that omits the motion control features.) Codec support is pretty slim, but there's a browser app and a new UP media store that allows for direct downloads. Two AA batteries will last for two hours of video or 270 minutes of audio, which should be enough time for you to look thoroughly like a dork, but we won't lie -- we'd buy one of these in a heartbeat if they ever make it out of Japan.[Via Akihabara News]
Nilay Patel10.07.2008
Vuzix rolls out 'first' widescreen HMD
Although the iWear AV310 Widescreen from Vuzix isn't the first 3D HMD we've come across, or the largest virtual display (likened to a 52" screen viewed from 9-feet), it's the first 16:9 widescreen version to hit the market. Equipped for use with both NTSC and PAL, this unit will run you about $250 and has a mysterious "video" input for use with a wide range of devices, though there's currently nothing to say what style of connector can be used or what resolution it runs at. Oh well... we're still waiting on a headtracking version anyway.Update: As a commenter pointed out, this likely isn't the first "widescreen" HMD, though the company is claiming it's the first 16:9 model.[Thanks, Greg]
Stephanie Patterson09.17.2008
Motorola patent application reveals cellphone / HMD combo craziness
It looks like Motorola isn't about to let Apple have the goofy, non-existent product spotlight to itself, with a recent patent application of its revealing some plans of its own for a head-mounted display. As you can see above, however, this one is no ordinary HMD, with it also able to be folded up into an apparently over-sized cellphone for times when you want to look slightly less conspicuous. Of course, the chances of such a product actually making it off the drawing board are pretty slim (thankfully), and no doubt even less likely given the recent cuts to Motorola's research division.
Donald Melanson06.20.2008
Myvu's Shades 301 iPod Edition gets hands-on treatment
Surely you remember that Solo Plus HMD that Myvu aimed at iPod owners late last year? Wait, what? You purged that from your memory as soon as you saw it? Ah well, looks like you'll be on yet another blotting mission after peeking this, as the aforesaid outfit has delivered yet another option for those looking to check out iPod clips on their own personal theater and destroy any chance at garnering friends. The Shades 301 iPod Edition, which is set to cost two Benjamins, actually looks quite different (and dare we say, a smidgen better) than the Solo Plus, and reportedly comes bundled with a pair of Ultimate Ears earbuds, detachable Dock Connector cable, remote, integrated battery and a two-piece cable manager for its neck cabling. If you're inexplicably overcome with an urge to see more, you can check out a brief hands-on by following the read link below.
Darren Murph05.10.2008
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]
Nilay Patel04.17.2008
Omni-directional treadmill allows individuals to sashay through virtual cities
Though not the first omni-directional treadmill we've ever seen, this version crafted for the EU-funded CyberWalk Project is entirely more interesting. The 6- x 6-meter device features an active walking area of 4.5- x 4.5-meters, and later this month, individuals anxious to prance through a virtual city will be able to strap on a head-mounted display, lace up their LA Lights and indulge in escapism. Aside from giving curious persons the ability to walk through a recreated version of ancient Pompeii, the device could also be used to meander through buildings not yet created or give firefighters a way to train without placing them in harm's way. Now, if only there was an option to dissolve into pixels and teleport to locales you find particularly intriguing, we'd be sold.[Via Slashdot]
Darren Murph04.12.2008
Brother Industries shows off eyeglass-mountable retina scanning display
While it's yet to be seen if eyeglass-mountable displays will become as commonly used as, say, Bluetooth headsets anytime soon, Brother Industries at least looks to be making some steady progress at shrinking 'em down to a reasonable size, and it's got a few other tricks up its sleeve to boot. That latter bit comes from its use of a retina-scanning system as opposed to a simple LCD mounted in front of your eye, which effectively uses your retina as a screen to make it appear like images are actually floating in space in front of you. What's more, while the eyepiece currently needs to be wired to a rather sizable contraption in order to pump out those free-floating images, the company says it expects to be able to switch to a wireless system and shrink things down to a decidedly more wearable size by 2010.[Thanks, Tom]
Donald Melanson04.11.2008
HARV gives soldiers a robot's-eye view
While battlefield robots are certainly plenty capable with their current control systems, the folks at Chatten Associates seem to think they can do things one better, and they're now touting their so-called HARV (Head-Aimed Remote Viewer) system as a potential alternative. That consists of a gimbal-mounted video system on the robot itself, which gets paired with some gyro-equipped goggles that let the robot to look around wherever the soldier moves his head. Of course, they didn't stop things there, with the setup also offering a 36x optical zoom, night vision, and other advantages that Chatten says can improve mission performance by 300% to 400%. As if that wasn't enough, the firm's also now apparently hard at work on an updated system set for delivery to the military next year that'll add a thermal imager, a higher resolution, and a laser rangefinder, among other things they're probably not willing to tell us. Head on over after the break for a video of the system in action.
Donald Melanson02.13.2008
Dreamax Indicube Linux PMP comes with head-mounted display
Given that carting around an HMD with your PMP cuts down on that whole portability factor and all, but this new Linux PMP from Dreamax is notable for coming bundled with one all the same. The head-mounted Active Matrix 3DS OLED-XL microdisplay visor is being made by eMagin, known for their Z800 3D visor, and sports an 800 x 600 resolution reportedly equivalent to sitting seven feet from a 54-inch screen. The visor includes an integrated magnetic earphone station, adjustable nose clip and other "ergonomic enhancements" indicating that HMD companies might actually be aware that wearing these things is usually brutally uncomfortable. The Indicube i-800 itself is a Linux-based PMP with 12GB onboard storage plus an 8GB flash card, expandable to 32GB flash. Sizing up at 2.3 x 4.8 x 0.9-inches, the Indicube sports a USB 2.0 interface and an NTSC/PAL input that auto-detects AV from a number of sources including TVs, DVD players, iPods, PCs, other PMPs, smartphones, and game consoles. No word on price or availability for the package, but the eMagin HMD will also be sold separately starting in March. [Via Linux Devices]
Barb Dybwad01.07.2008
Lumus-Optical's LOE-based glasses get pictured
Just as expected, Lumus-Optical is all set to showcase its microdisplay-packin' spectacles at CES, and while it doesn't seem that the technology has changed since we first heard of them, we've now got a slew of photographs to go by. Apparently, the glasses will boast twin microdisplays and an ultra-thin LOE lens, which can purportedly immerse the wearer by creating the effect of viewing a 60-inch screen from ten feet away. Also of note, the company claims that unlike gaudy alternatives, these won't make you look like a complete tool, but judging by the image above, we aren't so sure that's entirely accurate.Read - Press release [PDF]Read - Photos
Darren Murph01.03.2008
RelaxView is back to distract tattoo customers
We've certainly got to hand it to Dutch retailer relaxView B.V., which is making a name for itself by bundling off-the-shelf components together with a "hygiene set" and marketing the package as a distraction kit for providers of painful services. Following the presumed success of its relaxView 5.0 Dental Pack with tooth torturers worldwide, the company is back with what appears to be the exact same set of HMD plus video discman, but being sold this time around as the 6.0 Tattoo Pack. (FYI, we have no idea why the 5.0 and 6.0 packs both incorporate the relaxView 3.0 head mounted display -- and not the relaxView 4.0, which is the self-proclaimed "Rolls-Royce in video eyewear.") If you're looking to get your favorite tattoo artist something extra special this holiday season, relaxView will part with this kit for a mere €499 ($733) until Christmas, after which the price leaps up to €569 ($836).
Evan Blass12.07.2007
YelloMosquito delivers Qingbar Gp300: the wireless HMD
Although you may not be familiar with YelloMosquito, chances are you're totally aware of the business that 22Moo is in. Turns out, the former is simply a division of the latter, which is busy boasting about the Qingbar Gp300. 'Course, we've known that completely wireless head-mounted displays were in the works, but YM is claiming that these unsightly things are the world's first cordless LCOS video glasses to feature a built-in media player complete with DivX support. Reportedly, users can enjoy getting mocked while watching a 50-inch virtual screen, and they can load up their files via the built-in miniSD slot. If you just can't resist the urge to relive your Virtual Boy glory days, you can pre-order the December-bound unit now for $299 -- otherwise, you'll be laying down a Benjamin more (or smartly saving a mint) when it ships en masse.[Image courtesy of YelloMosquito]
Darren Murph11.26.2007
Vuzix introduces LV920: the HMD for the visually impaired
While it's typically far too easy to bash on a new head-mounted display due to its unsightly design, we'll restrain ourselves when talking about the LV920. Vuzix, which veterans may remember as Icuiti, has introduced a new HMD that is tailored specifically for individuals with macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa and other low vision problems. Apparently, preclinical trials have shown promising results, and the firm is aiming to ship 'em out en masse sometime this quarter. Vuzix claims that the eyewear will improve vision when reading and boost color perception, but we'd be tempted to wait for a third party confirmation (or denial) before throwing down on something like this.
Darren Murph11.14.2007