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[iNvid02]

The HMZ device enables the wearer to experience cinema-like viewing, equivalent to watching a 750-inch screen from 20 metres away

Technology giant Sony has unveiled a head-mounted display that takes the wearer into a 3D cinema of videos, music and games.

The HMZ personal 3D viewer is being targetted at people who prefer solitary entertainment rather than sitting in front of a television with family or friends.

Resembling a futuristic visor, the £480 ($800) device is worn like a pair of chunky goggles and earphones in one.

The HMZ uses Sony's own OLED screen, a relatively new kind of display that relays superb image quality and colour, compared to the more prevalent liquid crystal and plasma displays used in laptops and flat-panel TVs.

Mr Kato said the major challenge had been making a very small display without compromising image quality.

The HMZ is set to go on sale in Japan on November 11; a U.S. and European release could come as early as Christmas.

Here are the main specs:

two 0.7-inch OLED panels with HD resolution (1,280×720)
45-degree horizontal viewing angle / “virtual viewing” distance of 20m for the aforementioned 750-inch virtual screen
5.1 surround sound coming from speakers integrated into the HMD (Sony’s Virtualphones)
processor unit with two HDMI interfaces (input and output) for connecting TVs, consoles or Blu-ray players
size: 180×168×36mm, weight: 420g

story
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencet...mounted-display-immersive-sitting-cinema.html

i wouldnt mind one for christmas

 

[brucewaynegretzky]

Can it get cable?

EDIT: Nvm. Connects to tv. Sounds cool. I want to try it.

 

[judhudson]

Looks like a futuristic hovercar of some sort.

 

[Tambini]

Is there a chance the track will bend?

 

[Noisepurge]

now how about them headaches

 

[Übermatik]

BUT DOES IT SHOOT LASER BEAMS.

Is there a chance the track will bend?

Not on your life, my Hindu friend!

 

[Divvy]

What is it with Sony and creating products with no mass market appeal?

 

[Derrick01]

That doesn't look ridiculous at all

 

[Pie and Beans]

???

 

[Hootie]

it begins

 

[soqquatto]

this kind of thing again? I'd like to have a solid percentage of people in the world that use glasses and can't use it. at least this time the screens have a good resolution.

 

[EvilMario]

Just looking at a screen on your face. No virtual reality, no sale. ;_;

 

[brucewaynegretzky]

What is it with Sony and creating products with no mass market appeal?

How does this have no mass market appeal? I can hook this up to the PS3 and my gf can have the TV at the same time! That seems useful to me. Sitting on a couch and playing a videogame on what is the eqivalent of a high end 3DTV. And its cheaper than most 3DTVs.

 

[iNvid02]

same price as that playstation tv sony are bringing out i think

 

[giggas]

I feel like we're back in the mid 90s again with this sort of stuff. I'm sure it's pretty cool tech, but like most other people I don't see it having huge mass market appeal.

 

[malingenie]

this kind of thing again? I'd like to have a solid percentage of people in the world that use glasses and can't use it. at least this time the screens have a good resolution.

There's a video linked form the article in which a guy with glasses uses the thing. Whether it is comfortable, that's another thing.

 

[Bisnic]

Looks like the kind of virtual reality headset games i played back in the late 90s.

Also, what about people using glasses like me? A big "Sucks to be you"?

 

[Eteric Rice]

This would be cool if they could make it smaller.

 

[Deadly Cyclone]

 

[Übermatik]

This would be cool if they could make it smaller.

You're right, the front end is huge. Oh, and the plasticky straps at the back are awful...

 

[badcrumble]

lol at the model pictures trying so hard to make something obviously stupid looking seem futuristic

 

[stuminus3]

That thing would be hideous to watch movies on. Even if I was sitting in my house all by myself with the doors locked I'd be afraid of somebody sneaking up and punching me in the balls for a laugh.

 

[ToxicAdam]

How does this have no mass market appeal? I can hook this up to the PS3 and my gf can have the TV at the same time! That seems useful to me. Sitting on a couch and playing a videogame on what is the eqivalent of a high end 3DTV. And its cheaper than most 3DTVs.

You are not mass market.


I like it, but I'll wait until it fails and goes on clearance for 300 dollars.

 

[Pand]

I kind of want to try one, but I can't imagine any situation in which I'd want to use one in real life. I don't like the thought of not being able to see or hear anything that's going on around me.

Also, what about people using glasses like me? A big "Sucks to be you"?

Your kind is not part of the future.

 

[Angry Fork]

What is it with Sony and creating products with no mass market appeal?

That's awesome for people who like tech stuff. It's unfortunate they don't have mass appeal but at least Sony isn't opposed to throwing a bunch of money at new/weird stuff.

 

[Datrio]

Does it has any kind of a gyroscope? If yes, then it would be possible to connect it to the PS3 and then... MADNESS!

 

[ThoseDeafMutes]

Pretty sure every soldier wears something exactly like that in GITS / DX:HR / NeoTokyo.

 

[Ratrat]

I'll never be caught watching porn again!

They should use these in buses and plains.

 

[fallengorn]

Finally, Dactyl Nightmare comes to the living room.

 

[spiderman123]

OMG IT FROZE THE WOMAN!!!!

 

[(._.)]

I wanna hook my PC up to this and play some games :O

 

[Veidt]

Combine it with Kinect/move and you have virtual reality.
Johnny Quest motherfuckers, johnny quest.

 

[Nero3000]

0.7 inch 1280*720 OLED

Crazy PPI.

Want.

 

[-PXG-]

Yeah, because this totally:

1) Won't be expensive as hell
2) Won't make my head hurt
3) Not make me look like a total asshole

 

[Pirabear]

Make it smaller and release a .hack MMO and we're golden.

 

[Foob]

does it come with that hair?

 

[Mistouze]

VIRTUAL REALITY!

 

[Snaku]

Don't sit too close to the TV.

 

[Betta Lines]

 

[jufonuk]

I don't see it catching on tbh apart from the rich assholes with disposable incomes and a love for gadgets.. so most of the males on this planets with jobs then LOL

make it £200 with a blu-ray player bundle and I will buy

 

[SonnyBoy]

$800? LMAO No thank-you plz. Let me know when it's sub $300. Maybe.

 

[NewFresh]

Why not just get a 3d tv?

 

[StuBurns]

Personally I'd love to try it, I bet it's very impressive. However I don't believe this even is new, Sony showed something very similar last year.

It's £480, that's not too bad, I'd consider it.

 

[VNZ]

Sony already released a 3D head-mounted display 10 years ago…

 

[StuBurns]

The PS2 didn't have any 3D games though did it?

 

[AlexMogil]

I had a Virtual i/o 3d glasses set about 13 years ago. They're certainly novel. It makes your head hurt, it causes big red marks on your forehead where the glasses rest, and you end up looking like a slack jawed idiot after a while. It was usable in games, though, so you could fire up Quake 2 and look around the environment.

All I'm seeing here is the same technology with better resolution. Funny thing is the i/o glasses worked off analog and still gave a very good 3d experience. Kinda dumb that we have to have a special 3D Blu Ray player to run these.

 

[Medalion]

If I didnt want to wear 3D glasses I sure as hell am not putting that thing on my head

 

[bill0527]

So let me get this straight. Sony, who continues to lose money hand over fist as a corporation, spends serious R&D and development money to develop something completely worthless to the vast majority of consumers.

Makes perfect sense.

It's pretty clear they are going to ride this 3D train straight to hell despite the fact that movie goers and home entertainment consumers have soundly rejected 3D.

If I was a Sony shareholder I would be livid right now.

 

[Dreams-Visions]

I like the design. Looks like it's straight from the Jetsons.

That said, these headsets have never been popular or practical...and they won't suddenly become so now.

Kiss my ass for $800. Hopefully they find some other use for the R&D money spent on this project.

 

[brucewaynegretzky]

So let me get this straight. Sony, who continues to lose money hand over fist as a corporation, spends serious R&D and development money to develop something completely worthless to the vast majority of consumers.

Makes perfect sense.

It's pretty clear they are going to ride this 3D train straight to hell despite the fact that movie goers and home entertainment consumers have soundly rejected 3D.

If I was a Sony shareholder I would be livid right now.

Right because OBVIOUSLY this will lose money for the company since you know the cost of development and how many units would need to be sold in order to be profitable. Chances are Sony knows damn well this isn't a mass market product, hence the lack of a major marketing push. This has two likely purposes: 1. Make money on a small investment from a niche market 2. An attempt to make some money on the initial R&D stages of an overall larger agenda.