Posted on 01/02/2006 3:25:39 PM PST by Panerai
A company that makes video display products for military and industrial uses is setting its sights on a new market -- the iPod.
Bellevue-based eMagin Corp. has developed a wearable headset system that plugs into Apple Computer's portable media device and displays video from it in front of one eye, using optical technology designed to give the picture a higher resolution and make it appear larger than on the iPod's screen.
The system, dubbed the EyeBud 800, is another entry in the booming ecosystem of accessories and complementary products that has emerged around Apple's portable music player. But this isn't in the realm of a $20 carrying case. Scheduled to debut in the first half of this year, the EyeBud is expected to retail for as much as $599 -- $200 more than the cost of a 60-gigabyte iPod.
But eMagin's executives are betting that the notion of a virtual big screen will win people over. With the proximity of the screen to the eye, and the magnifying effect of the company's optical technology, the company says that using the headset is akin to watching a 105-inch display from 12 feet away.
"Suddenly you've got this big-screen, movie-screen, home-theater experience, wherever you are," said Gary Jones, eMagin's president and CEO.
The EyeBud system uses a separate control module, about the size of the iPod, which includes a rechargeable battery pack. The headgear might garner curious looks when worn in public. But eMagin executives say they expect people to get used to the appearance, in the same way that Bluetooth headsets are no longer uncommon.
(Excerpt) Read more at seattlepi.nwsource.com ...
Gary Jones, president and CEO of eMagin Corp. of Bellevue, demonstrates his company's new wearable display for video iPods. Using the EyeBud headset is akin to watching a 105-inch display from 12 feet away. "Suddenly you've got this big-screen, movie-screen, home-theater experience wherever you are," he says.
Arrggghhhh ... Hand over the plunder!
But it's still only a 320x240 image, so how good is it going to look? It will appear sharper on the small screen than in a virtual big screen.
I knew this was coming. Only a matter of time (months?) before you'll plug your ipod into a set of wraparound glasses that give you the illusion of being immersed in the movie.
It looks pretty clunky... I know of a California company working on a thinner transparent model... The IPOD tie-in is nice though.
iPod iVideo iBall iPing!
That would cause a totally bad hair day. It's a loser.
And it won't be long until Iporn makes it even more "immersive".
Assimilation............
What movie is that picture from? Looks familiar.
What am I supposed to do with my other eye........drive?
So then you add a 2nd iPod with the HD video slightly off angle from the first one and feed it to a 2nd EyeBud, add a green filter for one eye and a red filter for the other eye, and you've got truly frightening 3D video.
Makes me dizzy just thinking about it.
For something that gives you a headache and isn't even stereo, this price ought to put them out of the market pretty quick.
Yes, I like the gold version too.
"What am I supposed to do with my other eye........drive?" - Why ? Do you always drive listening to headphones, too ?
Such glasses already exist...however, they are hindered by a very human characteristic...whenever we are watching something...we want the opportunity to look away...at least for a nanosecond. Look up, down, to the side, whatever...
Apparently, wrap-around goggles make people crazy 'cuz they can't do that.
I don't know what the cure is...but the article outlining the problem sure was interesting.
If I find it again, I'll ping you.
From Jason of Star Command.
Combine one with those Moto phones integrated with a pair of Ray-bans, a broadband connection, and you've got V.R. web surfing at the beach.
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