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Wearable LCD Display
fenimor writes "PhysOrg reports, that Mitsubishi is going to introduce next year a headset with a small liquid-crystal display screen which is positioned in front, slightly below eye level so as not to obstruct normal vision. Designed for users who need to perform multiple tasks simultaneously, this tiny wearable heads-up display is expected to cost only US $400."
If they perfect these things, I'd use one as my normal monitor. I have no particular love of having a big ass thing on my desk (even an LCD). If it covers the same apparent field of view, I'd go for it.
Combined with a folding keyboard, this could help portable computers get a lot smaller too.
Odds are it draws a lot less power than a full size LCD panel; should help portable PC power consumption as well; I think the LCD is one of the major power hogs.
the article suggests it only takes a tv signal. I'd like one of these for my flight simming. My desk just can't bear one more monitor.
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The video is cute and futuristic but what's the resolution? If it's under 800x600 it's kind of useless. 1024x768 and I'd consider it, although I can't see it improving my sex life.
Yes / No ? I really am not sure here...
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"users who need to perform multiple tasks simultaneously"
Or maybe people should simply unplug once in a while and enjoy some of the real world. All I can imagine is some idiot using this while he's driving and causing an accident...this is far worse than cell phones. Yeah sure there's a power advantage like someone mentioned above for laptops...we'd be better off spending money on designing new longer lasting batteries than this thing.
The optics in... well anything assume that the glasses I wear cover the viewfinder/eyepiece/whatever - which is a reasonable assumption, as if I am looking through a camcorder or telescope eyepiece then I will be looking directly at it, so the glasses will lie between the eyepiece and my pupil.
Of course "tall" aviator-style glasses cover the entire field of view with corrective lenses and so they'll work, but as lots of (most?) people wear "short" fashion specs the part of the field of view that is occupied by the LCD display may not intersect that part of the display occupied by the lens.
Will glasses still work then?
Okay, I'm done. Now my big question is simple:
Anyone can buy a Gameboy Advance with a backlit LCD for about $79.
Anyone can buy a digital camera with built in 1.5" LCD for $120.
Anyone can buy a 15" LCD display for their PC for $300 on average.
So WHY is it that a monacle LCD using (technically) less technology costs 3-4 times that price? It's bloody stupid.
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Actually, I am more concerned with eye health.
We were always told not to read or watch TV too closely. How healthy is it to put a light source inches from your eyes for significant amount of time?
I can't really tell from the webpage, but it seems the same as the MicroOptical HUD I have sitting on my desk. Its been around for a few years now, its certainly not brand new. Can anyone explain the ins and outs?
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Actually, knowing the VR and AR industry, this is actually a very cheap wearable-style "HMD" - $400 is a steal (heh, I remember paying $250.00 for a open-box StuntMaster from Best Buy in 1993 or so).
Reason is the Path to God - Anon
What it can be used for is to access material related to whatever physical task you are currently performing. If you're working on your car, you could access electronic reference materials. If you're walking around a strange town or city, you could pull up a map of the area, a list of restaurants, or a language reference if you're in another country. I don't think people would really be trying to use it to, say, write code while they're driving (hopefully!).
Todays 20yr old boys can barely control a desktop without it getting invested and complain bitterly when they got to press forward for to long in their shooter or bullets don't end up exactly where they are pointing.
Oh and as any cop can tell you, yes people think that they can drive and talk on a phone at the same time. They also can tell you how many people get killed each year while doing that.
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You may solo them, I prefer them in a group.