“Today the US Patent & Trademark Office published a patent application from Apple that relates to optical systems and, more particularly, to optical systems for head-mounted displays,” Jack Purcher reports for Patently Apple. “While augmented reality is mentioned, the priority in this patent is virtual reality.”
“This head-mounted display system is to view virtual reality content, movies and specialty content that could include movies and games using Voxel technology,” Purcher reports. “Optical systems for head-mounted displays may use arrangements of lenses that are bulky and heavy. Extended use of a head-mounted display with this type of optical system may be uncomfortable. Apple’s invention is designed to overcome the negatives of such systems.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: It’ll take Apple for the world to get smartglasses done right. We can’t wait!
Imagine what could be done with AirPods coupled with a pair of Apple Specs. The sky’s the limit! — MacDailyNews, November 17, 2016
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For a subset of people, glasses are fashion accessories. But most people do not want to wear glasses or deal with the hassles of keeping them clean and storing them safely when they are not needed. How many pairs of nice sunglasses have *you* sat on or lost over the years? I now buy $20 sunglasses – less to worry about and easy to replace.
Wearables have to fit in with people’s lifestyles. Apple recognized that with the Apple Watch from the beginning, and positioned it as a fashion accessory as well as the best-in-class wrist wearable. Apple often got criticized for that, but it worked, both in terms of selling Apple Watches and gaining additional revenue from stylish bands and such.
Wearable VR products have to be miniaturized to the point of being minimally intrusive. It will take years to do that right. Do not expect anyone, even Apple, to revolutionize VR headgear very soon. This is a very difficult engineering challenge.
You know, people were saying the same thing about watches, too.
This patent isn’t about “glasses” but a VR headset that’s in your home. I doubt that headsets have to be fashionable.
While I’ve yet to try headsets for gaming yet, that video on voxels shows me advances that could persuade me to try a headset from Apple or anyone supporting games or movies using voxel technology.
VR and AR are the future. I will create art for them.