This week Apple Inc. filed a
patent for a new type of hybrid VR/AR device that does away with conventional
screens in favour of a Dynamic Focus 3D Display that projects images directly
unto the users retinas. Apple believes that current VR and AR hardware could be
responsible for all types of unnecessary eyestrain as a result of accommodation-convergence
mismatch, a problem that arises when a VR or AR system creates virtual content that
does not match the focal depth expected by the users brain, often resulting in
nausea, headaches, and other discomforts.
Simply put, your eyes are
attempting to adjust to the depth of objects in both the foreground as well as
the background simultaneously. Apple’s approach would remove displays
altogether, eliminating any chance of accommodation-convergence mismatch by
using a direct retinal projector system to accurately focus each individual
pixel as they are projected unto the eyes of the user. While it is true Apple
has a long-standing track record of filing patents for outrageous tech that
almost never hit the production floor, there may be some hope for this device.
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