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All other head-mounted displays are opaque; these are transparent.

That's not actually true. A transparent, in-glasses display was featured on Slashdot in 2001. Five Years Ago.

Posting as AC since I'm not at home.

I wrote on my homepage (aeinnovations.com) a bit about this.

The core idea is that it's important to keep in mind that the camera can only record what the user's actually looking at.

I worry about these all around less than I worry about the existing ubiquitous "security" cameras - some of which are hidden, and all of which are being monitored by who-knows-who.

http://www.aeinnovations.com/panopticon.php is the page in case anyone is interested.

Posting as AC since I'm not at home.

I wrote on my homepage (aeinnovations.com) a bit about this.

The core idea is that it's important to keep in mind that the camera can only record what the user's actually looking at.

I worry about these all around less than I worry about the existing ubiquitous "security" cameras - some of which are hidden, and all of which are being monitored by who-knows-who.

http://www.aeinnovations.com/panopticon.php is the page in case anyone is interested.

Do "X" in/from country "A" and you're a criminal, because "A" has a law against it.

Do "X" in/from country "B" and you're not a criminal, because "B" doesn't have a law against it.

Or have I missed something? Maybe the question is more of a moral one (Lawful/Unlawful doesn't necessarily mean Right/Wrong).

Seeing as how I did this very thing last night... just grab 8 AA batteries and a holder, then connect the holder to the camera/transmitter. Absolutely no funkiness, just plain 12 volts.

Of course, you can also replace the crappy camera with a decent one (try Supercircuits). You might want details on the wiring for hooking it up, too.

So many possibilities...

handheld with projection system. It has the standard touch sensitive lcd (or LEP or whatever), but it uses a single chip reflective projector to put a *huge* picture up on any viewable surface. It's not very steady, so integrate some motion sensors in the device and some hardware to steady the projection (IR for distance to surface (image size), accelerometer for lateral stabalization).

When the projection is running, the touch screen on the device is still the input method.

But really, why not go all the way. I wear glasses, so give me a covert HMD. Something that can't be seen by the rest of the world, but that gives me unrestricted hands free access to my "handheld".

Then steal an idea from MIT and put a ring on each index finger. Radio connected, position sensing, and presure sensitive. Touch the left one with your thumb and the on-disply pointer tracks with movements of the right. Tap the right one, and it clicks, rotate the right one (around your finger) and it's like that little roller on your mouse.

Think all this is fantasy? I read too much science fiction? I think not.

single chip projectors
accelerometers for displacement
covert HMDs
The One Ring (fictional, I think)

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 (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.

And they only cost $1500 US and take 4-10 weeks. Not bad considering they aren't even mass-produced!
Purchase a 3rd Generation HMD

My preference for a wearable is the good old shoulder holster design. Not very roomy, but wearables should be small and lightweight. Wireless networking, CF Microdrive, Twiddler keyboard, and finally this amazing thing for display (this guy fits a HMD into normal sunglasses, and it looks 100% cool!!)