Vuzix is showing a new see through or "optical see through" augmented reality display at CES 2011 code named "Raptyr". Vuzix actually won the 2011 Innovation award for Augmented Reality with this display. http://www.vuzix.com/site/_news/Press%20Release%2001-05-2011%20CES%20Award-FINAL.pdf
I did not go to CES this image was posted on the Vuzix forums by Mnemonic of http://diva.3dvrm.com/
This Tech is extremely exciting to me because it is the tech that I have been struggling to build instead of working on my project's art and story and it is finally on the horizon. I cross my fingers that this will be available to buy soon.
Now let me clarify, I do have my doubts about its performance pros and cons. This may or may not be true, but until I can test them I am worried that they might not be able to do full color content. The optics are generating imagery with what they call a "holographic optics engine" now this kind of display system has been reserved for military and research HMDs for a while, and Vuzix does do HMDs for research and the military so I don't doubt their engineering ability. The problem with those systems is first the prohibitive cost and second that I am not sure they could do more than a few different colors. If you have ever looked at a hologram printed on a piece of paper is rarely has accurate colors to go with its 3D content and the Raptyr's optics supposedly use the same principals (Heck even in the photo I can see a traditional hologram greenish gradient on the lenses) . It says in the press release that these glasses have VGA support or iphone interface support which is very cool.
To be perfectly honest at this point I am DYING to spend an hour testing this HMD. I might just have to fly out to Rochester New York and visit the Vuzix folks. Thanks Vuzix you guys are amazing for going this direction. I believe this technology will change the way we use cell phones and games.
