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Apple Researching Laser-Based Head Mounted Display

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Apr 12, 2001
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Hrmpf reports on an interesting new patent application from Apple published today. "Head Mounted Display System" describes a method for display images within a goggle-like headset that is worn by the user.

While these headset displays already exist, Apple describes decoupling a "laser engine" from the goggles itself. Instead, it is a separate piece which generates the laser light which is piped into the headset. This helps reduce the bulk of the goggles themselves. "A user simply plugs their handheld video player such as the iPod manufactured by Apple Computer of Cupertino, Calif., into the compact laser engine attached to their belt, and places the headset on their head. The user then selects a video to be played at the handheld video player (viewing through transparent display elements)."
Apple notes that when the unit is not being used for playing video "no images are being created and thus the display unit acts just like glasses." In fact, they suggest that the headset could even include lenses and actually double as daily-wear glasses.

Article Link: Apple Researching Laser-Based Head Mounted Display
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2008/04/17/apple-researching-laser-based-head-mounted-display/
Dammmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmn, if they could double as every day glasses these would be sweet! As long as you can somehow hide the cord fairly easily
 
why is apple computer misspelled in the patent "iPod manufactured by Appel Comptuer".


None the less seems interesting. I think it would make me sea sick though.
 
"...manufactured by Appel Comptuer of Cupertino, Calif."

What's with the awful proof reading?
 
LOL, something about it just seems retro. Love the idea. So it projects an image or video for you to view, then you turn it off and it is transparent?

Love the idea.
 
Dummmmmmmmmmm

Who the hell want's to walk around with those things on, who would want to watch a video where you can't see what's happening around you? Besides using it while in bed watching porn I don't see this selling well. Notice the other ones don't sell either. Why? Because you can't see and you look like a dork.
 
jawporta said:
Who the hell want's to walk around with those things on, who would want to watch a video where you can't see what's happening around you? Besides using it while in bed watching porn I don't see this selling well. Notice the other ones don't sell either. Why? Because you can't see and you look like a dork.
Click to expand...

Well, obviously the idea is you wouldn't be watching it while actively walking, since they can be clear. I'd imagine we're still a couple years from making the technology small enough to make glasses that DON'T look stupid, but if anyone could take current wearable displays and make them look cool, it'd be Apple.
 
Please don't make these.

(The first thing I thought of when I saw these was the Nintendo Virtual Boy from 1995)
 
capoeirista said:
Please don't make these.

(The first thing I thought of when I saw these was the Nintendo Virtual Boy from 1995)
Click to expand...

Yeah, my first thought too :D

Now, while this would be cool for geek factor, there are two problems.
Like in school and lectures, if the vision was only one way (as light sometimes works like that) its entirely possibly you could wear these glasses in class and nobody would notice.

And another thing. You think people had frigging problems when walking accross the road and simultaneously being on their phones? Oh, you can't imagine what it'd be like with this :p

If nothing else though, yeah, this seems cool. But can't see it happening.
 
apple101 said:
I don't know. Why would you want to watch a movie on a smaller screen than iPod does?:rolleyes::cool:
Click to expand...

Because a smaller screen that's much closer to your eye takes up a much larger portion of your field of view, thus appearing MUCH larger?

Basic perspective.
 
Alright, this is just stupid.

Apple needs to focus on computers first. They need to pay more attention to the product that got them into this business in the first place.

First iron out all of the problems with your computers, then go on to other projects.
 
I wouldn't be caught dead wearing those. At some point technology ceases to be sexy and is instead nerdy. This crosses the line.
 
jawporta said:
Who the hell want's to walk around with those things on, who would want to watch a video where you can't see what's happening around you? Besides using it while in bed watching porn I don't see this selling well. Notice the other ones don't sell either. Why? Because you can't see and you look like a dork.
Click to expand...
Do you know how many commuters that ride trains, metros, buses, etc are out there? If Apple could make them look like regular sunglasses and the display would be at least DVD res, they'd sell ... well, as long as they're priced right.

I could definitely see a lot more accidents happening though just due to morons.
 
jawporta said:
Who the hell want's to walk around with those things on, who would want to watch a video where you can't see what's happening around you? Besides using it while in bed watching porn I don't see this selling well. Notice the other ones don't sell either. Why? Because you can't see and you look like a dork.
Click to expand...

Sheesh. Show some imagination. The entertainment value of course would be amazing, but there are many, many practical uses for this as well. In particular, any occupation where feedback from a computer system is needed but where typing at a terminal is impractical.

How about a surgeon getting real time images or vitals? Driving a car with GPS? Drinking coffee and reading the paper? Okay, so the last is a bit contrived...
 
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