Difference between revisions of "Head-mounted display"
| Line 9: | Line 9: | ||
An HMD is largely useful if it shows visual content to a large portion of both eyes. | An HMD is largely useful if it shows visual content to a large portion of both eyes. | ||
| − | |||
| − | |||
A display is placed very close to the users' eyes, covering a large portion of their field of view. Most headsets are flat focus binocular, meaning two images that are very similar but have different perspectives are channeled into the eyes, one for the left and one for the right, to allow the human perceptual system to perceive [[binocular disparity]] and see some depth. | A display is placed very close to the users' eyes, covering a large portion of their field of view. Most headsets are flat focus binocular, meaning two images that are very similar but have different perspectives are channeled into the eyes, one for the left and one for the right, to allow the human perceptual system to perceive [[binocular disparity]] and see some depth. | ||
The first was [[Ivan Sutherland's head-mounted three dimensional display]]. | The first was [[Ivan Sutherland's head-mounted three dimensional display]]. | ||
| − | |||
__NOTOC__ | __NOTOC__ | ||
==Augmented reality HMDs== | ==Augmented reality HMDs== | ||
Revision as of 02:31, 2 October 2024
A head-mounted display (HMD) is a display that is fixed to a user's head. It must be connected to an external computer to work.
It shares a coordinate system with the user's head. It is either monoscopic or two-view. A head-mounted display is a head-fixed display that rests its mass on the user's head.
Head-mounted displays were part of the second wave of commercially successful VR headsets such as the Oculus Rift.
As computers have become more power efficient, head-worn computers have in most cases replaced head-mounted displays.
An HMD is largely useful if it shows visual content to a large portion of both eyes.
A display is placed very close to the users' eyes, covering a large portion of their field of view. Most headsets are flat focus binocular, meaning two images that are very similar but have different perspectives are channeled into the eyes, one for the left and one for the right, to allow the human perceptual system to perceive binocular disparity and see some depth.
The first was Ivan Sutherland's head-mounted three dimensional display.
Augmented reality HMDs
Augmented reality HMDs are also known as AR headsets. They are either optical see through gadgets or video passthrough gadgets.
In an optical see through device, the displays of these gadgets are transparent. They allow users to see through them while projecting images and information.
Types
A Two-view gadget viewer, AKA a stereoscope, is a primitive form of HMD. These gadgets rely on the inserted smartphones to do all of the leg work. It does not need to have any electronics in it, and instead can generally rely on the inserted gadget's electronics.
A Discrete HMD contains a display and some electronics for tracking and other functions. While they are more advanced than the viewers, Discrete HMDs still require connections to PCs for processing.
A head-worn computer (Integrated HMD) is the most sophisticated of them all. From display to tracking to processing, it has everything needed for VR or AR within the HMD.
Viewers
Slide-on HMD, also known as Smartphone mount, is the cheapest and most accessible form of VR. The Slide-on consists of a smartphone holder, lenses and some form of basic input. A smartphone is inserted into the HMD and the entire gadget is played upon the eyes of the user to create the VR experience. The Slide-on utilizes the smartphone for display, processing and rotational tracking. Some Slide-on HMDs such as the Gear VR use their own built-in IMUs instead of relying on that of the smartphones.
Popular Slide-on HMDs:
Discrete HMD
Discrete HMD also known as Tethered HMD supplies everything required for an immersive VR experience aside from the processing. It contains display, lenses, rotational tracking, positional tracking, audio and advanced input. For processing, Discrete HMDs are connected to PCs through cables. While this type of HMD is less mobile than its 2 counter parts, it is able to deliver the best VR experience.
Popular Discrete HMDs:
New
Head-worn computers
A standalone HMD, also known as an Integrated HMD, is the most sophisticated and expensive type of HMD. This independent computing gadget is able to deliver VR and/or AR experiences without any external hardware such as PC or smartphone. It contains everything from display to processors to camera and is able to display stereoscopic 3D images, perform complex tracking and utilize advanced input methods. Examples are the Meta Quest Pro and the Meta Quest 3.