Tactical Augmented Reality

The video is a little cartoonish, but this is very interesting and very promising. 

This is a space that Microvision has been active with in the past. They have had contracts to develop this kind of technology with the likes of Lockheed Martin. 

NOMAD was displayed at CES 2016.  (It outclassed other AR displays I saw there.)

OLD NOMAD ARTICLE 

The issues they had to "overcome" (highlighted below) Picop is certainly able to do...



Microvision / Lockheed Martin

US ARMY

WASHINGTON (Army News Service) -- A novel technology called "Tactical Augmented Reality," or TAR, is now helping Soldiers precisely locate their positions, as well as the locations of friends and foes, said Richard Nabors. 

It even enables them to see in the dark, all with a heads-up display device that looks like night-vision goggles, or NGV, he added. So in essence, TAR replaces NVG, GPS, plus it does much more.

Nabors, an associate for strategic planning at U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command's Communications-Electronics Research, Development and Engineering Center, or CERDEC, spoke about TAR at the Pentagon's Lab Day, Thursday.

Geek

The key, according to electronics engineer David Fellowes, was miniaturizing the image to fit the one-inch screen. Existing tech can compress pixels enough to fit on a smartphone-sized window. But CERDEC’s main challenge was creating new hardware to meet their needs.

By 2010, the department achieved that goal, creating a system that works in black-and-white and a greenish monochrome, which has already been fielded in certain units.

And while those versions are bright enough to be seen in daylight, CERDEC wants to produce more advanced models in full color, with an advanced brightness display.

“TARs will provide soldiers with a much higher level of situational awareness than they currently have,” Fellowes said, adding that he expects the devices will “save lives and contribute to mission success.”

Windows Holographic & Vuforia

Apparently they will make their software support all of the AR or VR tethered headsets.

This will certainly be a boost to the demand for the display technology, and will probably have other unanticipated results.

And with software like Vuforia available, its popularity should be huge


ARS Technica

At IDF in San Francisco today, Microsoft's Terry Myerson said that the Windows Holographic experience, including the shell used on the HoloLens hardware, will be made available as an update to the standard Windows 10 desktop operating system some time next year.

Currently, the HoloLens runs a specialized variant of Windows. Desktop Windows offers many of the same APIs as the HoloLens, but the 3D user interface that mixes existing 2D apps with new 3D ones is only available on the augmented reality headset. Next year's update will make it available to all, opening it up not just to Microsoft's standalone device but also to hardware such as the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive that provide tethered virtual reality.

Vuforia at Hololens Reality News

Vuforia is a set of tools that help developers build augmented and mixed realityexperiences. One of the prominent abilities, as demonstrated in the video above, is the ability to automatically render holograms when the cameras see a flat image. Basically, the image will display flat to anyone without a mixed reality device looking with just their eyes. Those with a HoloLens, however, will see a hologram in place of the flat image on the paper. That opens up a number of possibilities of how we can share mixed reality experiences out in the real world.

Hololens Limited Field of View

This is a fantastic opportunity for Microvision. The Nomad has a much better field of view than anything out there now, but we've been hearing about the field of view problems, but haven't seen a demo of what it actually means until this article.

So, check out the pictures below -- what Microsoft advertises at the top, and what's really seen through their device (so far) in the image at the bottom.


GizMag

After getting a Microsoft HoloLens in the offices, our first impressions are largely positive, but the headset's big Achilles' heel – the one that jumps out like a pimple to a teen before prom night – is its limited field of view. Since pictures tend to be worth a thousand words, we decided to save ourselves about 550 of them and mock up what HoloLens' field of view really looks like vs. the ludicrous expectations that Microsoft's marketing is putting out there.

Boeing and Hololens

Having tried as many AR displays as I could, I am convinced that Microvision's is the best out there. 

While schedules for AR adoption can be a couple of years out, it seems to be getting a lot more early and important traction. I think this one will be ahead of schedule.

That said, this is just a very interesting application from Boeing and worth seeing.

Tech AU  (more at source)

The Meta Summary

The Meta news has unfolded sort of backwards. We got the excitement first, then an intro, then some comparisons.... So, if you're new to the observation... this might seem like much ado about nothing. If you're a novelist, we started at the climax, and we're headed back to the start of the story.

So, let's back up -- and unfold this the right way around.


There's this company called Meta, that's creating some augmented reality glasses. Oh, check it out. There we are in a poster they have in their office -- apparently showing suppliers. (this only just barely blinked by in a Robert Scoble live video.) So far, not such a big deal. This could be interesting though.   (The Meta Connection)

Then, an alert blog viewer sees this comparison. That's Microvision's NOMAD on the right in the picture below.  ( Alert Reader, Meta and Nomad )

And the Meta Glasses in the Video Below. They look awfully similar, don't they? So, the two bits of information we have here -- they make me pretty confident that we're in the META device. Other things that I've seen about the way each works supports the theory that MicroVision is in there. Even more interesting.

Now, if you watch Robert Scoble's videos, he's usually calm and relaxed. When he sees something he'll say "wow, that's really cool." He's used to seeing really interesting new tech and sharing it with the rest of us. He's gotten a good reputation doing it, and has talked to a lot of movers and shakers in the tech world.

His reaction to what you have seen above is below. (Before he could say anything about it. Why are we excited about Meta? He sums it up.)

Look at it on the home page of the Meta website where they have a countdown clock.... with not much time left on the clock.

Augmented Reality decompression.
Posted by Robert Scoble on Thursday, February 4, 2016

Metavision Website

A collection of reactions to the Meta device Below

Alert Reader -- Meta2 and Nomad

An alert participant on the Yahoo message board, came up with this question... and this looks like a very compelling comparison. 

Of course, you need to judge for yourself, but we'll make it easier.

"Anyone Notice A Remarkable Similarity Between Meta 2 and MicroVision's Nomad displayed at CES 2016?"

MicroVision's Nomad is the picture on the right, below. Meta2 is the video above. (and you can see it before the video plays.) 

Incidentally, the picture on the left(above) is their "short-throw" mount, that has a curious similarity to the dimensions of the SONY "agent" personal assistant.

Fused Reality at NASA

I have no idea if MicroVision is actually involved in this project.

I suspect this is something that MicroVision could be involved with.

Article at Gizmag

Microvision Patent with NASA

MicroVision, Darpa and Augmented Reality

MicroVision WAY ahead of the competition

So, check this out. A load of companies say they're going to try to do something that's on the cutting edge -- equip their employees with smart glasses.

Why companies are RUSHING to fit their employees with smart glasses.

"In a recent survey conducted by Herndon, Va.-based APX Labs—who collected responses from 201 U.S.-based companies in various industries—60 percent of participants who don't currently use smart glasses were open to adopting it in the near future while 51 percent said they have plans for using smart glasses in the upcoming year."

"The smart glasses data represented a faster projected growth rate than any other “smart” wearable tech device mentioned in the report, including growth rates related to smart watches, activity/fitness trackers, indoor location sensors/beacons and wearable mobile cameras."

"In terms of industries where smart glasses will become prevalent, APX Labs CEO/founder Brian Ballard said that he believes manufacturing, field service, maintenance and repair, material handling and logistics, and inspection/quality control will be key. “These are important jobs, with lots of people and where improving performance in terms of process speed, employee productivity, production quality and compliance/safety has giant impacts on the bottom line,” he added."

Now, you may be thinking "What does this have to do with MicroVision?" Check this out. Not only is MicroVision a leader in IP in this space, but they've ALREADY DONE IT.

Their display is improved, and the software is improved, and they've already been 
there. Listen to these guys laugh at what's 10 years ahead of its time. Listen to the guy in the blue shirt.


The technology (the supporting software, tracking, and even the display, has caught up with sentiment.)



  Now that MicroVision has PicoP well in hand and ready to generate cash for the company through its partners (SONY & others), they can begin re-engaging with this market that is clearly now ready for what they have to offer.

WiseGeek What is a Virtual Retinal Display?

Nomad & Augmented Reality

Augmented reality is gaining lately. That's great for MicroVision. We were told  that about 90% of the efforts at MicroVision were targeted at SONY and the launch of PicoP.

We were also told that since PicoP is well in hand, resources would be available to work on other areas where MicroVision has IP strength. One of those is Augmented Reality. (MicroVision leads)

With the attention Augmented reality is getting, I think MicroVision is on the edge of getting a lot of attention -- 

Video Featuring MicroVision's NOMAD


Breaking Defense

"After four years of development and testing, the service will conduct “a large-scale demonstration [and] assessment” this October. The project will move from the Office of Naval Research to the regular Marine procurement system, which will decide whether to buy augmented reality in bulk."
SeaPower Magaine
"The Marines, as part of the Infantry Officer Course, had the opportunity to try out ONR’s Augmented Immersive Team Trainer (AITT) system Aug. 5-6 at a test range on the southern edge of Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia. The AITT system-which is comprised of a laptop, software and battery pack, and a helmet-mounted display-can support a wide array of live, virtual and cutting-edge training scenarios."


Search NOMAD at MicroVision Website

New Version of Glass on deck?

Something else to watch.

New Glass to focus on Enterprise


Engadget

"Before a company announces a device, it has to pass through the FCC's secretive bunkerto ensure that it's wireless radios are safe for human contact. Droid Life has trawled through the most recent list of anonymized gadgets to find A4R-GG1, a Google-hewn offering that might, just possibly, be the new version of Google Glass. The clues aren't exactly concrete, but include the fact that the hardware isn't classified as a smartphone, tablet or media device. It's equipped with 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac dual-band WiFi, Bluetooth LE and a built-in rechargeable battery, so clearly it's also meant to be taken around with you."