Comfortable , near - looking VR headsets might not be useable in the near future , but that does n’t mean they wo n’t be available at all . harmonise toVentureBeat , Facebook is researching a holographic oculus pattern that would slim down present - day VR headset from their bulky , brick shape to something more like a thick pair of glasses . This echos back to former May 2020 rumors that Facebook ’s Oculus division was making aslimmer Quest VR headset , only this glasses - similar VR headset prototype is much small and much lighter .
Facebook discussed its enquiry in a Siggraph 2020 paper , “ Holographic Optics for Thin and Lightweight Virtual Reality , ” detail how it ’s been experiment with what it calls “ pancake optics . ” It ’s a type of intention that combines several thin bed of holographical film to make a VR display only a little bit compact than most of today ’s smart phones—9 mm to 11 mm . The prototype design also apply a optical maser projection organization ( standardised to classroom projectors that exhibit figure on a screen or wall ) and directional backlights to display either 2D or 3D imaging .
The paradigm VR glasses also have a comparable resolution to the Oculus Quest , 1,200 by 1,600 picture element ( 16 - inch by 21.3 - inches ) , and a field of opinion that ’s either a 93 - point rope or a 92 - by-69 - degree rectangle , harmonize to VentureBeat . The VR glasses would only count 10 grams , while the Oculus Quest consider 571 grams , or 1.26 pounds .

Facebook’s prototype for what future VR glasses could look like.Photo: Facebook
The VR glasses are still a tenacious way from becoming more than just a proof of conception , but Facebook ’s proposed deign seems passably convincing . As the ship’s company details in itsresearch blog , most VR video display use a refractive lens composed of a dense , curved while or glass or plastic , which is why VR headset are so bulky . There needs to be the proper amount of space between the glass and the eyes for an image to appear right . But using holographic optics in a lens slim down down that space because alternatively of moving light directly through a formal genus Lens , a holographical lens will bounce the light back toward the showing dialog box before flex it like a lens . If you have a debit or a credit identity card with a rainbow - esque logotype that pour down out at you , that ’s what Facebook is attempt to do with its holographic lens of the eye .
Currently , the inquiry squad has been able-bodied to bring on a brief , substantiation of concept video , which is spotlight in the blog , but the images are only green . Facebook says it ’s “ presently working on achieving full color on the little research image . ” No point in time to using a VR headset if everything you see is colour like The Matrix codification .
Facebook is thrifty to note that its piece of work at present is “ purely enquiry , ” but holds a mickle of hope for what VR headsets could look like in the future . If you desire to take a deep dive into the research itself , you may show the full paperhere . If at any point VR headset ’ form factor does morph into a sick dyad of Ray Bans , I imagine they ’d be prohibitively expensive to initiate , but hey , at least VR as we know it now would become cheaper .

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