VizWorld.com

Vuzix has just come out with a new set of wearable displays that boast 16:9 widescreen along with 3D support.

The new Wrap 1200 video eyewear offer greater compatibility, flexibility and viewing quality than ever before. Not only does the Wrap 1200 support both standard 2D video and today’s exciting explosion of 3D video, it connects to more media sources in more ways than ever before. The Wrap 1200 improvements don’t stop there. Focus, eye-separation and viewing angle adjustments combine to offer optimum viewing quality for all.

Technical details show they only run at a disappointing 852×480, but when you put that merely 1 inch away from your eye that’s probably good enough.

I’m a bit puzzled by how it supports 3d formats of Anaglyphic 3D.  Side-by-side is obvious, but how does Anaglyph work with this?

via Wrap 1200.

Hardware stereoscopic, vuzix

Vuzix is back with an impressive new offering for Augmented Reality fans, the STAR1200 which packs a HD camera, 6-dof head-tracker, control logic, connectivity, and more all into 1 amazing (and pricey) pair of glasses.

A high-speed 1080p high definition camera with a dedicated USB connection enables exceptional performance for marker or object recognition. The camera, seen by the computer as a standard webcam, allows for easy adaptation and application support without proprietary software.

A miniature 6-DOF (Degree of Freedom) head tracker with compass plugs directly into the STAR 1200 display module providing cooked or raw tracker data through the STAR system’s control interface. A VGA Control Box interfaces with Windows based netbook, laptop or desktop computers or lithium ion rechargeable Wrap PowerPak+ connects to the iPhone/iPad family of mobile devices, enabling tracker support.

They aren’t cheap, running $5000 with a $2000 commitment up front, but they look like they’re state of the art in Augmented Reality headwear.

Although, one has to ask how long AR Glasses will remain relevant with the booming smartphone AR market.

via Vuzix STAR 1200 Augmented Reality System.

Hardware augmented reality, glasses, vuzix

Vuzix, creators of the Wrap920 video eyewear product, have just released a new software product (free!) for the device that opens it to private software development and virtual-reality uses.  The new ‘Vuzix VR SDK’ is a royalty-free SDK enabling integration of stereoscopic video and head-tracking support into your own software that automatically configured to support the full suite of Wrap products.

In addition to the software announcement, the press release drops some hints about a few new products called the Wrap Tracker 6TC and Wrap 920AR.  The Wrap Tracker is probably some type of head-tracking devices, while the 920 AR may allow for either an integrated video camera (for augmented reality work) or possibly semitransparent screens allowing viewing of the direct field in front of you, with overlaid information.

The product is Windows Only. Full release after the break.

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Science augmented reality, sdk, virtual reality, vuzix

Another CES announcement, this time fro Vuzix, announces a new Stereo Augmented Reality headset that fits into a slim sunglasses form factor.

The stereo camera pair delivers a single 1504 x 480 side-by-side image that can be viewed in 3D stereoscopic video, while the video eyewear provides an unprecedented 67-inch display as seen from 10 feet. The Wrap 920AR also includes a 6 Degree-of-Freedom Tracker, which allows for absolute accuracy of roll pitch and yaw and also X, Y and Z positioning in 3D space. Selected as a 2010 CES Innovations Award winner and a semifinalist for the “Last Gadget Standing” competition, the Wrap 920AR will be the highlight of Vuzix’ display at the 2010 International Consumer Electronics Show.

So, it’s a bit of an odd offering, as it records stereo imagery via the cameras and display it right back to you, as tho it’s not even there.  Hopefully, some interesting applications will come out utilizing the integrated tracking.

via Vuzix to Introduce Revolutionary Augmented Reality Wrap 920AR Video Eyewear at 2010 International CES – Yahoo! Finance.

Hardware augmented reality, ces, vuzix

Engadget reports that Vuzix is at GDC talking about a new Augmented Reality headset that combines video capture with video overlay and a special wireless “augmented reality input controller”.

The bundle will include the CamAR — a clip-on USB camera that is designed to accurately track objects and the user’s position in three-dimensional space — along with the PhasAR wireless augmented reality input controller. When these are used in unison, users are able to simultaneously see what’s going on in the Matrix and in the display. For instance, imagine reading a book that’s tied into a program on the VR920; as you read along, images can pop up and complement the text.

The full press release is inside..

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Hardware augmented reality, vuzix