Computer Monitor In Eyeglasses

ozancakmakci writes "We have all seen science fiction ideals of computer displays concealed in eyeglasses. One of the earlier spectacle-based designs was created by David Bettinger and disclosed in US Patent 4,806,011. Advances in fabrication technologies are now allowing complicated surface profiles to be manufactured. Exploitation of a complicated surface profile leads to low element count designs. Researchers at the University of Central Florida, CREOL/College of Optics & Photonics have designed and fabricated a computer monitor in eyeglasses that uses sophisticated surface profiles to achieve a compact design. The current specifications include an 8mm exit pupil, 20-degree field of view, 15mm eye clearance, and a resolution of 1.5 arcminutes. Follow the link for two pictures of this latest prototype." Read on for some of the challenges in designing a workable eyeglasses-based display.

Regardless of market potential, there are several optical engineering challenges that need to be overcome before displays in eyeglasses become pervasive. From an optical engineering point of view, the design space is large enough and designers have to make choices. A good example of such a choice is choosing just the right field of view while maintaining high image quality and a large exit pupil. Exit pupil of an optical system is analogous to the windows at your home, the larger the windows, the easier it is to see the outside world. It has been challenging to design and fabricate a large field of view and a large exit pupil for an eyeglass based display.

Re:utility?

[John Hasler]

No need to focus close. The physical distance doesn't matter. The optics can be designed to allow the user to focus at infinity.

Re:utility?

[Peter La Casse]

I don't think "utility" is the right word. The utility is clear, if the challenges can be surmounted. Of course, eye strain is a concern for any display technology.

I can even live with 640x480 resolution - just use a motion detector to scroll the view across a virtual desktop when I move my head.

Re:utility?

[jx100]

I don't think "utility" is the right word. The utility is clear, if the challenges can be surmounted. Of course, eye strain is a concern for any display technology.

I can even live with 640x480 resolution - just use a motion detector to scroll the view across a virtual desktop when I move my head.

An even better idea: how about one that scrolls along with the motion of the eye? It'd be even less necessary motion, and possibly far more natural than moving one's head around.

I wonder...

[PieSquared]

While watching a movie or something seems to be the most obvious use of this type of system, I think the most interesting uses would be those that involve leaving most of the screen clear at any given time. A HUD for a soldier, sure... or a little digital clock and mini forcast (like forcast fox) whenever you look up and to the right or something for a civilian. You could even use it to add a 3D picture of something to every day life, if you added a camera or a motion sensor... I just can't wait until someone makes a popup virus for one of these... hijack wireless or bluetooth connected to the device and an ad appears 10 feet in front of you every 5 minutes... that would be interesting, especially if such a device were required for some tracking system :P

Re:submitter is the author?

[Lord_Dweomer]

Agreed on the background. A good start on the history and the major players in this field can be found on Wikipedia [wikipedia.org]. In includes a nice timeline with pictures of the various forms the technology has evolved into over the years.

One thing I didn't see on there and maybe a Slashdotter can help me...is the wearable unit created by one of the folks at the MIT Media Lab I believe. It was a tiny little laser that looked about the size of two watch batteries stacked together and it clipped to the top of a regular pair of glasses (so no horrid form factor) and projected a low-power laser directly into the eye which displayed the screen. Can anybody provide links to this? Is this something commercially available yet? Seems like all these people wasting their time would be better served just making an add on for regular glasses as people are more than fine buying them for purely aesthetic purposes these days and those frames would look a helluva lot better than anything a technology designer would come up with.

Re:utility?

[hcob$]

Except your eye naturally "shifts" position every few milliseconds I believe. It's a way for you to continually see since your eyes tend to "disappear" anything that is completely motionless.