ex-Valve engineer's AR glasses

[Pat Pending]

http://www.joystiq.com/2013/05/19/engadget-goes-hands-on-with-ex-valve-engineers-ar-glasses/
 
I recall a AR demo from a recent CES show involving a dinosaur statue that was rendered atop of a live video feed.
That demo had helmet mounted cameras capturing the 'outside' scenery for display on two 800x600 infinity adjusted LCDs.
The processing lag was significant, such that rapid changes in viewing angle caused a strong loss of balance sensation.

This implementation uses projection instead of image overlay, so any loss of balance sensation is lessened.

Each year, CES brings promising 3D demos that inevitably turn out to be (insert expression of choice).
I guess we are spoiled by the tantalizing glimpses of the future as portrayed by Hollywood.

[EEVblog]

Regardless of whether or not this technology ultimately takes off in the consumer market is of course open to debate. But one thing is for sure, Jeri will have a few million $ in the bank come Kickstarter time. The gamer geeks will lap it up.
She has to deliver a lot of kit for the $200 though. Margins will likely be rather slim?

[EEVblog]

Each year, CES brings promising 3D demos that inevitably turn out to be (insert expression of choice).

I saw an ECAD companies demo of a 3D PCB once. It was awful, so hard on the eyes.
We haven't evolved to watch stuff in that way.
I refuse to watch 3D movies   

[justanothercanuck]

Virtual reality is a fad.  I figured everybody knew that when the Virtua Boy only lasted a year before being shitcanned. 

Best of luck to her though, I don't think I'll be buying one anytime soon.

[Kevin.D]

Virtual reality is a fad.  I figured everybody knew that when the Virtua Boy only lasted a year before being shitcanned. 

Best of luck to her though, I don't think I'll be buying one anytime soon.

Yes but there is a difference between AR and VR.  AR =augmeneted reallity .
these are more similar to an H.U.D.S or an overlay image on clear glasses . I think everyone is trying to get there systems out before google glasses appear.
I think there are some good uses for them if someone can solve the focal probs and come out with a decent pair  . Stuff like using a multimeter with a pair of these and having the readings pop up in your glasses instead of having to take your eyes off the probes and pcb to look at the meter display .I think theres alot of good uses for these systems  more as an simple 2D H.U.D.S overlay more so than  3d graphics . 

[Pat Pending]

Stuff like using a multimeter with a pair of these and having the readings pop up in your glasses

hmmmm.....a head mounted multimeter - I like it

Either a Google glasses killer app or a modernized 1900's shock therapy technique.

[ecat]

Regardless of whether or not this technology ultimately takes off in the consumer market is of course open to debate. But one thing is for sure, Jeri will have a few million $ in the bank come Kickstarter time. The gamer geeks will lap it up.
She has to deliver a lot of kit for the $200 though. Margins will likely be rather slim?

She also has the blessing and telephone number of Santa Clause Uncle Gabe, not a tradeable commodity but worth more than Apple stock

Projection glasses and custom projection screen? Doesn't really appeal to me.
 

[firewalker]

I believe gamers prefer large (curved ?) screens than eye pieces.

Alexander.

[Rasz]

First thought:

Star Wars holo chess


second one:

MIT Media Lab
http://www.pranavmistry.com/projects/sixthsense/


Jeri is BRILLIANT. This will be great for kids. Real interaction instead of looking at flat screen, very important in child development. Games are only tip of the iceberg, this could be huge for education and learning.
Minecraft in your room? Interactive Lego tutorial? Origami lessons?
How about using it over a network and sharing one playground over thousands of kilometers? with physical objects

I wonder whats the max framerate/resolution of those pico projectors. Sensing element looks suspiciously similar to Wiimore IR camera (hardware tracking of 4 IR points at 100Hz, so Jeri uses something updated).

[PA0PBZ]

First thought:

My first thought:

[amyk]

Oh, that Valve...

Before looking at the post and just at the title I was wondering why someone working with valves would need antireflective glasses.

[Rasz]

Just listened to http://www.theamphour.com/the-amp-hour-147-absorptive-augmented-actuality/

OMG this is going to be sooo gooooooooood   

Jeri basically build her own Wiimote IR tracking sensor from scratch, but using modern cellphone HD camera instead of 170x130 whatever nintendo had.
Reminds me of this http://chipsight.com/chipsight-slides

This is what Rift has so much trouble with, even using state of the art IMUs they still have drift and need to recalibrate every 10-20 minutes. Not to mention they have very shitty LCD no one seems to mention in reviews


For anyone interested this is what you see in Occulus right now:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/13291272/oculus-rift-team-fortress-2-render_revised.png
Basically pixelated Playstation2 lever graphics with huge black bars between pixels

The potential this has is even bigger than I initially anticipated. That Tony Stark oscilloscope reading displayed right next to the board you are working on? WHOA!
Instead of wand you could have "magic rings" on your fingers. Or a glove with embedded tracking leds to physically interact with virtual objects.


Cant wait for kickstarter.

[psycho0815]

Yeah that thing is seriously cool. And if they can keep that pricepoint it's a no-brainer for me.
First thing i thought of was glueing that retroreflective stuff to gamecards and build a sabacc game.

i can also see a lot of potential in next-gen board games.

[Rasz]

Board games would be huge with this. Im spamming Will Wheaton and Felicia Day right now about this

[thefatmoop]

I don't think this will be a long term success. What surprises me the most is that valve let her take their tech and do a startup with it. Even if she developed it, it was developed at valve and they probably own it unless they messed on legals up or just dont care.

[Len]

What surprises me the most is that valve let her take their tech and do a startup with it. Even if she developed it, it was developed at valve and they probably own it unless they messed on legals up or just dont care.

On The Amp Hour podcast linked above, Jeri says that Gabe Newell (boss of Valve) allowed them to take the tech with them when they were laid off. It makes sense to me - Valve didn't want it, and if someone else uses it to make games, Valve will probably end up selling those games on Steam.

[Bored@Work]

What surprises me the most is that valve let her take their tech and do a startup with it. Even if she developed it, it was developed at valve and they probably own it unless they messed on legals up or just dont care.

On The Amp Hour podcast linked above, Jeri says that Gabe Newell (boss of Valve) allowed them to take the tech with them when they were laid off. It makes sense to me - Valve didn't want it, and if someone else uses it to make games, Valve will probably end up selling those games on Steam.

She even mentioned it took a bit of time to sort out the contract. So she apparently has something in written, not just the word of Newell. Contract details are likely a secret, but I wouldn't be surprised if Valve has some provisions in it to get something in return if the thing becomes a success.

[EEVblog]

She even mentioned it took a bit of time to sort out the contract. So she apparently has something in written, not just the word of Newell.

Yes, it's in writing, the tech is legally hers.