krisk@tekigm2.MEN.TEK.COM (Kristine L. Kaliszewski) (12/07/89)
I got so much mail that I decided the response was good enough for me to assume the Private Eye was of enough interest to others to post it on the net. The Private Eye sits on your head like a large set of earphones or a headset. The display/screen is about 2"x2" and sits in front of one eye. This can be adjusted for focus distance and up and down if you want to be able to look at other things. The headset is then connect to the hardware/software "instrument" by a cable. This means your are limited in movement. The prototype I've used is unbalanced and heavy, but they are supposed to be working on that. The screen has good resolution, even for text, but I personally have trouble using it. They claim anyone can get used to it easily. My eye feels strained and it gets tired easily. I haven't used it for hours on end either, though. Other people here had no trouble with it, maybe they knew how to adjust it better, but they also never used it for hours. I would personally worry about the effects on your eyes (but then monitors are great either :-) ) The display does seem to appear to be the size of a normal sreen. The color of ours is red and that doesn't seem to be too hard on the eyes. It's also quite bright. The headset could be more comfortable, but then they've said they're working on that The price for a starter kit seems to be $500 (cable, headseat, display, video adapter board, installation documentation and software and programmer's guide) but that was only up until 10/31, so I don't know what the price is now. We also were quoted $1500 for the simulator board and software. I don't know if this is different than that which is in the Starter Kit or not. It didn't include the display or anything. I don't know what the display alone or the Starter Kit is costing now. If anyone has anymore questions, please feel free to contact me. I have some literature, so if you want technical info (speed, bit resolution, etc.) I can look it up for you. Kristine krisk@tekigm2.men.tek.com
sorka@ucscb.UCSC.EDU (Alan Waterman) (12/07/89)
I saw something almost exactly what you describe on last weeks Beyond Tomarrow.
narf@mit-amt.MEDIA.MIT.EDU (Francis Taylor) (12/09/89)
The following is an attempt to clear up the misconceptions expressed
in postings to sci.electronics. I am an employee of Reflection
Technology Inc. Please do not send e-mail to me regarding the Private
Eye display. Instead, write, call, or fax:
Reflection Technology Inc.
240 Bear Hill Road
Waltham MA 02145
(617) 890-5905
fax: (617) 890-5918
First, I would like to address the issues raised by Kristine
Kaliszewski (krisk@tekigm2.men.tek.com) in her posting of 6 Dec 89.
1. The Starter kit offer of $495 has been extended to Feb. 15. This
is for a display, headset, interconnecting cable, and half-size IBM-PC
adapter card. A six-foot extension cable is available for $39 to
increase the user's mobility.
2. The display and headset are significantly different from the
prototype at Tektronix The new headset is more comfortable, and
adjusts over a much wider range. The production unit weighs only 6
oz. It is brighter and clearer than the prototype, and is about the
same as a normal CRT with regard to eye fatigue. A photo of it
appeared in the Nov. 28 issues of PC Magazine and the Nov. 20 issue of
EE Times.
3. A paper was presented ad the SPIE conference on Visual
Communications by Dr. Eli Peli from the Eye Research Institute. He
reported that there were no adverse effects to the visual system when
using the Private Eye.
4. There is a focus adjustment that allows the user to position the
displayed image at any desired distance, for ease in viewing and
increased comfort.
The following is a press release from Reflection Technology Inc.
THE PRIVATE EYE (TM) STARTER KIT
* Full size 12-inch monitor image visible in a 1-inch window
* Vibrant, crisp red image on deep black background
* Headset allows hands-free use
* IBM-PC/XT/AT CGA compatible (uses half-size interface card)
* Starter Kit provides prototype platform for custom applications
The Private Eye is a virtual display which creates an image larger
than the display screen itself--in this case 50 times larger. Users
look into a 1-inch window, and see a legible, full- size, 12-inch
screen with the image superimposed over their field of vision, a few
feet in front of them.
All this in a device measuring 1.2" x 1.3" x 3.5", weighing 2 1/2
ounces, using only 1/2 watt at 5 volts. It displays quality text and
graphics at a resolution of 720 x 280 pixels, or 25 lines of 80
characters of text.
The Private Eye will bring the information content and clarity of
desktop screens to full-function pocket PC's, electronic
instrumentation, full-screen radio pagers, pocket FAX receivers, ISDN
telephone displays, educational devices, and even toys and games.
The Private Eye virtual screen lets people work hands-free, and move
around unencumbered by stationary displays. They can record and use
information from remote sites. And they can view both this
information and the work at hand simultaneously.
The Private Eye is used by looking into a small viewing window with
one eye. The other eye can remain open, and the displayed image
appears to be superimposed on the background scene. Users can
effortlessly shift their attention between the screen and their
environment.
The Private Eye Starter Kit display may be used either attached to the
supplied headset, or unmounted for holding in the hand. The headset
is ergonomically designed to be comfortable, lightweight, and have a
wide range of positioning adjustments. It can be adjusted for either
right- or left-eye viewing, and allows the display unit to be located
either above, below, or directly in front of the wearer's
line-of-sight. The headset and display occupy a space less than 1.5"
high for carrying/storing. A dovetail mount is employed on the
display to enable users to design custom mounting methods appropriate
to their applications.
The display is designed to be appropriate for use by a wide range of
users and has a variety of mounting options. A 6 foot extension cable
(EX-1, one per display, maximum) is available to extend the 4 1/2 foot
cable that is attached to the Private Eye to a total of 10 1/2 feet.
Other lengths are available on an OEM basis. Use of the extension
cable is advised, to allow freedom of movement while the Eye is
plugged into the rear of the PC.
The Private Eye Starter Kit allows IBM-PC users to connect a Private
Eye virtual screen to their personal computer. This provides the
ability for users to redirect the normal PC output to the Private Eye
as a remote monitor for use with existing business, educational, or
entertainment software. It also provides the ability for users to
experiment with the Eye through demonstration, interaction, evaluation
and prototyping of custom Private Eye-based products that are in the
design stage.
The Starter Kit includes a Private Eye virtual screen display, a
detachable headset, a Video Adapter card for connection to an
IBM-PC/XT/AT, installation documentation, demonstration software, and
a Programmer's Guide.
In order to make use of the full graphics resolution and image size of
the Private Eye, the video adapter, in addition to the normal CGA
modes, has a software selectable mode to display custom-programmed
graphics images of 720 x 280 pixels. In addition to its use as a
PC-compatible product, the variety of operating modes of this card
allows for the development of Private Eye applications for later use
with a customer's own video adapter.
The information interface from a host device (such as a PC) to a
Private Eye display is a thin flexible cable. Builders of custom
products can connect directly to this cable, which utilizes the
Reflection Technology Serial Interface (RTSI) communications protocol.
A CMOS IC, The Private Eye Display Controller, is available for use in
the host device, which simplifies the connection to RTSI.
SPECIFICATIONS
DISPLAY UNIT SIZE: 1.2" high x 1.3" deep x 3.5"
DISPLAY UNIT WEIGHT: 2-1/2 ounces
TOTAL WEIGHT: 6 ounces (with headset; cable not included)
VIEWING WINDOW: 0.9" x 1.0" (located near one end of the front face)
FOCUS ADJUSTMENT: Accessible from top face
RESOLUTION: 720 (H) x 280 (V) pixels
CGA text mode: 40 or 80 characters x 25 lines
CGA graphics mode: 640 x 200 pixels
PIXEL ASPECT RATIO: 1.66:1
IMAGE SIZE: 21.8 deg. x 14.2 deg. (included angles)
Equivalent to viewing 9.3" x 6" (12" diagonal)
screen at 24"
IMAGE ASPECT RATIO: 1.54:1
COLOR: Red (660 +/- 20 nm) on black background
BRIGHTNESS: 2 foot-lamberts nominal
IMAGE REFRESH RATE: 50 Hz automatic refresh from internal display memory
IMAGE TRANSFER RATE: Up to 30 frames/second from the host
EXIT PUPIL: (Location of user's eye in order to view full image)
8 mm square at 20 mm from viewing window.
Converges to a point 30 mm from viewing window.
FOCUS RANGE: 10" to infinity (adjustable)
ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS AND POWER
OPERATING TEMPERATURE
Display: 0 C to 40 C
Video Adapter: 0 C to 70 C
STORAGE TEMPERATURE: -40 C to 70 C
HUMIDITY: 5 - 95%, operating & non-operating
WATER RESISTANCE: Resistant to fresh water spray
SHOCK/DROP: Withstands 3-foot drop to concrete without damage
POWER
Display: +5 Volts, 0.5 watt typical
Video Adapter: +12 Volts, 3 watts typical
+5 Volts, 0.4 watts typical
POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS
The Private Eye allows the user to retrieve information from a host
device, such as a PC, without having to look at, or even sit in front
of, a standard monitor. This provides the ability for a user to work
on a separate task while simultaneously seeing instructional,
maintenance, or instrument readout information.
The Eye also provides true portability of information, because it can
easily be used in a hands-free fashion while standing or even while
moving about, when connected to a portable device.
PORTABLE COMPUTERS
Using the Private Eye with a headset, pocket computers and advanced
calculators can retain the functions of desktop computers with much
greater portability and battery life than laptops. Tiny units will
have the capability to display and manipulate large spreadsheets, show
complete reports, display on-line documentation and menus, and present
output in graphical format. The user interface will be significantly
improved over current pocket computer models.
PORTABLE ELECTRONIC MAINTENANCE MANUALS
Instead of using cumbersome service manuals, manufacturing repair
workers will view text from entire manuals using the Private Eye
mounted to a headset or in a pocket-sized device. In industries where
mobility in the field is critical, the Private Eye becomes a more
effective way to have vital information at hand. On the manufacturing
floor, users of a Private Eye maintenance manual do not have to look
away from their task in order to get the information they need.
Industries like computers and electronics, automotive, the military
and others can realize the benefits of having accessible, hands-free
information.
REMOTE DISPLAYS
The Private Eye can be attached to current non-portable computers or
instrumentation to provide a remote, hands-free display of data,
signals, or other information. This information will be available
where the user's work is being performed, not just where the computer
happens to be. Applications range from automobile engine analyzers in
service stations, to accessing wiring diagrams from the top of a
utility pole, to patient monitoring information in an operating room.
The communication link to the Eye can be either through a wire, or
wireless receiver. Users of these products will benefit from an
unobtrusive, hands-free, accessible display of the information they
need to do their jobs.
RADIO PAGERS, FAXES, AND OTHER MOBILE DATA DISPLAYS
Potential users may include doctors receiving patient records, field
engineers needing technical documentation; salespeople wanting access
to product documentation during a sales call; drivers needing maps to
their destinations; or subscribers to public services such as: news,
sports or stock market information. The pager can even become a
paperless pocket FAX machine through a connection to a telephone line.
HAND-HELD INSTRUMENTS
Because the information appears to be floating in the air in front of
the user's environment, instruments built with the Private Eye will
allow the user to obtain information without looking away from his or
her task. People working on complex equipment, such as circuit
boards, will find this feature very valuable. The Private Eye can be
used to display a picture of the board with an overlaid arrow that
will appear to point to the place on the board where the user needs to
place a probe or perform some other operation.
TELEPHONE DISPLAYS
The Eye can be built into a telephone handset so it can be flipped out
when needed, or it can be coupled with modem or fax circuitry to allow
the user to convert a telephone into a terminal. Thus, stockbrokers
can receive daily trading information; real estate agents can view
faxed listings while visiting homes with clients; and salespeople can
telephone their office to obtain a customer file from their data base.
Displayed information can be stored for later printing.
FUTURE APPLICATIONS
In the future, there will be portable Private Eye-based pocket
information devices that contain huge databases or books, with a
display coupled to a mass storage device, such as a CD-ROM reader, or
to switchable data cards. It is also possible to develop novel video
games and 3-D CAD systems, in which the user views two displays to get
a 3-D image.
HOW IT WORKS
Like many other scientific breakthroughs, the Private Eye represents a
number of existing technologies combined in a unique manner. This new
approach to virtual displays uses a column of LED's; a magnifying
lens; a spring-mounted, resonating mirror; a counter-moving weight;
and advanced circuitry to link these technologies together. The use
of existing technologies means the device can be easily and
cost-effectively manufactured in high volumes.
By turning the LED column on and off rapidly, showing one column of
dots at a time, and moving the mirror to spread an array of single
columns across a full screen image, Becker succeeded at creating a
full-screen virtual display.
One of the approaches critical to this display is the novel way that
LED and scanning-mirror technology are brought together. Rather than
using traditional methods to synchronize the mirror's frequency with
the LED's fixed output rate, Becker reversed the process. He
synchronized the LED output with the mirror's natural resonance.
The scanning mirror's motion is created with a small voice coil,
similar to an audio speaker, which is mounted behind the mirror. The
mirror is moving at its natural resonant frequency, so only 1/100 watt
is needed to keep it moving. The voice coil motor pushes against a
spring-mounted counterweight, which is set opposite to the mirror.
The resonant frequency of the counterweight system is designed to be
the same as the mirror's, so the entire mirror/counterweight/coil
mechanism acts like a tuning fork. This combination of mirror and
counterweight cancels out most of the vibration created by the
resonating mirror.
The spring mounts for the resonant system act as frictionless pivots
for the mechanism, creating minimal power loss in the motion system.
The springs are stressed to only a small fraction of their fatigue
life. A resonant system tends to resist disturbances to the system
(such as rapid movement or outside vibration), the image remains
extremely stable and clear under a broad range of conditions.
To synchronize the mirror's position and the LED's output rate, a
photodetector sensor is mounted to the case behind the mirror. A tab
mounted to the back of the mirror interrupts the photosensor light
beam circuit as the mirror crosses its maximum deflection. By timing
the movement of the mirror, power can be applied at just the right
moment to maintain the amplitude of the motion. Like pushing a child
on a swing, the swing is set at its natural frequency with just a
small push that is applied at the top of every arc of the swing.
The photosensor signal also determines the timing for the screen
display. The variation in column spacing due to the mirror's
sinusoidal speed is easily corrected by adjusting the individual
column display's timing.
The 280-LED column is staggered left and right into a zig-zag array,
so that the bottom of each pixel is evenly aligned with the top of the
pixel below. This creates the appearance of a single, solid column.
To create a single image, each side of the LED column is illuminated
at a slightly different time to allow the mirror's movement to combine
the left and right sides of the column, making the pixels appear to
touch each other, top-to- bottom. The resulting image is a solid
field.
The last step is to magnify the LED image through a lens that sits
between the mirror and the LED array. The user can slide the lens, so
that the image appears to be placed anywhere between 10 inches and
infinity in their field of vision. An image can therefore be located
at the same distance or on the same plane as other objects in the
user's field of view. And since the optics are adjustable, users
don't suffer the eye strain normally caused when they shift their
focus from a traditional display to other objects.
The display's bright, clear image is achieved by putting the display
in a light-tight enclosure. The Private Eye's very high contrast
ratio is many times that of a typical LCD display, yet uses little
power.
The Private Eye is flicker-free at 50 Hz because its high contrast red
image is seen through the central portion of the eye, which is
relatively insensitive to flicker.
The Private Eye Display has an internal control chip and screen buffer
memory. The control chip takes bit map data transmitted as serial
data up the cable to the device's internal memory. The Private Eye
then takes the bit map and places it into shift registers adjacent to
the LED array where the image is created. The display is
automatically and continuously refreshed with this image until the
host device sends new data.
The Private Eye's construction and lightweight components makes the
device very sturdy. The mirror weighs only a few grams. Its spring
supports can tolerate enormous g forces without any noticeable
effects.
FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS
The company's five year target is to produce a 1K x 1K full-color
display, in a smaller package. This version will allow fully-animated
graphics, at a price low enough for consumer electronics applications
- essentially a High-Definition TV (HDTV) in a matchbox.
New enhancements and features will appear over the next several years.
The first advancement will be the addition of gray scale or, in the
case of the Private Eye, "red scale." In order to accomplish this,
the electronics must be redesigned to vary the LED's light cycles
according to the desired brightness. This can be done with standard
techniques, and will allow for as many gray levels as desired.
Resolution will increase continuously from model to model. Moderate
increases within the existing packaging technology (perhaps to 640 x
480) will occur, followed by increases as denser packaging technology
becomes available. Only current wire-bonding manufacturing practices
within the LED hybrid chip limit this development. Replacing
wire-bonding with conductive paths between the chips laid onto the
substrate will provide the leap needed for megapixel resolution.
Color can be attained when green and blue LED's become available in
arrays similar to today's red LED's. The scanning mirror will combine
the red, green and blue pixels from individual LED arrays to visually
superimpose the pixels and produce colors. Blue and green LED arrays
are still a few years from commercial availability.
Reflection Technology Inc. believes this information to be correct and
reliable. However, it is subject to change without notice. No
responsibility is assumed by Reflection Technology for its use; nor
for infringements of patents or other rights of third parties. This
document implies no license under patents or copyrights.
IBM is a trademark of International Business Machines, Inc.
Copyright (C) 1989 Reflection Technology Inc.
This document may be freely reproduced without modification.jeffw@midas.WR.TEK.COM (Jeff Winslow) (12/13/89)
Congratulations to Reflection Technology for a clever and sexy product. However, I worry a little when I see things like this... >Potential users may include doctors receiving patient records, field >engineers needing technical documentation; salespeople wanting access >to product documentation during a sales call; drivers needing maps to >their destinations... I can just see some bozo driving down the road with this thing over one eye. Of course, who needs depth perception for good driving? :-) An I thought mobile phone stupidity was bad. Also, despite what all the experts may say about eyestrain, people didn't evolve using their two eyes to look at two entirely different things, so you're unlikely to get off scot free doing so. Prudence would suggest not using the display for hours at a time. Jeff Winslow PS. No, I have no idea what George would suggest.
berryh@udel.edu (John Berryhill) (12/13/89)
In article <1025@wrgate.WR.TEK.COM> jeffw@midas.WR.TEK.COM (Jeff Winslow) writes: > >I can just see some bozo driving down the road with this thing over >one eye. Of course, who needs depth perception for good driving? :-) One-eyed drivers do just fine. -- John Berryhill 143 King William, Newark DE 19711
krisk@tekigm2.MEN.TEK.COM (Kristine L. Kaliszewski) (12/13/89)
I'm looking for a Lane that sent me mail. I tried to send a reply and it got returned. Please resend me your message and an address. Thanks. Kristine krisk@tekigm2.men.tek.com
markz@ssc.UUCP (Mark Zenier) (12/13/89)
In article <1025@wrgate.WR.TEK.COM>, jeffw@midas.WR.TEK.COM (Jeff Winslow) writes: > I can just see some bozo driving down the road with this thing over > one eye. Of course, who needs depth perception for good driving? :-) > An I thought mobile phone stupidity was bad. Then you would have really enjoyed last weeks showing of Fox's "Beyond Tomorrow", (The weekly world news of science reporting). They featured an inventor trying to push car television, with a little screen glued up on the windshield. He claimed it would make people better drivers. markz@ssc.uucp
wordy@cup.portal.com (Steven K Roberts) (12/16/89)
Actually, to address the comment about this being dangerous while driving, there is a solution to the problem. I am using a Private Eye on the new version of my computerized bicycle (the Winnebiko) for map, text, and status display when conditions make the use of the Mac screen on the console unpleasant (blazing sun, darkness, rain, etc). It turns out that the Private Eye is actually most comfortable when worn below the eye, so that it almost feels like bifocals. Mine is being mounted to the bicycle helmet on a sort of bail that flips down from stowage in the visor, and is never directly in front of my eye (I'd never give up binocular vision of a threatening world on the road for a mere computer display!). Cheers.... Steve Roberts (PS -- it's been a while since I posted, and I sometimes get a flurry of mail about the Winnebiko System 3 that's being readied for a return to full time travel this spring. I'm now publishing a bimonthly tech journal called Nomadness --- sort of 50% technical details and the rest an assortment of travel, adventure, craziness, profiles, and all the other stuff that gives the tech stuff meaningful context. For information on subscribing, drop a line to Nomadic Research Labs, P.O. Box 2390, Santa Cruz, CA 95063 (it's $15/year, bimonthly, if you want to skip the flyer handshaking).) Cheers again... Steve