Apr 19
display, gadget, input
Wearable Computing — Christian over at Tailor Made Toys has created a way-cool Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Augmented Reality Headset. The headset is composed of Eye-Trek goggles with the addition of a USB laptop webcam. On his blog, Christian says:
“First thing I should probably say here is that I built this without even thinking what its function would be. I just thought it would be cool to add a cam to the front of my Eye-Trek goggles. As it turned out these where ideal for use with augmented reality applications. I am also working on putting them to use for other software. Such as gps overlays and night vision (like being the terminator, but more scrawny).” [...] “Other idea is to have it on all day and log on to chat roulette, give them that “being john malcovich” feeling.”
Apr 02
display
SlashGear — Apple’s iPhone gaming controller dock isn’t the only new patent application from the company to be published this week; the company is also pushing forward into head-mounted and wearable computer technology. Like the gaming patent, this latest proposition relies on taking an existing portable device – yes, like an iPhone or iPod touch – and combining it with a task-specific dock. Here, the dock is a head-mounted display system, with Apple envisaging an iPhone sliding into the side.
The rest of the patent describes the potential for different mounting designs, different materials from which the headset could be made, and possible applications. The latter includes a voice- and image-recognition system that could spot old acquaintances and flag their identity up, together with overlaying logos and other visual cues – for instance arrows – for GPS directions and the like.
Feb 25
display
gizmag — Can’t afford a big screen TV or projector but still want to experience that cinema feeling when watching a movie? The Vuzix Wrap 920 video eyewear is a sunglass-style display that delivers a virtual 67-inch screen as seen from 10ft away, displays 2D and 3D video and is claimed to be the most advanced wearable display available. It also features removable noise-isolating earbuds, an adjustable nose bridge and weighs less than 3oz.
The Vuzix Wrap 920 connects to all NTSC or PAL audio/video devices with video-out capabilities and composite video connections. The eyewear comes with a composite A/V adapter for iPod/iPhone for simple plug ‘n’ play connection to your portable media player. There are optional Wrap Adapter connections for HDMI-equipped devices and even desktop PC and laptops for watching movies.
Jan 08
display, watch
electronista — ASUS is using CES as the vehicle for a new design concept it hopes will guide its design in the future. Known as Waveface, it centers on using organic designs and new technology to make technology more natural as well as more flexible. The centerpiece is the Waveface Light, which Electronista had the chance to see at ASUS’ booth: it would act as a flexible OLED tablet that also fold up into a more conventional notebook design. A mockup interface would have a live stream of data and in tablet form let two users interact at the same time.
The most portable would be the Waveface Ultra. The thin strip would be intended as a hybrid phone, watch and computing device and would depend on a flexible OLED to let owners wrap the device around their wrist but still have a single surface when handheld.
Oct 26
display
Singularity Hub — Brother Industries, Ltd. has just announced that next year it plans to produce Retinal Imaging Display (RID) glasses that augment regular vision. Just as in the popular Terminator movies, these glasses could project supplemental information into your field of vision to augment your normal vision. Although Brother and most of the blogosphere is hyping that the product will be ready by 2010, I am skeptical. Even if they do appear in 2010, will the quality and form factor of the glasses be reasonable? I doubt it. Augmented reality sent directly into our retinas is certainly on the horizon, and its going to be awesome…but the technology still needs several more years of innovation before it is ready to break out. In the meantime, we can wet our imaginations with what is to come.
Mar 10
display, gadget, input
Google Hosted News — US university researchers have created a portable “sixth sense” device powered by commercial products that can seamlessly channel Internet information into daily routines.
The device created by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) scientists can turn any surface into a touch-screen for computing, controlled by simple hand gestures. The gadget can even take photographs if a user frames a scene with his or her hands, or project a watch face with the proper time on a wrist if the user makes a circle there with a finger.
The MIT wizards cobbled a Web camera, a battery-powered projector and a mobile telephone into a gizmo that can be worn like jewelry. Signals from the camera and projector are relayed to smart phones with Internet connections.
“Other than letting some of you live out your fantasy of looking as cool as Tom Cruise in ‘Minority Report’ it can really let you connect as a sixth sense device with whatever is in front of you,” said MIT researcher Patty Maes.
Maes used a Technology, Entertainment, Design Conference stage in Southern California on Wednesday to unveil the futuristic gadget made from store-bought components costing about 300 dollars (US).
RSS
Digg
Facebook