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A Computer Display in Ordinary Sunglasses?

Posted by Cliff on from the bet-you've-been-waiting-for-these dept.

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.

2 of 182 comments (clear)

  1. Mann already did this by s20451 · · Score: 3, Informative
    Check out Steve Mann's web page, which has a picture of him wearing his display sunglasses. Not shown in the scene is the waist pack which holds the hardware, and the clever one-hand "keyboard" he uses for data entry. I've seen him walking around campus wearing it; he even teaches a graduate course at the University of Toronto on the subject. Very cool.

    Also see this paper at wearcam.org.

    --
    Toronto-area transit rider? Rate your ride.
  2. Re:isn't it bad for your eyes? by DonaldP · · Score: 3, Informative


    That would be true, except that the lens changes the focal length of the display to appear "normal" - ie at the same depth as other things around you.

    You can see this effect for yourself with a magnifier lens of some kind. Preferably a jewele's loupe or some other small magnifying lens.

    Hold the lens up to one eye. Keep both eyes open. Hold a paper with writing up to the eye with the lens. Move the paper back and forth until it comes into focus. You'll see what I mean.

    It's just like looking into a video camera's eyepiece.