New VR concept sunglasses gives a glimpse into the future

https://www.theverge.com/2020/6/30/21308813/facebook-vr-sunglasses-research-proof-of-concept

Facebook has shown off a new proof-of-concept virtual reality headset, and it has a completely different design than most other VR devices on the market today. Instead of a bulky contraption that covers up the top half of your face and has to be strapped to your head, this proof-of-concept headset looks kind of like a pair of large sunglasses that can sit comfortably on your ears.

Yet Facebook is billing this new device as not a pair of augmented reality glasses, as common conceptions of AR devices go, but a legitimate VR product. They’re very thin, with a display thickness of less than 9mm, and Facebook claims they have a field of view that’s “comparable to today’s consumer VR products.” Here’s a top-down view:

The proof-of-concept glasses aren’t just thin for looks, though — they also apparently beam images to your eyes in a way that’s different than standard VR headsets on the market today. I’ll let Facebook’s research team explain one of those techniques, called “holographic optics:”

Most VR displays share a common viewing optic: a simple refractive lens composed of a thick, curved piece or glass or plastic. We propose replacing this bulky element with holographic optics. You may be familiar with holographic images seen at a science museum or on your credit card, which appear to be three-dimensional with realistic depth in or out of the page. Like these holographic images, our holographic optics are a recording of the interaction of laser light with objects, but in this case the object is a lens rather than a 3D scene. The result is a dramatic reduction in thickness and weight: The holographic optic bends light like a lens but looks like a thin, transparent sticker.

The proof-of-concept headset also uses a technique Facebook calls “polarization-based optical folding” to help reduce the amount of space between the actual display and the lens that focuses the image. With polarization-based optical folding, “light can be controlled to move both forward and backward within the lens so that this empty space can be traversed multiple times, collapsing it to a fraction of the original volume.”

This GIF from Facebook helps visualize how both techniques work together:

These glasses are just a proof-of-concept, though, so it’s unclear if they’ll ever come to market. “While it points toward the future development of lightweight, comfortable, and high-performance AR/VR technology, at present our work is purely research,” Facebook’s research team writes in its blog post.

Many companies are circling around the idea of glasses-like AR/VR headsets that combine the best of both technologies into a single device, but it usually ends up as a bulkier VR-centric headset that uses outward-facing cameras to also perform light AR. Intel and Microsoft, both of which use the phrase mixed reality to describe devices like the HoloLens, have been investing in this idea for some time.

But more companies are now working behind-the-scenes to make a smaller, truly hybrid device a reality. Apple has reportedly been working on something like this for years, and Google just today bought AR glasses company North, an acquisition that may allow the company to revive its dream of a consumer Google Glass-style heads-up display.

While we can’t be sure if any of the tech giants will release combination AR/VR glasses, the proof-of-concept Facebook is showing off could offer a glimpse at what such a device might look like at some point in the future.

INB4, Facebook copied it from Sony because they have been working on it for decades without having anything to show for it.

But but vr is niche and dying!!!

The smaller the tech, the sooner VR can grow much faster. Looking forward to future models that can make the experience even more accessible.

Facebook is not a good thing.

Not a good thing at all.

Sony's been working on VR sunglasses?

I don't know, you tell me. Actually you tell all of them.

Um, no, they haven't? Where did you even get this idea?

Cool for those who like it but I still want to stick to my old fashioned TV gaming.

What idea?

Um, let me think here. Maybe, just maybe the idea that Sony came up with it first? Could that possibly be it? And could that possibly, just possibly be because....you said it?

Here's your quote, to remind you of your own words, which you've apparently forgotten:

"INB4, Facebook copied it from Sony because they have been working on it for decades without having anything to show for it."

So, I ask again, where did you get this idea from?

Where did I say that Sony came up with it? Don't see it anywhere in my quote.

So, let me get this straight. You come into the thread and start randomly talking about Sony, even though the thread is not about Sony. You mention Sony coming up first with the idea of the product the thread is talking about, and then deny that you said anything about said idea.

It seems safe to assume that Sony's on your mind a lot.

Niche, yes; dying, no.

@Archangel3371: Same thing people said about Tv's, big bulky expensive mother fuckers with barely any content few but the chosen had.

As technology inevitably moves forward, much like TV it will become normality.

Like Star Trek, without it breaking down and trying to murder the crew every 3 episodes.

@uninspiredcup: Meh. I don’t know if it’ll ever become the norm or not but I really don’t care about that. I’m simply not interested in gaming in VR. 🤷‍♂️

Seems like it would let too much light and external visuals in to be truly immersive.

Still, I wholeheartedly encourage stuff like this; VR is simply incredibly, and any progress and investment to keep it going is welcome.

The tech get's smaller, more common, price goes down, people start buying it, gains in popularity...next thing you know we are in an episode of Black Mirror....except the happy VR one where the two dudes fight-**** eachother, and not the sad or scary "tech has ruined us" episodes.

It does not completely cover the eyes. So, with outside light coming in through your peripheral vision, this is an epic fail. VR is about immersion and not outside distractions.

That's the dream but I refuse to f**** a polar bear.

Yeah, but knowing you could **** a bear is still awesome.

Most people like sitting on a couch and gaming or laying down on a couch gaming or laying down in their bed, it's just more fun and VR goes against this style of play.

I didn't say anything randomly nor did I backtrack from something. If you can't...sorry, if you don't want to comprehend something then that's not my problem. Not interested in reading the rest of the irrelevant garbage.

On the other hand it's safe to assume that your jimmies has been rustled.

@pc_rocks:

Comes into thread. Makes random statement about Sony, even though the thread has nothing to do with Sony. Promptly forgets his own words. Is reminded. Denies mentioning an idea he mentioned at the very beginning of the thread. Claims lack of comprehension. Claims rustling of jimmies.

Is off his freakin' rocker.

And obsessed with Sony.

Keep trying but you can't turn this against me, sunshine.

@pc_rocks: If only there were a school of subtle knocks...

VR is a joke, it's worst than that PS Move crap.

True! You wouldn't be so miserable then.

Do you even understand what I said?

They really need to do this. I worked with a pharma company, developing a VR project. One of the issues we had while doing tests was how annoying the headsets were for our test subjects. I think once they resolve that issue it'll get mainstream appeal.

The bulk of it never really bothered me, the Rift S wire does though, gets caught in shit and wraps round your shoulder.

As long as the headset is light, it doesn't matter to me. But even one wire can get annoying. That being said, wireless is useless unless they start coming out with built-in VR batteries that last a LOT longer.

I did and I'm also sure you understood what I said regardless how you pretend.

@warmblur said:

https://www.theverge.com/2020/6/30/21308813/facebook-vr-sunglasses-research-proof-of-concept

Facebook has shown off a new proof-of-concept virtual reality headset, and it has a completely different design than most other VR devices on the market today. Instead of a bulky contraption that covers up the top half of your face and has to be strapped to your head, this proof-of-concept headset looks kind of like a pair of large sunglasses that can sit comfortably on your ears.

Yet Facebook is billing this new device as not a pair of augmented reality glasses, as common conceptions of AR devices go, but a legitimate VR product. They’re very thin, with a display thickness of less than 9mm, and Facebook claims they have a field of view that’s “comparable to today’s consumer VR products.” Here’s a top-down view:

The proof-of-concept glasses aren’t just thin for looks, though — they also apparently beam images to your eyes in a way that’s different than standard VR headsets on the market today. I’ll let Facebook’s research team explain one of those techniques, called “holographic optics:”

Most VR displays share a common viewing optic: a simple refractive lens composed of a thick, curved piece or glass or plastic. We propose replacing this bulky element with holographic optics. You may be familiar with holographic images seen at a science museum or on your credit card, which appear to be three-dimensional with realistic depth in or out of the page. Like these holographic images, our holographic optics are a recording of the interaction of laser light with objects, but in this case the object is a lens rather than a 3D scene. The result is a dramatic reduction in thickness and weight: The holographic optic bends light like a lens but looks like a thin, transparent sticker.

The proof-of-concept headset also uses a technique Facebook calls “polarization-based optical folding” to help reduce the amount of space between the actual display and the lens that focuses the image. With polarization-based optical folding, “light can be controlled to move both forward and backward within the lens so that this empty space can be traversed multiple times, collapsing it to a fraction of the original volume.”

This GIF from Facebook helps visualize how both techniques work together:

These glasses are just a proof-of-concept, though, so it’s unclear if they’ll ever come to market. “While it points toward the future development of lightweight, comfortable, and high-performance AR/VR technology, at present our work is purely research,” Facebook’s research team writes in its blog post.

Many companies are circling around the idea of glasses-like AR/VR headsets that combine the best of both technologies into a single device, but it usually ends up as a bulkier VR-centric headset that uses outward-facing cameras to also perform light AR. Intel and Microsoft, both of which use the phrase mixed reality to describe devices like the HoloLens, have been investing in this idea for some time.

But more companies are now working behind-the-scenes to make a smaller, truly hybrid device a reality. Apple has reportedly been working on something like this for years, and Google just today bought AR glasses company North, an acquisition that may allow the company to revive its dream of a consumer Google Glass-style heads-up display.

While we can’t be sure if any of the tech giants will release combination AR/VR glasses, the proof-of-concept Facebook is showing off could offer a glimpse at what such a device might look like at some point in the future.

these are stupid i do not want the lighting in the room to be visible. what is the point if your in a dark cave when the light is coming in the sides of the glasses unless you play in a dark room.

subspecies this will not work. you know from having the headset you do not want the light in the room to be visible. every time i put my headset on i make sure the light does not come in on the sides. but a smaller headset be nice but they have to cover the sides even though its light has is.

@pc_rocks: Oh, so you understood what I meant by the 'subtle knocks' comment. I see. Feel free to show your understanding by explaining the meaning.

This should be good.

Dude, I meant "lightweight".

That looks much better than what I have with the PSVR. I hate being hard wired with a bulky headset on my face.

I could but why should I when there's Google! Though it's fun to watch you going in circles.

@pc_rocks: Google won't help you here, lol. Now go ahead. Tell me what I mean. Or admit you have no idea and be done with it.

Fix it for you pretty much sums up every non MS thread. Congrats on being yet another cow hypocrite

@kingtito: I......mentioned MS in this thread? Really.

cud hav ben like 4/5 - 3 easy [u+

@subspecies: El tormented is that your alt?

I'm saying, as if this needed to be explained, cows will constantly bring up MS in threads that have nothing to do with MS. Hence MS is always on their minds.

He probably felt left out again,you know how some so call hermits are.😂

i think they call americans 'cows' lol

Yeah and they call that progress from sitting comfortably in front of a TV. Haha

It's cute you really think I wouldn't know what it means even though I live in Germany.

Why would I be feeling left out, fraud? This is gonna be good.

But first things first, fraud. For the 64th time where are the sources for GDDR is better than DDR for CPUs? 3.5 months and counting.

@pc_rocks: Dude, the reason I said Google won't help you is because....it doesn't mean anything. I just typed some random shit and told you to tell me the meaning for the hell of it.

Then I got bored.