Magic Leap Augmented Reality -- UPDATED

Retinal Scan Display?






In last month's MIT Technology Review's EmTech Digital conference held in San Francisco, Abovitz said Magic Leap will build a 300,000-square-foot pilot manufacturing facility in Florida for its "photonic lightfield chip," Miami Herald wrote. The chip functions by having its augmented reality headset shoot light directly into the user's eyes, instead of projecting a screen in front of it, Tech Crunch explained.

Abovitz revealed that their team is already "out of the R&D phase and into the transition to real product introduction," Tech Crunch reported. When asked why the company needs to build its very own manufacturing facility, the exec said that "there is no off the shelf stuff that does what we're describing," the news outlet noted.

Rachel Metz, who tried an early prototype of Magic Leap's tech, explained how the device works in an article published in the MIT Technology Review. As quoted by Miami Herald, she wrote: "It's safe to say Magic Leap has a tiny projector that shines light onto a transparent lens, which deflects the light onto the retina."

Metz continued, "That pattern of light blends in so well with the light you're receiving from the real world that to your visual cortex, artificial objects are nearly indistinguishable from actual objects."

Hyunsun Chung --  a connection

Fujitsu Laser Glasses

I must admit that I haven't found a direct connection between MicroVision and this Fujitsu project. However, retinal scan display, and "shooting lasers into the eye" displays are MicroVision's realm, so this is worth close attention.

At PC World

At CIO

At ITProPortal

The basic idea of projecting imagery onto a retina via laser has been around for decades, but miniaturizing the optics to realize a wearable form factor had been difficult until recently. Fujitsu and partner companies were able to produce a small mirror to project light into the eye.

“By using these glasses, people with low vision will be able to read books, newspapers, bulletin boards, timetables and walk around outside,” said Mitsuru Sugawara, CEO of QD Laser, a Fujitsu spinoff based in Kawasaki that helped develop the glasses.

Displays you Wear - Updated

From Photonics.com

Check out the full article at the original source.

Note that the image of the glasses below does look quite similar to what is described for the Hololens system, and also quite similar to the glasses shown here: ValveAR

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The laser scanning projection system enables augmented reality wearable glasses. Photo courtesy of MicroVision.

“Often overlooked is the whole human-machine interface. That’s the biggest problem,” said Bharath Rajagopalan, general manager for business development and marketing at projection display maker MicroVision Inc. of Redmond, Wash. The company’s laser beam scanning technology can be incorporated into augmented reality products, including head-up and retinal scanning displays. 

“We’ve been ready for a long time,” 
Rajagopalan said of the company’s decade-old augmented reality technology. “We have good, sharp text. It’s very crisp, very readable, very high contrast.” 

Originally developed for the military, MicroVision’s lightweight head-worn displays deliver images that appear to the user as though on a see-through computer screen – thus a technician can view instructions on jet engine repair while performing the task. 

Originally developed for the military, augmented reality technology allows information to be displayed and shared outdoors. Photo courtesy of Applied Research Associates.

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What’s needed in addition to a quality display is infrastructure, according to Rajagopalan, which includes access to data, sufficient computing power and the right software. 

A laser scanning projection system by MicroVision. Photo courtesy of MicroVision.

Wearable potential

MVIS is still a likely supplier for augmented reality in various forms, including glasses.

This video shows its potential.



Android Headlines

http://www.timesofisrael.com/epson-seeks-israeli-apps-for-augmented-reality-glasses/?utm_source=Start-Up+Daily&utm_campaign=1d3719d62c-2014_06_13_SUI6_13_2014&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_fb879fad58-1d3719d62c-54697885

Microvision, DARPA and Augmented Reality.

From the Atlantic

Thanks for the heads up Tom!
How DARPA's Augmented Reality Software Works

Why is the military succeeding where Google Glass failed?

ALEXIS C. MADRIGALMAY 27 2014, 3:46 PM ET

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DARPA

Six years ago, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) decided that they had a new dream. The agency wanted a system that would overlay digital tactical information right over the top of the physical world.
So, they created a program called Urban Leader Tactical Response, Awareness and Visualization (ULTRA-Vis) to develop a novel and sophisticated augmented reality system for use by soldiers.
Through half a decade and with the help of several military contractors, they succeeded. "To enable this capability, the program developed and integrated a light-weight, low-power holographic see-through display with a vision-enabled position and orientation tracking system," DARPA says:

Using the ULTRA-Vis system, a Soldier can visualize the location of other forces, vehicles, hazards and aircraft in the local environment even when these are not visible to the Soldier. In addition, the system can be used to communicate to the Soldier a variety of tactically significant (local) information including imagery, navigation routes, and alerts.

Full Article

The Microvision Connection

Will be looking for more recent on the Microvision connection.

Below from Here

Innovega

Innovega iOptik system

In June 2008, Innovega was co-founded by the former MicroVision employees: Randall Sprague, Steve Willey and Jerome Legerton. The company developed the iOptik eyewear display. It comprises a pair of contact lens which refocus polarized light to the pupil and allows the wearer to focus on an image that is as near as 1.25 cm to the eye, thus enabling displays to be built into normal-looking glasses without the bulky optics.[50] In April 2012, the company signed a contract to deliver a fully functioning prototype to the Pentagon’s research laboratory,DARPA.[51] At CES 2013, the company demonstrated a prototype of its eyewear display that features a field of view of 60 degrees or more. It also claimed that a field of view of nearly 120 degrees is already in the works.[52] The first version of Innovega's glasses are designed for military use, but it's planning a consumer version by 2014 or 2015.[53]

INTEL Glasses... PicoP shaped projector?

[ the precise reason I scrape happened to this article. It is apparently no longer available at its original location, and I apparently have also lost the picture. ] The picture was pretty cool. I'll see if I can find it again.

In The Future of Wearable Tech, iQ by Intel and PSFK Labs explore the evolving form and function of our Internet-connected devices. This series, based on a recent report, looks at the rise of wearable technologies and their impact on consumer lifestyles.  

As we move into an era where we are increasingly dependent on our devices, even being without your phone for a few hours can feel rather disorientating. Now imagine that same scenario ten years from now when these same technologies are even further embedded into the fabric in our lives.

Science fiction novels and works of pop culture play out these promising and often scary scenarios, but in reality humans are rapidly leveraging the advances in computational size, processing speed, and sensor technology to augment our natural abilities.

Far from dystopian, the future of this hybrid human and machine mix offers the incredible possibility to replace or correct for limitations caused by degenerative conditions or other physical and mental shortfalls. A trend that could be called “Augmented Sensory Perception” is rising from early experiments that closely align and even integrate technologies with the human body to enhance existing perceptions and faculties. Whether through biomedical research or DIY ‘hacks’, these innovations are designed to overcome personal challenges, while pushing the boundary in terms of what is possible.

Full Article

Cool Military Helmet Helmet with HUD

From Military.com

Revision Company Website

Swisscom Ventures Back Lemoptix

Swisscom Ventures Backs Lemoptix To Put Micro-Projection Tech In Mobile Phones, HUDs And Wearables

Switzerland-based Lemoptix — which develops technology that enables micro-projectors to be embedded in mobile phones, automotive heads-up-displays, and low-powered wearable displays — has raised an undisclosed new round of funding from existing investors and new strategic investor, Swisscom Ventures, the venture arm of the Swiss telco.

Spun off from the highly respected Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in 2008, Lemoptix produces MEMS-based micro-projection technology to enable tiny, low powered projection displays to be embedded in mobile phones, HUDs and other wearables so that content can be displayed on a nearby surface or projected within the device itself, bypassing the typical limitations of physical displays. It then licenses this tech to partners and customers, supporting them through the initial development stages, prototyping, all the way to the industrialisation and production of new products.

Noteworthy, given the recent hype surrounding wearables and Google Glass, Lemoptix says it’s actively developing solutions and collaborating with industry partners in the area of wearable displays for smartglasses-type applications.

Full Article

Boeing Patent

Essentially using a pico projector to locate various items on the aircraft for maintenance.

When Microvision was concentrating on Eye wear, this was one of their concepts: to label various parts on a machine for repair - order of operations, etc. This is the kind of improvement that could create huge productivity increases (both quality and speed) in all kinds of machine maintenance.

Claims:

1. A method for providing a location specific maintenance history for an object, said method comprising: operating a camera to locate at least one marker tag within the camera field of view (FOV) to provide a reference to a coordinate system associated with the object; determining a location on the object as defined by the at least one marker tag; and, projecting onto a region of projection (ROP) on the object, a repair history for the determined area, the projection referenced to the coordinate system associated with the object. 

Read more: http://www.faqs.org/patents/app/20140022281#ixzz2rdPGU7nT



Boeing Patent from Patentdocs

Previous Boeing Microvision Cooperation

Hud for Ski-goggles from Recon Instruments.

• See the website Here:
  Speed is accurately calculated by GPS and barometric pressure data
• Jump analytics show airtime either in the park, or backcountry kickers
• Track your vertical feet by run, by day and over the course of the season
• The onboard altimeter tracks your altitude to within 1 meter
• Find your way around new resorts and easily track down points of interest
• Never lose track of friends or family on the slopes again
• View calls and read text messages immediately, as you receive them
• Be in full control of your favourite tunes as you ski or board

PC Gaming Headset

Introducing Real-World Advice For pc gaming headset

October 1, 2013 | Author: AntwanCastellan | Posted in Software

Recently they have become more cost efficient, mostly because of new editions or series of gaming accessories hitting the market, causing the price in older versions to decrease. Ventrilo server hosting puts players at an benefit in relation to gaming strategy. These Xbox 360 headsets are driven by USB so there’s no need for batteries or AC adapters. By using a hand-held pico projector in combination with a laser pointer, image software and a webcam, the ability to control entire computer systems by the means of a laser pointer have been proven. You can get surround sound form a stereo headset if you use a virtual surround sound device like the SIIG USB Sound – Wave 7. The head band adjusts for larger or smaller heads and has a nice range which for me amounts to being able to go smaller because most headsets fit larger on my head.

What is more, the service sound and visual quality are excellent. While different people perceive sound differently, you can use these few guideline to distinguish a headset with good sound quality from a bad one. A further fantastic unique aspect this headset supplies is the tremendous substantial ear cups make this unit good for gamers with substantial ears (far more widespread criticism than you might feel). Sporting atmospheric LED lighting, thе XANTHOS Stereo Console Gaming Headset should be аble to deliver sensational stereo sound around the PS3, Xbox 360 system and PC. Now with enhanced chat, video and voice communications, a snazzy looking interface in keeping with Windows Vista, and sharing facilities, users of Live Messenger now have even more choices. This accessory provides for an easier and more productive connectivity.....

Full Article

Microsoft Gaming Glasses

There may be more than one way to get "extended field of view."

From Neogaf.com

Recon Instruments -- something to check out

One of the reasons I'm enthusiastic about Microvision is that the demand for portable information is huge. This is another device that has surfaced to deliver portable information. I think it's pretty cool.

Even a bit player in portable information is going to do well. I think Microvision is going to be more than a bit player.

Recon Jet

Pirate Flag over Apple?

...At the D11 conference this spring, Cook offered further hints that a wearable device might be one of Apple’s next big things, saying that wearable computing is “ripe for exploration.” He also seemed to favor a device worn on the wrist, versus the more invasive and geeky-looking Google Inc. GOOG +1.63%  entry, saying Google Glass would likely only appeal to certain markets. ...

Full Article at MarketWatch.com

Previous hints about wearable computing... ?

 

Yes, that's a Microvision Showx on the shoulder...  and the source is Microsoft..