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| 19.2.2012 | 1 year ago
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Innovega to release contact lens displays.
Innovega Inc has developed contact lenses capable of presenting high resolution images for entertainment or augmented reality applications.
“Conventional mobile device screens are too small to read and certainly too small to enjoy. Over the past months we have demonstrated contact lens enabled eyewear for mobile devices including smartphones, portable game devices and media players that deliver panoramic, high-resolution experiences for entertainment and planned Augmented Reality (AR)* applications”, said Steve Willey, Innovega CEO. “During this same period, we collaborated with partners to finalize initial specifications of launch platforms which include a screen size that is equivalent to a 240 inch television (viewed at a usual distance of 10 feet)”.
The lens uses ‘micro components’ which are so small that, when switched off, the user is able to focus normally on everyday objects. When switched on, it allows light from the display to pass through the center of the pupil, and light from the surrounding environment to pass through the outer portion of the pupil. Each of these sets of light rays produces an image on the retina simultaneously with the other set. They are superimposed to form a single integrated image.
While a consumer release of the product is likely 2-3 years away, the company is also working with DARPA for a military version of the device.
!!!
I knew some groups were working on this, and had written about it before (including recently here and here), but I had no idea they were this far along! 2-3 years till we start to see it! That’s pretty amazing! (And I’m completely un-surprised that DARPA - aka the US’ fringe science division - has their hands in this.)
Btw, google and motorola are rumored to be working on some AR specs as well. Unlike these AR lenses, the google version is a pair of glasses, which is less sexy, of course, but they seem to be much more versatile - including a flash camera and a way to control the ‘screen’ with subtle movements.
Who knows, in 3 years the idea of buying a huge screen TV or computer monitor might seem antiquated since you could just have a pair of glasses or lenses which could fully immerse your vision in the experience (and perhaps make the viewing experience more dynamic, such as showing peripheral scenery if we look away from the main characters). Also, they’re obviously very portable. Plus, if they’re hooked up to your smart-phone or computer, they can do all sorts of other interesting Augmented Reality stuff. So I could definitely see this taking off once they get a properly working and affordable version. 2-3 years? Too long, and yet not long at all.
My heart is skipping beats like crazy.
Meh. Show me a headset that can do full simsense and then we’ll talk cardiac.
(Source: innovega-inc.com)
