The head-mounted “personal theatre” designed by Avegant, named Glyph, is the new wearable device that uses a technology which the company calls “Virtual Retina Display”.
Glyph is a media-centric device, with high-end headphones and a headband that is capable of transforming in to an immersive display.
The Virtual Retina Display doesn’t actually have a screen but instead it projects images straight on to the retina using a complex series of LEDs and mirrors. Ed Tang, co-founder for Avegant, says that this is supposed to mimic how our eyes work, so giving a sharper and more realistic viewing experience.
“Our eyes get tired if we stare at displays, but when I look out the window or around the room things are comfortable and realistic. So we chose to replicate the kind of light we see in real life, which is reflective light. Emissive light doesn’t have the same properties that make it less exhausting and more realistic,” he said.
With a price tag of $499, the device smashed its $250,000 Kickstarter goal in just four hours.
The Glyph device can work with any audio or video source such as Netflix and Xbox, through HDMI or HML cords. The company promises that wherever you are in the world, you will be able to get any content you want, through a single cable.
Unlike Oculus Rift and Google Glass, Avegant want to focus on a general audience. It wants everyone from the business professional, to your mother to be able to use the device.
Choosing to focus on the headphone option, Avegant feel that people will feel less self-conscious wearing Glyph, as most people wear headphones whilst out and about. However, there is the option to shut the rest of the world out and flip down the visor to watch a movie.
Avegant are currently refining the prototypes to improve the fit and finish, ensuring that the device does not feel bulky or heavy. Expect to see Glyph shipped by December at the latest.
