Ben,
In deep appreciation to your enlightening and inspiring blog - I am sharing with you my observations from SID2005 in Boston May 25-27.
SID Jungle fable:
2 friends are on this African jungle safari. Suddenly they spot a hungry lion walking towards them. They began a run for life, and the hungry lion after them.
The friend that was a step behind asked his leading friend "aren't you afraid the lion will eat us up?"
"not really", he said, "all I have to do, is to make sure I am always one STEP AHEAD of you."
The main reason I made the effort to fly over from Israel to SID Boston, is to make sure that Microvision is one STEP AHEAD of the chasing competition.
I absolutely agree with your blog on the future of Augmented Reality applications, micro displays, etc. But I want to make sure that it will really be Microvision that takes the leading role in this display safari.
Three players:
I see three players forming the essential market triangle
1. Intel - the hardware chip.
2. Microsoft - the operating systems.
3. Microvision? - the display.
The display race:
There is no question about Intel and Microsoft, but in the display arena we are in a race for life. According to SID: SID 2005 attracted 7,650 total attendees, compared to SID 2004 in Seattle 6,500 attendees. With 254 companies occupying 555 booths in more than 55,000 square feet of exhibition space. The display race is heating up.
The display challenge:
In a paper presented at SID titled "Image Quality Comparison" (SID Digest - page 1502) the author concludes "the new display technologies still have difficulties in beating the high quality standard set by CRT sets, especially on color rendering." (he did not include Microvision's light scanning in his research). Several other papers address this same display challenge. CRT (the large tube used in TV, and legacy desktop monitors) belongs to the good old past, the future display leader is yet to step up.
Microvision is operating in a huge window of opportunity where the market is hungry for appropriate display solutions. Not one company can claim at this stage in time, it has the leading solution the display market needs.
Microvision at SID displayed models in several display segments, all models use MVIS proprietary light scanning technology:
1. See-through, Nomad (red laser)
2. Consumer electronics (RGB LED)
3. High end, military (RGB laser)
4. projection display, on vehicle windshield (red laser)
5. EVF, camera (RGB LED)
In PR's Microvision also talks about image capturing (camera, endoscopes), laser printers, and large screen displays using multi-scanning technology.
In fact, Microvision is covering most segments of the display market. lets look at potential competition.
Light scanning:
Is Microvision a single player in light scanning?
Microvision's investors want to see competition, to make sure Microvision is in an attractive market. Well, I went to see the Fraunhofer booth and had a chat with Dr. Michael Schollers, Photonics division director.
They displayed a light scanning red laser projection system. Their brochure shows a technology drawing that looks like a Microvision drawing.
It seems Microvision might be a step ahead, and are well aware and in close contact with Fraunhofer. Other institutions are also working on the same technology i.e. Jenoptik
Color microdisplay:
Several companies exhibited color microdisplays, including Microoptical, and eMagin with OLED Active Matrix. eMagin licenses it's technology to other companies. Some microdisplays are based on OEM technology made by Kopin the CyberDisplay OEM line of products - AMLCD (Active Matrix Liquid Crystal Display). These are small, near-eye, reasonably priced, full color, SVGA.
Is Microvision a step ahead?
In the short run, other companies have an advantage. They offer today COTS (Commercial Of The Shelf) color near eye displays. Microvision offers as of today only color demos.
In the long run - it seems Microvision might have an advantage because MVIS uses what might be a superior technology. The superiority will out stand in color rendering, luminance, low power, and daylight readability.
I use the term "might" because I have not seen an objective research comparing Microvision to alternative displays in terms of "user objective satisfaction". I have a feeling Microvision will outperform other technologies.
See-Through:
LUMUS demonstrated a good see-through display. Their technology is presented in great detail in the SID digest. Basically Lumus projects a color LCD image onto a patented see-through screen. I had a discussion with the CEO Ph.D Rami Aharoni, they seem to be interested to cooperate with Microvision in combining technologies where each company contributes it's expertise. Because they use LCD as the source they lack the brightens that Microvision displays.
Alternative approaches:
There are alternative approaches we should be aware of.
Universal Display offers a very thin folding OLED display. SiPix demos Electronic Paper. These alternatives are targeted for the market segment of hand-held devices. They are attractive and cool. The electronic paper technology gives a very good user experience. The folding displays address the need for large displays that will fit into your pocket.
SID Summary:
From all the companies I have seen, several do have a short term advantage over Microvision, but from the technological potential my conclusion is that Microvision has cornered the market with a large IP portfolio on what might show up to be a superior technology.
Why not today?
Microvision depends on third party technology. The main issue is the lack of cheap small and effective full RGB light sources both laser and LED. The reason Nomad is red, is because all the CD players in the world use red laser. So red laser is manufactured in million's and became small cheap and manageable. The only available green laser is large, expensive and needs cooling. That is good enough for high end displays placed in helicopters, but unacceptable for mass market consumer electronics.
So When?
Several institutions are aware of the need and the enormous market potential. They are working hard on solutions. We need some patience (longs) it has to happen.
My personal approach:
I am working hard on developing Augmented Reality applications that will take advantage of Microvision's technology. Attached is a photo from SID of Tom Sanko, Microvision's VP marketing enjoying our demo military AR application. (Notice the Israel-Army cap)
Keep your fingers crossed, and keep your excellent blog running.
Dan GolanTech.com
In deep appreciation to your enlightening and inspiring blog - I am sharing with you my observations from SID2005 in Boston May 25-27.
SID Jungle fable:
2 friends are on this African jungle safari. Suddenly they spot a hungry lion walking towards them. They began a run for life, and the hungry lion after them.
The friend that was a step behind asked his leading friend "aren't you afraid the lion will eat us up?"
"not really", he said, "all I have to do, is to make sure I am always one STEP AHEAD of you."
The main reason I made the effort to fly over from Israel to SID Boston, is to make sure that Microvision is one STEP AHEAD of the chasing competition.
I absolutely agree with your blog on the future of Augmented Reality applications, micro displays, etc. But I want to make sure that it will really be Microvision that takes the leading role in this display safari.
Three players:
I see three players forming the essential market triangle
1. Intel - the hardware chip.
2. Microsoft - the operating systems.
3. Microvision? - the display.
The display race:
There is no question about Intel and Microsoft, but in the display arena we are in a race for life. According to SID: SID 2005 attracted 7,650 total attendees, compared to SID 2004 in Seattle 6,500 attendees. With 254 companies occupying 555 booths in more than 55,000 square feet of exhibition space. The display race is heating up.
The display challenge:
In a paper presented at SID titled "Image Quality Comparison" (SID Digest - page 1502) the author concludes "the new display technologies still have difficulties in beating the high quality standard set by CRT sets, especially on color rendering." (he did not include Microvision's light scanning in his research). Several other papers address this same display challenge. CRT (the large tube used in TV, and legacy desktop monitors) belongs to the good old past, the future display leader is yet to step up.
Microvision is operating in a huge window of opportunity where the market is hungry for appropriate display solutions. Not one company can claim at this stage in time, it has the leading solution the display market needs.
Microvision at SID displayed models in several display segments, all models use MVIS proprietary light scanning technology:
1. See-through, Nomad (red laser)
2. Consumer electronics (RGB LED)
3. High end, military (RGB laser)
4. projection display, on vehicle windshield (red laser)
5. EVF, camera (RGB LED)
In PR's Microvision also talks about image capturing (camera, endoscopes), laser printers, and large screen displays using multi-scanning technology.
In fact, Microvision is covering most segments of the display market. lets look at potential competition.
Light scanning:
Is Microvision a single player in light scanning?
Microvision's investors want to see competition, to make sure Microvision is in an attractive market. Well, I went to see the Fraunhofer booth and had a chat with Dr. Michael Schollers, Photonics division director.
They displayed a light scanning red laser projection system. Their brochure shows a technology drawing that looks like a Microvision drawing.
It seems Microvision might be a step ahead, and are well aware and in close contact with Fraunhofer. Other institutions are also working on the same technology i.e. Jenoptik
Color microdisplay:
Several companies exhibited color microdisplays, including Microoptical, and eMagin with OLED Active Matrix. eMagin licenses it's technology to other companies. Some microdisplays are based on OEM technology made by Kopin the CyberDisplay OEM line of products - AMLCD (Active Matrix Liquid Crystal Display). These are small, near-eye, reasonably priced, full color, SVGA.
Is Microvision a step ahead?
In the short run, other companies have an advantage. They offer today COTS (Commercial Of The Shelf) color near eye displays. Microvision offers as of today only color demos.
In the long run - it seems Microvision might have an advantage because MVIS uses what might be a superior technology. The superiority will out stand in color rendering, luminance, low power, and daylight readability.
I use the term "might" because I have not seen an objective research comparing Microvision to alternative displays in terms of "user objective satisfaction". I have a feeling Microvision will outperform other technologies.
See-Through:
LUMUS demonstrated a good see-through display. Their technology is presented in great detail in the SID digest. Basically Lumus projects a color LCD image onto a patented see-through screen. I had a discussion with the CEO Ph.D Rami Aharoni, they seem to be interested to cooperate with Microvision in combining technologies where each company contributes it's expertise. Because they use LCD as the source they lack the brightens that Microvision displays.
Alternative approaches:
There are alternative approaches we should be aware of.
Universal Display offers a very thin folding OLED display. SiPix demos Electronic Paper. These alternatives are targeted for the market segment of hand-held devices. They are attractive and cool. The electronic paper technology gives a very good user experience. The folding displays address the need for large displays that will fit into your pocket.
SID Summary:
From all the companies I have seen, several do have a short term advantage over Microvision, but from the technological potential my conclusion is that Microvision has cornered the market with a large IP portfolio on what might show up to be a superior technology.
Why not today?
Microvision depends on third party technology. The main issue is the lack of cheap small and effective full RGB light sources both laser and LED. The reason Nomad is red, is because all the CD players in the world use red laser. So red laser is manufactured in million's and became small cheap and manageable. The only available green laser is large, expensive and needs cooling. That is good enough for high end displays placed in helicopters, but unacceptable for mass market consumer electronics.
So When?
Several institutions are aware of the need and the enormous market potential. They are working hard on solutions. We need some patience (longs) it has to happen.
My personal approach:
I am working hard on developing Augmented Reality applications that will take advantage of Microvision's technology. Attached is a photo from SID of Tom Sanko, Microvision's VP marketing enjoying our demo military AR application. (Notice the Israel-Army cap)
Keep your fingers crossed, and keep your excellent blog running.
Dan GolanTech.com
The comment about the lack of cheap RGB laser sources intrigued me, so I decided to pose the question to Google. Apparently, there have been several attempts at manufacturing a RGB "microlaser":
ReplyDeletehttp://statusreports-atp.nist.gov/reports/94-01-0133TEXT.html
http://spiedl.aip.org/getabs/servlet/GetabsServlet?prog=normal&id=PSISDG003690000001000166000001&idtype=cvips&gifs=yes
http://64.233.187.104/search?q=cache:IRTzyA-_OxYJ:www.nttc.edu/resources/funding/awards/dod/dod971sel/absdarpa.asp+RGB+microlaser
So, from what little I've gleaned so far, it looks like this "Laser Power Corporation" might be worth looking into. That blurb about the "volumetric three dimensional display" looks kinda cool too, since they make it sound like it requires no moving parts.
The Jenoptik technology mentioned in passing also seems like a likely partner for MVIS to consider. Heck, you could even replace the optical section of Jenoptik's "Laser Display Technology" with Lumus' "Light-guide Optical Element" (or something MVIS developed in-house) and it'd be a match made in heaven. Now that's the kind of convergence I'd pay to see.
I was curious about Laser Power Corporation. A company called Laser Power Optics has/had the same San Diego address. It seems that Laser Power Optics was acquired by II-VI Corporation in 2000. A search for "microlaser" on the II-VI website comes up empty. Does the RGB Microlaser survive?
ReplyDeleteLinks: http://www.ii-vi.com/
http://www.laserpower.com/
Actually, according to this site (http://www.spie.org/app/Publications/magazines/oerarchive/april/apr00/bizbriefs.html), Photera Technologies snapped up LPC's microlaser assets. Confirmation on a few other sites as well:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.mdreport.com/summaries/april_00.html
http://www.mdatechnology.net/techsearch.asp?articleid=554
http://www.photonics.com/spectra/business/XQ/ASP/businessid.466/QX/read.htm
Even more telling is the now defunct press release about Photera's foray into a "Laser-Scanning Display System" (http://www.sddt.com/newslibrary/technologynews2000.cfm) Make of that what you will...
All about the newest display technology OLED at:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.oled.at (German) or
http://www.oled-display.net
More about the newest display generation OLED at:
ReplyDeletewww.oled.at GERMAN
www.oled-display.net