Vuzix STAR 1200 Augmented Reality System Demonstration & Review

[MaddyOwns]

hi, ive got 2 questions

why is it only 1 camera for these glasses. on the wrap920AR one there are 2 cameras. wouldnt 2 cameras be better especially for distance recognition?

and how the hell did you in this video manage to track the corner for the yellow fish without ANY camera ??

[cfrend]

@MaddyOwns tracking with 2 cameras would be possibly better for distance recognition. You may find it easier to classify the method of tracking used. By using a single camera for tracking its is "monocular computer vision tracking" with 2 its "stereoscopic computer vision tracking" but in this video I am tracking with the vuzix 6TC tracker which is an "inertial tracking senor array" each method has pros and cons. Its a device that has 3 accelerometers, 3 gyroscopes, & 3 magnetic field sensors.

[sensei3584]

We are working on that resolution thingy.

[sensei3584]

I Alligned that No Joke.

[cfrend]

@sensei3584 Do you work for Vuzix? I noticed you had a vid from Rochester NY? If so that is awesome, and thanks for watching!

[sensei3584]

@cfrend Yessir a proud employee.

[cfrend]

@sensei3584 You guys are awesome!

[sensei3584]

@cfrend haha Thanks Bro. I just build what the visionaries put together. I will definatly share this with the Board members how happy you are with our product. Im sure they will be very happy to hear !

[telmoz]

Nice review! We just wondered how do you manage to show the virtual objects on the glasses. I mean, in a "standard" AR application the camera captures the video, the program identifies the markers, adds the virtual objects to the video and sends it to the monitors. As in this case you can see through the monitors, does the program use a special transparency or background in the video?

[cfrend]

@telmoz Hey there thanks, Its easy to think of AR as a mixture of 2 sources, a virtual source and a real source. As you said 'standard' AR uses video to identify where markers are so it can add virtual objects and send it out to the display and video in this method is used as the source of 'reality'. Now with these see-through displays the source of reality is simply what you see. So what you are sending to the glasses are only virtual objects with a black background.

[machinimastartup]

hey ,

have a question , does this thing work with portable devices , e.g android?

also do u need to develop your own programs to get it to work.

is this thing practical irl. ?

like using it with layar and thing like that ?

[cfrend]

@machinimastartup Hey, it does have an ipod adapter but it is very annoying to adapt to HDMI which is what most android devices output for video. The glasses by default accept an analog VGA or DVI signal. To convert HDMI to VGA requires some large "active" adapters like HD Fury which has to be plugged into the wall. I am positive that Vuzix will fix this compatibility in future versions.

[darrelantony1]

Would it be a possiblity to have it incorporated into your helmet!? like giving u feeds in terms of speed... gps... directions being overlayed with your actual view!?

[Ressilith]

OMG!!!! THATS SO EXPENSIVE THO!!!!!

[cfrend]

@Ressilith AR is a hot area now just like mobile phones were in starting to be in the early 2000s so as time goes on the price will fall. For example not even 8 months after Vuzix released the system in the video above Silicon Micro Displays is releasing their ST1080 which is $700. So give the science some time and soon we will have $100 displays. Its all about demand.

[CONKER17]

@cfrend hopefully

[TheMakerHimself]

@Ressilith right i bet it cost like 100$ to make but for sale like 400$ wtf i might as well buy me a fucking 3d tv 80 in

[MrD3STR03R]

@TheMakerHimself It costs 4999 usd

[geminifilmsvideo]

I can't wait for Digital Contact lenses!!

[sensei3584]

@geminifilmsvideo They already have them out. but very hard to make avail for every one. The distance from the Eye's Lens and the contact lens is too close to one another to make it possible. But there are engineers working on that problem right now so that WILL be avail in the near future.

[VuzixEurope]

This is a great video! Really shows the capabilities of our products. If anyone is keen to take a look at the unboxing of the more consumer focused Wrap 1200, hop over to our channel!

[KweezNArt]

Great review, very helpful. Am trying to put together a personal-portable AR system, and have been looking at this and Vuzix's WRAP 920AR as potential candidates for the vision component. The 1200 looks like it gets better response out of the camera unit and better display fidelity because of the higher resolution, but that blocky camera isn't as "discreet" as the 920's dual cams. Which would you recommend for a system that would be used on "walkabout?"

[cfrend]

@KweezNArt Using the 920AR doesn't feel natural because you are looking at a video screen of the real world so the 1200 wins out because you simply see the real world through the clear lenes. The problem with both systems is that in bright sunlight all augmented content is overpowered. I am modifying my 1200s with tinted lenes or maybe photochromic lenses to help when they are in bright light.

[ydkwidrmw]

Hi, thanks for the video. I am thinking about developing with this system and I would appreciate your thoughts about how accurate the augmented reality is?

For example if I wanted to track the edges of my computer monitor and overlay a rectangle in the glasses.

If these are see-through how does it account for the difference in perspective between camera and viewer when tracking markers?

[cfrend]

@ydkwidrmw Hi, the AR camera tracking is surprisingly good for tracking markers. If you are only tracking user movements with the built in sensors it will not be that accurate.

If the markers placed around your monitor are well lit it will track fine.

Luckily the perspective is handled by the stereoscopic nature of looking through 2 lenses. The camera sees the maker and the alvAR augmented reality engine then draws a left & right stereoscopic version of the virtual content

[marshmallowhailstorm]

The Sony device is massive, the price being suggested is premium and they haven't even been released yet. Sony are purely targeting the gamer in the bedroom while Vuzix are also trying to make these things wearable in the street as subtle tech. Vuzix can leverage their greater experience of the market for the time being.

? If I plug my anddroid phone into these can I basically get a larger than laptop display....and if so...can I chuck out my lap top once I get ICS on the nexus Prime?

[yamaha1313]

Im get a pair of video glasses this fall. What do u thunk about Sony's new HD glasses vs. vuzix 1200vr as far as 720p goes?

[Ryuuken24]

@yamaha1313 I can answer your question. The vuzix 1200vr isn't native 720p, you can force 720p, but the screens inside the HMD are 480p, the 3D isn't true 3D with real quality, it's very low quality rendering. What Sony has is something very new to the marked, they are using OLED display with true native res. of 720p, and the screens are like a cinema, not 75" like the vuzix, and the 3D applied by Sony is said to be the best out in the marked by today, and nothing stand against it.

[cfrend]

@Ryuuken24 @yamaha1313 Ryuuken is right the Sony displays are using an actual digital signal instead of the analog signal's that Vuzix continues to use. Digital video is far superior for clarity and the OLED technology will make it beautiful well worth the $200 more for the Sony. However I have not tried the WRAP1200VR out yet I am only comparing to the WRAP920VR that I have. The sony video goggles system is exciting because it has erogonomic people supporting it.