Mark,
For your reading pleasure...the following "summary":
"Local High Tech Revolution" - Seattle King 5 News
"The thought of a laser beaming a picture into your eye may make some feel uncomfortable. But the University of Washington and a local high -tech company are revolutionizing how images can bypass TV and computer screens and beam right into your head. The technology will revolutionize how you view the world, the way you watch TV and potentially help some blind people see".
Dr. Furness is introduced as the creator of the VRD. He explains how the image is not projected onto a screen but rather directly onto the retina of the eye.
Rick Rutkowski is introduced and explains the similarity between the technology of TV projection and the VRD. He emphasizes the importance of data communications by using visual methods for communicating.
The reporter, Glenn Farley, is shown wearing a helmet with the VRD. The VRD is approximately the size of a quarter, is mounted on a clear face shield near the bridge of the nose. Glenn explains how the pinpoint of light is reflected off the helmet and into the eye. A demonstration footage is shown how land mines could be detected. He goes on to say that it can be used for compass headings, maps, helping surgeons operate, and mechanics fix your car. Additional uses for the VRD will include mounting it on your sunglasses, cell phone.
Microvision is busy marketing the first wave of technology to military and industry. The technology should get cheaper, smaller and more widely used with time.
Dr. Furness is now working to use the VRD for certain types of blindness. For use as bionic eyes, taking images from the real world, via small cameras mounted on the spectacles and using the VRD to project the image onto the retina.
Dr. Furness cites the case of the individual who exclaimed that he was able to see the image in the left blind eye when trying the VRD. Dr. Furness is now working with doctors and others with impaired vision, those with normal retinas who cannot see because of inoperable cataracts that prevent the eye from seeing a normal image.
-End of Summary-(Duration of TV Segment: Approx. 3min. 30sec.)
After viewing the segment I realized how fortunate we are to be part of a company with such great future potential and so many diverse applications. Count me in for the long haul. Start waxing down that surfboard for the first tsunami!
Jan |
