Apple Researching Laser-Based Head Mounted Display

MacRumors · 06:56 PM

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.

Quote:

"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

haiggy · Apr 17, 2008, 06:53 PM

Dammmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmn, if they could double as every day glasses these would be sweet! As long as you can somehow hide the cord fairly easily

tennismanclay · Apr 17, 2008, 06:54 PM

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.

MIDI_EVIL · Apr 17, 2008, 06:55 PM

"...manufactured by Appel Comptuer of Cupertino, Calif."

What's with the awful proof reading?

Andronicus · Apr 17, 2008, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by haiggy

Dammmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmn, if they could double as every day glasses these would be sweet! As long as you can somehow hide the cord fairly easily

Agreed, I would wear mine everyday!

GFLPraxis · Apr 17, 2008, 06:55 PM

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.

rezonat0r · Apr 17, 2008, 06:56 PM

Does it fit sharks?

jawporta · Apr 17, 2008, 06:57 PM

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.

ckurowic · 06:33 AM

lol, this is as ridiculous as the touch based Mac everyone KNEW was coming out.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rezonat0r

Does it fit sharks?

Yes, Apple designed it so that you could have "sharks with friggin' laser beams on their heads".

killmoms · Apr 17, 2008, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jawporta

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.

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.

capoeirista · Apr 17, 2008, 07:01 PM

Please don't make these.

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

MaddMacs · Apr 17, 2008, 07:01 PM

Now, if it came with a blow up doll you might have something! We wouldn't have to leave the house.

wildcardd · Apr 17, 2008, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ckurowic

Yes, Apple designed it so that you could have "sharks with friggin' laser beams on their heads".

I KNEW IT.....Steve Jobs= Dr. Evil.

apple101 · Apr 17, 2008, 07:11 PM

I don't know. Why would you want to watch a movie on a smaller screen than iPod does?

SuperDan1348 · Apr 17, 2008, 07:15 PM

That's actually pretty cool. Bet it'd be expensive like no other.

Fletch2 · Apr 17, 2008, 07:16 PM

Steve Jobs is Dr Evil? You mean like this?

http://www.myconfinedspace.com/2008/...r-evil-macjpg/

MattJessop · Apr 17, 2008, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by capoeirista

Please don't make these.

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

Yeah, my first thought too

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.

killmoms · Apr 17, 2008, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by apple101

I don't know. Why would you want to watch a movie on a smaller screen than iPod does?

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.

Salavat23 · Apr 17, 2008, 07:18 PM

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.

Mac OS X Ocelot · Apr 17, 2008, 07:29 PM

I wouldn't be caught dead wearing those. At some point technology ceases to be sexy and is instead nerdy. This crosses the line.

QuarterSwede · Apr 17, 2008, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jawporta

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.

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.

riverfreak · Apr 17, 2008, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jawporta

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.

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...

riverfreak · Apr 17, 2008, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mac OS X Ocelot

I wouldn't be caught dead wearing those. At some point technology ceases to be sexy and is instead nerdy. This crosses the line.

Nerdy is the new sexy. What rock have you been hiding under?

ChrisA · Apr 17, 2008, 07:36 PM

First the "iPod" then came the "iPhone" and finally now "iGlasses"

I should trademark the name so I can sell it to Apple.

Mac OS X Ocelot · Apr 17, 2008, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by riverfreak

Nerdy is the new sexy. What rock have you been hiding under?

The one that allows me to avoid your delusions, apparently.

Apr 17, 2008, 06:53 PM	#2
haiggy macrumors 65816 Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Ontario, Canada	Dammmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmn, if they could double as every day glasses these would be sweet! As long as you can somehow hide the cord fairly easily __________________ 15.4" 2.6GHz MacBook Pro; 2GB RAM; 160 GB HDD; NVIDIA 8600GT 256MB; Red iPod Nano, 16GB iPod touch

Apr 17, 2008, 06:54 PM	#3
tennismanclay macrumors regular Join Date: May 2007 Location: US-Texas	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. __________________ Blackbook 2.16ghz 2gb 160gb. X-240 speakers 750gb Western Digital external 320gb Western Digital external (powered by usb) 30gb 5g ipod

Apr 17, 2008, 06:55 PM	#4
MIDI_EVIL macrumors 65816 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: UK	"...manufactured by Appel Comptuer of Cupertino, Calif." What's with the awful proof reading? __________________ G4 Did they mean me when they shouted my name? Or did they mean someone else with the same name as me?

Apr 17, 2008, 06:55 PM	#6
GFLPraxis macrumors 601 Join Date: Mar 2004	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. __________________ Nintendo Players - the Ultimate Nintendo Resource MacBook CD/2GHz/2GB/160GB/SD Hackintosh Core 2 Quad/2.4 GHz/4GB/660GB/8800GT 16 GB iPhone

Apr 17, 2008, 06:57 PM	#8
jawporta macrumors newbie Join Date: Sep 2007	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.

Apr 17, 2008, 06:56 PM	#7
rezonat0r macrumors 6502 Join Date: Nov 2007	Does it fit sharks?

Apr 17, 2008, 07:01 PM	#11
capoeirista macrumors regular Join Date: Jan 2007	Please don't make these. (The first thing I thought of when I saw these was the Nintendo Virtual Boy from 1995) __________________ I own some Apple branded products. FlickR

Apr 17, 2008, 07:01 PM	#12
MaddMacs macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Flagstaff, Az	Now, if it came with a blow up doll you might have something! We wouldn't have to leave the house. __________________ Mac Pro "Ocho" 2.8 8800GT, Mac Mini Core Solo, AEBS,iPod nano,Pentax k200d,Canon S80 Flickr Slideshow

Apr 17, 2008, 07:11 PM	#14
apple101 macrumors member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: new jersey	I don't know. Why would you want to watch a movie on a smaller screen than iPod does?

Apr 17, 2008, 07:15 PM	#15
SuperDan1348 macrumors newbie Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Anaheim, CA	That's actually pretty cool. Bet it'd be expensive like no other. __________________ iMac 20" 2.4GHz Silver 80GB iPod Classic Black 16GB iPhone 3G

Apr 17, 2008, 07:16 PM	#16
Fletch2 macrumors newbie Join Date: Dec 2006	Steve Jobs is Dr Evil? You mean like this? http://www.myconfinedspace.com/2008/...r-evil-macjpg/

Apr 17, 2008, 07:18 PM	#19
Salavat23 macrumors 6502 Join Date: Feb 2008	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.

Apr 17, 2008, 07:29 PM	#20
Mac OS X Ocelot macrumors 6502a Join Date: Sep 2005	I wouldn't be caught dead wearing those. At some point technology ceases to be sexy and is instead nerdy. This crosses the line.

Apr 17, 2008, 07:36 PM	#24
ChrisA macrumors 601 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Redondo Beach, California	First the "iPod" then came the "iPhone" and finally now "iGlasses" I should trademark the name so I can sell it to Apple.

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