Zeiss OLED Video Glasses Support Gaming
June 2013, Zeiss was showing their Cinemizer OLED 3D compatible multimedia video glasses at the E3 gaming show. The video glasses that use dual OLED displays in a light headset to create an equivalent view of a 40″ 16:9 aspect ratio display at a distance of 2 meters. The image from the OLED displays is a 100% fill, and is designed for optimal visual isolation for both those who wear glasses and those with standard vision. The OLED displays support the full 24 bit RGB color depth. The glasses include stereo sound speakers for a full integrated device. The image is from a 2500 dpi display that uses a 4 sub-pixel RGB array (2B, 1 R, 1G).
The optics for the system are a key to the use, and they are designed to provide a consistent experience for all users. This is done by having individual adjustment for each eye with a diopter range of -5 to +2. Additionally, there is a pupil distance adjustment of 59 to 69 mm. As a result, a clear view can be generated for all wearers. To enhance the fully immersive experience, the glasses support an optional flexible eyeshield made of soft rubber and plastic that is simple to mount on the multimedia glasses and embraces the complete eye area. When using the cinemizer OLED as external viewfinder, for high resolution gaming or watching video on the go, the cinemizer eyeshield blocks ambient light and all other visually disturbing environmental influences.
One of the major new accessories that makes the device unique for the gaming applications is the use of the optional integrated head tracker. The headtracker is an input device which records the head movements of the user, allowing natural and intuitive interaction. The headtracker uses multiple sensors to detect changes in rotation in all three dimensions and transmit these to the computer. The cinemizer headtracker acts like a PC mouse, making it suitable for all games and professional applications that can be operated with a computer mouse.
Zeiss Cinemizer Headtracker
The headtracker is mounted in the side of the video glasses. The cinemizer headtracker does not require any additional driver so it can be used immediately used on Windows, Apple and Linux based operating systems (e.g. mobile operating systems). For PC and Apple applications, there is a software “Tracker Configuration Tool” that allows for the headtracker speed to be adjusted independently of the PC Mouse that is used on the system. The headtracker itself can be updated in the field through new versions of the firmware.
For professional applications and custom developemnt, there is the option of direct access to the sensor data of the USB HID through an existing SDK (for Windows). By using the SDK or the USB HID, data of the 3 rotation axes of the headtracker sensors can be read into other other files and applications.
The glasses support up to 6hrs of operation from the analog AV Input, and up to 2.5hrs for digital input through HDMI on the internal battery. The HDMI interface is version 1.4 which fully supports most formats of 3D playout, and is fully supported by NVIDIA 3DTV Play. The glasses support the following display input options –
HDMI: 640x480p 60Hz, 720x576p 50Hz, 720x480p 60Hz, 1280x720p 50/60Hz, 1920x1080i 50/60Hz, 1920x1080p 50/60Hz, 1920x1080p 24Hz, HDMI 1.4 3D 1080p 24 Hz, HDMI 1.4 3D 720p 60Hz
iPod/iPhone: video-capable iPod and iPhone models via optional accessories
AV-In: 3,5mm/4-pin slot for audio & video (PAL/NTSC)
They also support a 3.5mm audio port for connection to external stereo headphones if desired. The glasses are designed for use in long sessions, and as such are very light at a total weight of 120g without the head tracker or eye shield.
The headset with the tracker is now fully gaming compatible. Other applications include traditional 2D and 3D video viewing, first person viewing as a personal monitor for sports or remote cameras, as a 2D or 3D viewer for prosumer and professional camera viewfinder (for DSLR, camcorder, and 3D camcorder applications), immersive learing, CAD viewing for design and architectural applications (including head tracking for immersive position placement and movement), and dentist/doctor applications for patient comfort.
For the patient application, the positive sensory stimuli “transport” the patient optically and acoustically out of the high anxiety atmosphere of the treatment room at the dentist or an operating room. Patients simply wear the Cinemizer OLED and watch a relaxing or entertaining video, enabling them to relax and forget where they are – for their own benefit and that of the doctor. Initial studies and tests have shown that this type of distraction can be used to reduce the amount of medication needed during a procedure.
The Cinemizer OLED glasses are currently available from retails for under $799.
