Re: Virtual retinal display

[P3D John W Roberts <roberts@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

>Date: Sun, 24 Nov 1996 01:54:11 -0600
>From: P3D  <PTWW@xxxxxxx>
>Subject: Virtual retinal display

>On 11/23/96 an article in the "Personal Technology" section of the local
>paper reports on a new technology for displaying images, and suggests it
>holds great potential for future 3D/Virutal Reality applications.

>The new technology may have been initially developed to deal with the
>question: Now that we can build a computer with the power of a desktop
>in a package the size of a Walkman, where do we put the screen?  A company
>called MicroVision developed a laser-based system that beams images
>directly into the eye.  In the so-called "virtual retinal display," "a
>pair of tiny, rapidly moving mirrors...paint the pixel stream onto the
>back of the eye."  The scanners project 18 million pixels per second,
>allowing a stable image to be perceived.

>...
>The company hopes to have working systems available in about 18 months, at
>a cost "between $5,000 and $50,000 each."

>Anyone know anything else about this?

>Paul Talbot

I'd heard of that sort of thing being expected for the future, but no details.
That's more than I'd ever heard - thanks for posting it. If it's just two
pivoting mirrors and no fancy optics, I'd think that all the light would
go to a single point on the retina if the focus is on the retina. I don't
see how it could be made to work without sufficiently clever control to shift
the apparent point of origin to the beam. Also, ideally the beam would always
pass through the center of the pupil, so changes in pupil dilation wouldn't
affect it. (Imagine washing a dog on the other side of a fence by spraying
water through a knothole in the fence - you have to move the nozzle of the
hose around to cover the entire dog.) Of course the excerpt doesn't specify
just what motions will be attempted with the mirrors...

That's not a very unique name - there are companies/products named
microVision, Microvision, Micro Vision Software, Micro Vision Solutions,
MicroVision, and so on.

I hope they're successful - if you find out any more, please let us know.

John R


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