Slashdot Mirror


Designer Glasses With Microdisplay Unveiled

An anonymous reader writes to tell us about an Israeli company, Lumus-Optical, and their nicely designed eyeglasses featuring twin microdisplays and mini projectors. They will be demoed at CES in January. From the article: "The firm's latest prototype boasts dual 640 x 480 resolution displays as well as two wee projectors on each arm; the Lumus glasses can accept video inputs via an undisclosed connection, and projects an image akin to a '60-inch screen from 10 feet away.' Its Light-guide Optical Element technology allows the imagery to be reflected back on to the lenses so users can view them, all while being transparent enough to allow you to focus on the humans, trees, road block, or board room presentation ahead of you."

18 of 161 comments (clear)

  1. The goggles... by Tackhead · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...they do something!

  2. Finally, by rednip · · Score: 4, Insightful

    A way to watch porn 'in public' without being hassled by 'the man'. Better yet, can you imagine driving at 75 mph while your favorite 'artist' performs her special talent. Seriously, we'll look back to the 'good old days' when people were just distracted by their cell phones, and not email, porn, and shopping. Hopefully cars will drive themselves before 'Joe SUV' gets his hands on 'this'.

    --
    The force that blew the Big Bang continues to accelerate.
    1. Re:Finally, by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny
      A way to watch porn 'in public' without being hassled by 'the man'.
      Ah, to be young again...

      When you grow other, you'll be hassled by "the woman" when you watch porn...
    2. Re:Finally, by mandelbr0t · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I never said I couldn't afford it. I just said they are a waste of money given the lack of stress and general efficiency of public transit. Of course, I can understand that the brainwashed masses might have an emotional attachment to their vehicles which they have worked Oh So Hard to pay for. Enlightenment is difficult to acheive, n00b.

      mandelbr0t

      --
      "Please describe the scientific nature of the 'whammy'" - Agent Scully
    3. Re:Finally, by McTaggart · · Score: 3, Informative

      Just maybe the public transport where he is is better than where you are?

      1. Never had a bus not turn up
      2. Never had a bus driver not break a note for me (although I've never tried to buy a $1.30 fair with a fifty)
      3. Depends on the time, mornings and evenings, none. 3 in the afternoon it's still better than the unruly foul mouthed drivers that clog up the streets around where I live (I live near two schools)
      4. Bags are awesome
      5. I've only ever been late when it was my fault (ie, missing the bus)
      7. Nearest bus stop to me is about 100m away, though that bus only comes ever hour. Next nearest maybe 300m which two bus routes go past (both from the same train station) which effectively runs every 20 minutes.

      My journey to uni on the busses and trains is maybe 45 minutes, by car well over an hour through heavily congested freeways.

  3. Augmented Reality by Apocalypse111 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Lets get some higher resolution in these things and start doing some augmented reality! I can finally store a face next to a name, recall it in a subtle form through my glasses, and never have an awkward moment at a cocktail party every again!

    --
    There is no mod option "-1: Disagree" for a reason. "Overrated" is not an acceptable substitute. Post something instead.
    1. Re:Augmented Reality by RealErmine · · Score: 4, Funny

      never have an awkward moment at a cocktail party every again!

      How about "Look at the stupid glasses that guy's wearing!"

      --
      Dewey, you fool! Your decimal system has played right into my hands!
    2. Re:Augmented Reality by IdleTime · · Score: 3, Funny

      I need glasses that give me an image similar to watching a 23" from an armlength's distance

      --
      If you mod me down, I *will* introduce you to my sister!
    3. Re:Augmented Reality by Virtual_Raider · · Score: 3, Insightful
      You beat me to the GPS example =) But I thought of a couple more... I recently bought some bluetooth stereo earphones to listen to mp3s on my mobile. Imagine if you could also conect this 'designer glasses' to a cell phone and be able to read your sms =)

      It would be really neat to have the small envelope icon pop up in a corner of your vision as another mean of informing you. Of course, this is not for everybody and I'm already anticipating the reaction of the I-don't-want-that-therefore-it-sucks crowd. It would also take some good design to make it so that it doesn't block your field of vision, I wouldn't want to be driving in the middle of a busy road and have a giant sms envelope popping right in front of my eyes. Yet, done well it would absolutely kick ass.

      Since I'm day-dreaming, how about coupling that with those keyboards made of light ala Final Fantasy Movie that came out for the Palm. You could see the keyboard in your glasses and type in thin air a reply. And don't forget a cyberpunk favorite, the digital watch.

      The future in the mirror is closer than it appears.

      --
      +Raider of the lost BBS
  4. Gadget Makers: get some fashion sense by QuantumG · · Score: 3, Insightful

    How freakin' dorky do those "designer" glasses look? What's so hard here, integrate your displays into a normal looking pair of sunglasses and make them no more bulky while doing so. Yes, that means you are going to have to do something revolutionary and hide that revolutionary technology in something that looks normal. Cause that's what people want when they are out in public; to look like everyone else; and that's where this product will be used.

    --
    How we know is more important than what we know.
  5. Undisclosed? by grassy_knoll · · Score: 4, Funny
    Lumus glasses can accept video inputs via an undisclosed connection


    Undisclosed? What, does the input jack require lube or something?

    "...So you see, the electrical impulses are carried along the central nervous system then back out through the epidural layer near the magnet on the glasses... "

    "Look, I don't care how it works that is Not an entrance!"

    [badum-ching]
  6. Home page, earlier products by Victor+Fors · · Score: 4, Informative

    link to home page: http://www.lumusvision.com/ They have a technology section displaying an overview of the refraction elements used to display the image. They also seem to have developed (and brought to market) an earlier model of these glasses. I admit they do look shiny, but if i bought VR goggles i'd primarily use them at home. It's a cool toy, but would lug around something like that for everyday use?

  7. Nerd goggles by eclectro · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...they do something!

    Can I get a date by wearing the goggles? Or can I get a girl to date me by her wearing them? Or can I date the girl in the picture? How do they work exactly??

    --
    Take the cheese to sickbay, the doctor should see it as soon as possible - B'Elanna Torres, "Learning Curve"
  8. Dangers of extended use? by dave562 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    What are the implications of using something like this on a regular basis? It's pretty well documented that people experience eye strain from staying focused at a fixed focal depth for too long (ie. when looking at a monitor). I've had my own vision deteriorate pretty significantly since I have started using computers despite genetics to the opposite (ie. my mom and dad both have great vision and they are in their late 50s). I shudder to think about the implications of remaining focused at a depth of less than inch from the eye for extended periods of time.

    1. Re:Dangers of extended use? by mpoulton · · Score: 4, Informative

      I shudder to think about the implications of remaining focused at a depth of less than inch from the eye for extended periods of time.

      You're not. The focal distance is much further away than that -- the apparent focal plane floats in front of the user at a comfortable distance. Thus, eye strain should be reduced compared to normal computer use.

      --
      I am a geek attorney, but not your geek attorney unless you've already retained me. This is not legal advice.
  9. Re:Huh? by MustardMan · · Score: 4, Informative

    http://www.bradleyrhodes.com/Papers/thad-glasses-h alf.jpg

    Thad Starner, formerly of MIT and now at Georgia Tech has been using a wearable computer with a display built into his glasses for YEARS. This is NOT a new idea. It wasn't a new idea a month ago when slashdot posted an article from another company doing the same thing, and it won't be a new idea a month from now when they post an article about ANOTHER company developing the same thing. Problem is, none of these things ever actually comes to market, so you get a bunch of people reinventing the wheel and no one actually mass producing it.

  10. Efficiency by Colin+Smith · · Score: 4, Insightful

    general efficiency of public transit This would be the definition of efficiency whick leads a public transit journey to take 2 hours, 15 miles, a change of route and a 30 minute wait in the rain compared to a 20 minute, 5 mile warm, dry journey in relative comfort.

    Enlightenment is easy.

    --
    Deleted
  11. Wii Controller by TranscendentalAnarch · · Score: 4, Funny

    I was going to say that, at least with this type of display, you won't get any idiots chucking their Wii controllers at their 60" plasmas... But then I thought that, if you're stupid enough to do that, you'll be stupid enough to swing the nun chuck around and smack the crap out of your face and the glasses.