Wave Issue 0416 4/30/04 Article 4-01

***New Display Technology: The 'Eyes' Have It; IEEE Spectrum
Reports on a Budding Display Technology That Paints Images
Directly Onto the Retina

NEW YORK
April 26, 2004

Finally technology is offering an alternative to the bulky
computer monitor: painting images directly onto the retina by
using tiny semiconductor lasers or special light emitting diodes.

A report in the May 2004 issue of IEEE Spectrum examines how
scanning light beams on the retina could revolutionize displays
for a variety of sectors, including automotive, medical and the
military.

One application developed by Washington-based Microvision allows
automotive technicians to view automobile diagnostics and repair
instructions directly on their eyes while still allowing them to
see through the image to work on the automobile. A clear, flat
window is mounted on a baseball cap and angled in front of the
technician's eye, reflecting scanned laser light to the retina.
The information on the display comes from a computer server in
the repair shop and is displayed via a Wi-Fi network. The user
can control the display with a wireless touch-pad that attaches
to the belt. To ensure the device is safe, Microvision applied
rigorous safety standards from the American National Standards
Institute and the International Electrotechnical Commission.

Other industries testing this laser-based display are:

-- Gaming - The large gaming industry hopes this technology will
improve the virtual reality experience by delivering the content
directly to the retina of the user.

-- Hospitals - As surgeons operate, they can use the see-through
laser displays to monitor a patient's vital signs. Doctors can
also refer to MRIs or CAT scans directly on these displays while
they are working on the patient.

-- Military - The U.S. Army is currently testing a helmet-mounted
display technology that allows commanders to view their
surroundings and tactical information.

The May issue of IEEE Spectrum is available by subscription, on
many newsstands throughout the Northeastern United States and
online at

www.spectrum.ieee.org

WAVE Comments

Retinal displays were first developed at the University of
Washington. In spite of the advantages, they have yet to catch
on. It remains to be seen if the Microvision implementation will
create a market.