CES Day 3

It was a short day at CES for me, and I used it to follow up on some things I'd missed.  Half the day was travel, and a large part of Saturday was catching up on sleep, reconnecting with friends and nursing a sore knee.

The Bed Display at SONY.

SONY had a display of MPCL1 in a bed. The bed was a canopy bed, and the MPCL1 was in a tray pointed up at the Canopy. 

I had missed this the previous time through this section of the show, and heard good things, so I returned to see it. I was glad I did.

I stayed by this display for about 45 minutes. It was almost constantly crowded with people, universally smiling and often asking if it's available now, and how they could buy it.

This was an excellent display, and probably the most popular at the display other than the VR Gear (I admit I'm a bit biased)








Augmented reality, the Daqri Helmet & Microvision Nomad

That's the Daqri Helmet in the background. I had a chance to wear and unpowered model. It's quite heavy - more than twice the weight of a normal hard hat. They admitted that field of view is still limited - like a 120" screen at 10 feet -- which actually looks like a laptop screen on your lap. 

It's probably a lot like a hololens that has an incorporated hard-hat. The industrial uses could be incredible.

Daqri Helmet Press Release

Daqri Helmet at LinuxGizmos

The Osterhaut Group   -- The R7 Smart Glasses

I had a chance to try this technology on in a couple of places. Once with a company who was developing it for remote medical help, and with another company that was using it to help people with limited vision. 

The glasses are reputed to be the best, with the largest field of view. 

I had an opportunity to try on the NOMAD in the MicroVision booth -- the field of view is better -- and it's an older system. I was assured that now the resolution is better and the field of vision is wider.

I did miss the BMW AR Helmet, which does look like it may be capable of a wider field of vision. I'll be looking for more on it.

DK50 Augmented Reality Glasses  (50 degree field of view)

Recon Glasses -- a very small screen outside the direct field of view. If you look down and right the small display -- maybe a dozen characters worth or a compass readout

The place was packed with various kinds of augmented reality glasses... From what I've seen MicroVision could make most of them much better than they are. 


The HTC virtual reality headset

I did have an opportunity to try the HTC VR headset. It was a remarkably intense experience.

Remember that this is similar to the Oculus Rift, Sony VR, and Samsung Gear VR. (Notice there's a LOT of competition.) I've tried on the others, except the SONY model. MicroVision isn't in competition with any of these, but I do notice that the market value of Oculus Rift was 2 Billion when Facebook bought the company -- it's not very special compared to PicoP. Still cool though.

CES Day 2

Celluon:

I went to the booth three different times, but the working model of the PicoBit was out at meetings each time I got there.

I did see the mockup of the unit however. It looks a lot like the ViewSmart, although it has additional features like the HDMI input and a couple of extra buttons on the bottom side of the touchpad.

It looks enough like the ViewSmart that I wouldn't be surprised at all if Celluon and ViewSmart are are somehow related. 

You can see the HDMI connection at the back of the unit, and the buttons toward the back of the top of the unit. The top of the unit is all touchpad. (and it's size compared to the PicoPro) On the lower picture, you can see the little projector door that is like the one on the ViewSmart.





Later in the day, I had an interesting experience, I saw a booth where  a PC about the size of a paperback book was being demoed. I asked them if they could put a screen in the computer. There was a bit of language difficulty. I took out my PicoPro and showed it to them. To say they were excited would be an understatement. I ended up taking the guy down to Celluon's booth, last I saw he was dragging one of their people back up to this booth to connect the two.

Longhaocomputer.com 


Sumitomo Laser Module:

Pretty much everyone in the manufacturing portions of the consumer electronics business is pretty tight lipped. They were very open that the laser modules were targeted for projectors -- the ultimate use, but they mentioned some other uses as well. 

This is a box they had on the display with the two now in production laser modules and the smaller one (next to the dime) that is in development. (that's small!)

Learning about MEMS Manufacturing: memsindustrygroup.org

A little more mundane, but important for understanding MicroVision.

I stopped by this booth and grilled an engineer for about 45 minutes about how MEMS are manufactured. It was very useful. I'll do a full post about it when I can compile one. The quick summary, lots of chemistry, silicon, coatings, layers, and the parts handling - very interesting methods. 

Beam 

Beam Labs

Beam is a light fixture that has a projector integrated in it. It's cool. Sony has a similar thing going in LifeSpace. Use it to share pictures, etc. The image is not touch interactive, though, and as they move the light up and down it has to be focused. (sound familiar) 

They let me compare to the PicoPro. The image from the PicoPro was at least as bright, and stayed in focus - as we know.  The presenter was suitably impressed with the PicoPro. (I mentioned MicroVision -- and that the image can be touch-interactive. I think they'll call.)

I took the picture below. The projection was pretty good, but the lighting was not optimal for projection at their display. (although unless fixed, difficult to keep in focus.)

There's more, but these are the highlights.

Visit to CES Day 1

Joe S. and I visited the MicroVision Suite. Really awesome display of products and new stuff.

1st. Qualper and ViewSmart are completely confirmed as products containing MicroVision Tech. Got a demo of the ViewSmart & Qualper Phone. 

First, Got this nice shot of MPCL1 pretty much front and center at the SONY booth. (It's a big display, so front and center is a difficult concept, but it was right out in the open.)

Then on to the MicroVision Suite

Here's their small display of the Qualper phone. This display was in the MicroVision Suite. The ViewSmart projector was there as well. The picture is excellent, bright, and the interaction with the unit was great. The top of the unit is like a mouse... that moves a cursor on the projected screen.

The Qualper phone, is about the same size as an iPhone only a little thicker.... I wouldn't hesitate to carry it. I was tempted to slip it into my pocket on the way out, but I don't read Chinese.

Here is Mr. Tokman demonstrating the Qualper to Joe Spaz. On the table in front of them are some cool demonstration devices. Including one that has automatic keystone correction, and another that I think will be the rage -- a VERY small unit that is an Android TV. Plug it in, and watch TV and Netflix on the wall. 

Sumitomo Laser Module

Global Sei

Full-color laser module

Sumitomo Electric has developed the world's smallest full-color laser module [6 (H) × 13 (W) × 11 (D) mm] comprising red, green and blue semiconductor lasers. This new module product is based on the Company's experience in materials and component mounting technologies. Its stable optical and electrical characteristics make the module suitable for a variety of applications, such as illumination, small projectors and various sensors. At the tradeshow, Sumitomo Electric will demonstrate an illumination system incorporating this full color module.

Acer Launches Windows Projector Phone

This has been Determined to be false.

I know nothing of the projection tech in this product.

So far sourced from a single article (so go easy on your enthusiasm) Other articles makes no mention of a projector with the same name and brand name. ZDNet Windows Central

It DOES show the enthusiasm for projector technology. (and MVIS is the best)

It would not surprise me if this is a re-brand or tweak of Qualper. (Notice how Daqri, until last night was an independent company, now is part of Intel)

ProjectorpointUK

Top projector manufacturer Acer has announced the launch of the first non-Lumia Windows 10 phone, the Liquid Jade Primo, featuring projection capabilities.

According to Acer, the Liquid Jade Primo has been designed to replace computers, laptops and tablets, offering all the features needed by users in a significantly smaller package.
Based on Windows 10 Continuum technology, the phone can sense when it is connected to a secondary display to allow for universal apps to display on the screen regardless of their developer.

This built-in capability to connect to other USB or wireless devices also allows the Liquid Jade Primo to be used as a touchpad, virtual keyboard, or even as a projector.

Acer has stated that the projection capabilities are some of the most impressive features of the new smartphone, allowing users to project presentation decks to a projector or large screen, while displaying a 'Presenter View on the phone's screen.

Not only can this technology enhance projection portability for business users, but allows users to carry their media from projection device to projection device without needed to transport a large projector.

Daqri -- pops up in a big way after a long silence

I do not know if we are in this product. 

(it could be... I'll see if I can figure it out today.)

It is interesting that after a very long time of no word at all, there are dozens of articles about this thing this morning.

Daqri press release

DAQRI, the Augmented Reality company that is transforming the future of work, unveiled the next-generation DAQRI SMART HELMET™ today, powered by the 6th Gen Intel® Core™ m7 processor and Intel® RealSense™ technology. DAQRI SMART HELMET is an industrial-grade, human-machine interface that inserts real-time information – including Augmented and Mixed Reality work instructions, safety information, mapping and more – to maximize safety, productivity and well-being for workers in a variety of industrial settings. DAQRI founder and CEO Brian Mullins gave attendees a first look at the newest DAQRI SMART HELMET and its capabilities with an on-stage demonstration during Intel CEO Brian Krzanich’s CES keynote. DAQRI SMART HELMET has been in the pilot phase with Fortune 100 partners across industries including aerospace, construction, oil & gas and more, and will be available for purchase beginning in Q1 2016.



Silicon Republic 
Engadget

Toyota to adopt Ford System

This is potentially huge.

Ford's system appears to be very heavily involved with SONY (who intends to use PicoP for HUD systems)

From ReCode

" Ford plans to announce that Toyota will become the first rival carmaker to use Ford’s SmartDeviceLink, the software platform designed to help developers write a version of its software — Pandora, for instance — to run on cars that have adopted the system. SmartDeviceLink is behind Ford’s Sync 3 in-car navigation and entertainment system.

By offering its system to rivals, Ford hopes to improve the odds that Detroit can keep up with Silicon Valley in what is shaping up to be a key battle between the auto and tech industries. Ford said it is in discussions with Honda, Mazda and Subaru, which are considering adopting the platform."

Ford Sync

Ford Races to connect cars

Making All of the connections here (for us, and the automakers, apparently) is difficult. How everything comes together remains to be seen. Really worth watching though.

In Las Vegas

Nothing much to do yet.

I'll get my room changed I hope. (Music from the casino floor all night, and some kind of show where things were blowing up until midnight right outside the window.) 

Will check on a couple of friends, get floor pass & wait for the flood of Press Releases & news that will start hitting the in-box this afternoon. 

This evening -- catch the SONY press conference on line.

Viewsmart Video

ViewSmart taking orders

ViewSmart Store

This is a PicoP projector with memory and an operating system.

No more wireless connections to stream Netflix.

Pocket Laser HD Projector

Price: $399.00

Portable Laser Projector with the size of a cell phone. Android 4.4.2, 1920 x 720 resolution, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB, SD-card, Speaker, touch pad. Battery power lasts 4 house for playing video when fully charged. Elegant design and light weight.