New Virtual Reality "Eyewear" Is Smaller and Easy for Consumers

Smaller device said to make virtual eyewear more accepetable to consumers.

"The data glasses developed by researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering IOF in Jena fulfill even more product functionality. In fact, it solves a problem that has plagued the manufacturers of such eyewear in the past: cumbersome frames. The awkward design means that few private users have been keen to wear them," reports Science Digest. "Models usual consist of two parts: a micro-display that generates the image and optics that project the image on the desired position. Both units are attached to the temple (earpiece). Although the micro-display of the new glasses measures 8 x 15 millimeters, making it a similar size to conventional models, the optics are only 5 millimeters long, almost one-fifth the length of previous designs. Instead of having single long optics, the scientists have placed many small optics alongside each other in an array." Read more.

Man Wearing "Google-Type" Eyewar Reportedly Attacked in Paris

"A Canadian man wearing similar eyewear in a French McDonald’s claims he was physically attacked when someone in the store tried to rip the device off his head," reports Mashable. "Steve Mann, a Toronto resident, blogged on Monday that the incident occurred on July 1 at a McD’s in Paris. After ordering two Ranch Wraps, one burger, and one mango McFlurry, the attacker 'angrily grabbed my eyeglass, and tried to pull it off my head,' Mann wrote. Mann notes that ‘the eyeglass is permanently attached and does not come off my skull without special tools.'” Read more.

Round-Up of Google's Virtual Reality Eyewar

Time reports that "given that the first version of Project Glass could be a year away, don’t get your hopes up for contact lens computing any time soon. But seeing as Microsoft is already researching the concept for medical applications, Lee’s claim that smartphone-like contacts are the next natural step in the process doesn’t seem so far-fetched." Read more.