A Computer Display in Ordinary Sunglasses? 182
DonaldP asks: "I've been making head-mounted displays for wearable computers for a couple or three years now; I think my latest and greatest 3rd Generation display is a big step ahead! It fits inside a normal-looking pair of sunglasses. Why would I do something like this? As far as I know, this is one of the only ones available out there - the only others that come close are made by MicroOptical Corporation, but it's been years and you STILL can't actually BUY any of their products. With large companies like Xybernaut holding plenty of patents on wearable computers and going strong, is there a place for my little one-man company? Any tips for making it on my own? Or is my best hope to hook up with a giant?" I've been waiting for a nice and portable HMD for years, and this has the advantage of not making you look like a Borg reject (although some of you might like that look). HMDs still have a way to go to be practical for everyday use (many still require perfect vision or contacts because they are clumsy with glasses) but I'm sure these drawbacks will be fixed with time.
Apple's future's so bright (Score:2, Interesting)
Input (Score:3, Interesting)
Solve the man/machine interface and you won't need to make the displays.
nefarious and otherwise. (Score:5, Interesting)
"Why would I do with something like this?"
Hmmm, I have private investigator friends (insurance fraud, they don't get to carry guns and drive Ferraris) that would love a pair of completely innocuous shades that would let them point say... a video camera in a suitcase one way while they are looking elseware.
We actually had a discussion about this the other day, wondering if you could do it wireless and have the antenna and power pack/receiver disguised as a "sports loop".
I would like this same rig because I am just plain a Bad Person ;}
isn't it bad for your eyes? (Score:4, Interesting)
it's all in the optics (Score:4, Interesting)
Barriers to entry into the hardware market (Score:5, Interesting)
--CTH
Wearables ... (Score:3, Interesting)
I wear prescription glasses. Would this cause any problems?
Is it possible to use this with a Windows-based computer? (Don't freak out - I have my reasons and they are valid ones)
Can you drop the price a hair?
Seriously, I can foresee a great number of uses for this. I would suggest you go for it, but hire a patent lawyer to do some research for you. There's probably a ton of prior art on this by other companies, but there might be some government research you can base off of.
Anyway, good luck and all.
Here's a "Why" for you (Score:2, Interesting)
A friend of a friend of mine is gradually losing his sight to it. Apparently he can still see just a limited area at the center of his former field of vision. But he still uses the comuter (and watched the WTC collapse).
If the "eye strain" objection cited elsewhere isn't a factor, something like this might at least return a full view of the computer screen (and then, movies? live video feed?
Concept for VR Navigation (Score:3, Interesting)
<code>
________
|\
| \___/ |
| | | |
| |___| |
| / \ |
|/_____\|
</code>
The user would normally stand on the center square. Each of the divisions ahead, behind, to the left, and to the right represents a direction that the user may wish to go. While in the virtual world, all the user has to do to move forward, is to take a single step forward onto the division in front of him. Similarly the division behind him would cause him to back up. The left and right would strafe.
The left and right could potentially be a 'turn' as it is in most FPS, but I fealt that the turning should rather be handled by the HMD (say via a Boom Tracker) due to the fact that side stepping is a more natural result to taking a step left and moving your head is a more natural 'turn' motion.
Anyway, that was my idea and since I don't have the time to build it, I'm sharing it with everyone here. A tip on building tho. It would probably be easiest to take a cheapo gamepad and strip it out for its interface. That way the electronics and software will be compatible with existing and future programs.
If anyone builds one of these things, I'd love to hear about it. Shoot me a mail at: jNOSPAMbanes@techie.com
Just remove the NOSPAM.
...then get posted to Slashdot... (Score:3, Interesting)
You should also try and figure out a way to get your page posted someplace where it'll be seen by about a quarter-million geeks who've been dreaming of something like this for at least ten years.
Seriously, at $1500 a pop, limited to 320x240 greyscale, and with a 2-month waiting list [aeinnovations.com] (and that was presumably before today), I'd guess that you're not quite at the point where every single one of us will buy one, but even so, you probably did just secure at least a few orders. (It'd be interesting if you'd post back in a few days with the results.) The sweet spot would probably be if you could hit 640x480 and at least 8-bit color without going too far over $600.
Still, this is already pretty nice -- I'd call myself "tempted", but not quite "seriously tempted", as it is; definitely interested enough to keep an eye on your progress. The price point is probably more important than the features: I'd be more likely to buy it as it is if you got the price down than at the current price if you got the features up.
Good luck.
Complete wearable (Score:2, Interesting)
Well, maybe you might want another battery
Sure it has a redundant screen. I used to hate that idea. But now I realize that it just means I can still use the machine in situations where the wearable is not appropriate (like the beach) or when I've already taken it off.
Every year these little handhelds get more powerful and the peripheral market around them gets richer. I think this is the critical mass that will finally allow the normal (non-EE) person to put together usable and powerful wearables. The HMD is really the missing link.
Just as an aside, I wrote the author about modifying my own M1 to his first-gen sunglasses hack some time ago, and he refused to do the job (for money, I mean) because he felt that his current design required too much "tuning" for each person's ergos. I guess he's licked that problem, and it's nice to know that some people really aren't just in it for the money. He's a good guy.
PDA Application? (Score:2, Interesting)
How about if you could figure a way to work this with a PDA? The resolution and lack of color would seem to work well with a Palm OS guy. You'd have to work on the interface a bit, but it'd be relatively cool to have your address book handy right where you could see it. You could scribble notes to yourself while walking down the street and what not. HMD+PDA+Expedia = easy navigation, or a quick car crash. (You get my point, though.) Combine your HMD with the black and white Clie's with the jog dial, and you may be able to sell some. Especially to those tech-crazy Japanese.
Time For CONVENIENT eBooks? (Score:2, Interesting)
The chief lament was that they were more incovenient than real books.
Elsewhere in the same issue, there was a story about computer displays embedded in (albeit oversized at the time) eyeglasses.
EUREKA!!!!!!!!
Re:Getting there (Score:3, Interesting)
Respectfully, this is WAY beyond what the state of the art can support right now, or in the foreseeable future.
It's a chicken-and-egg problem...the masses won't be interested in wearables until they are more or less equivalent to desktops. But until the masses are interested, the major players won't devote major funding to getting wearables up to desktop level. Which means that only hobbyists and small businesses will do it. Which means that progress will be very slow.
On the other hand, I think you may be overestimating what you really need. Instead of thinking "What do I need from a wearable in order to do the things that I do on my desktop?" try thinking "What can I do on my wearable that I can't do on my desktop?"
Here are some suggestions:
* have a combined MP3 player/watch/note taker/scheduler/data bank/voice-over-IP cell phone/email/pager, all in one go-anywhere device
* have a personal electronic assistant that helps you remember things based on your current surroundings and other cues (check out the Remembrance Agents Page [mit.edu] for more details)
* broadcast video of what you're seeing back to your home basestation. If you get mugged, you have a video of the guy's face. If you see a beautiful sunset, you can watch it (admittedly on a small screen) with your sweetie later.
* mapping software that updates in realtime, showing you where you are and providing you detailed instructions on how to get to your destination.
*
Dave Storrs
Re:nefarious and otherwise. (Score:5, Interesting)
Nearly all monochrome mini cameras are IR-sensitive. It was cheap night-vision.
Comment removed (Score:3, Interesting)
Face Reconigtion with added Camera? (Score:1, Interesting)
Then to the side of your vision (assumming higher res) brings up things like birthdays. Then you attach a mic listening for keywords like "..the email you sent me last week about
Sure, you need more computing power, better batterys, a mini camera, but the technology is not 10 years away...
Technology making it easier to cheat (Score:2, Interesting)
If these things get mass produced, and I hope they do, they will probably be treated by academia like the origonal pocket calculators. If you get caught with one, you get expelled. Watching this industry mature is going to be very interesting. Its just one step closer to the cyberpunk lifestyle in Neal Stephenson's Snow Crash. And damn, it is cool.
Re:Start small... (Score:2, Interesting)
I doubt that you could market this on your own. I'd expect you'd need some technical help, you do all the mechanics, optics and software by yourself! wow! but are all these areas up to the required standard for sale? Maybe you could find some partners or contract some good people. Sorry to have to use a dirty word but you will need some "marketing" to! Can't believe you'd want to spend the time necessary doing this.
Are there independant testing labs for the safety of optical devices? (I think there are but have no details.) If this was established and I could see your device working, send me the bill.