[FoRK] [Tech] Goggles, or Projectors?

[Kevin Elliott]

On Jan 2, 2008, at 3:58 PM, Jef Allbright wrote:
> Rather than wearing goggles, I wonder whether we may find much broader
> preference for very small video projectors displaying high-resolution
> images on any suitable surface and maybe compact scrollable screens as
> the target for a scanning laser built into the front edge of portable
> keyboards?
>
> With reasonably advanced optics, sensors and computation, requirements
> for planarity, incidence angle and even stability of the display
> surface could be relaxed using dynamic compensation in the scanner.
>
> Given the inherent discomfort of goggles, and worse, the interpersonal
> isolation entailed by covering the eyes and part of the face, I
> suspect the personal scanning laser projector may predominate.

I think your overestimating the discomfort/isolation of "covering" the  
face.  IMHO, The sort of
"google" that goes mainstream would be nearly indistinguishable from a  
pair of glasses.
I think the model we heading toward is more like a "HUD" technology  
that overlays the world
in a minimally disruptive way.

Arguing against "projector" technology is that magic phrase "any  
suitable surface".  Sounds
like a pain in the ass to me.  Running around trying to find a  
suitable wall, worrying about people
shoulder surfing, etc.  Hardly discrete.   Are we going to have people  
forming lines waiting to point
there computer at the wall?

> Comments?
>
> BTW, with suitably detailed public discussion of such technological
> concepts, do we reduce the possibility of such technology being
> restricted with narrowly controlled IP rights?
>
> - Jef
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