Deltanine

There are so many possible applications for this technology - images projected directly on the retina by tiny lasers to produce the entire range of human vision.


"I was amazed by what I saw," said Harry Goldstein, senior associate editor of IEEE Spectrum.


"Seeing is believing and seeing these images floating in front of you at about arms length distance is pretty incredible."


"Reality can be enriched by having more detailed information about what you see."


The first generation product, called the Nomad Expert Technician System, consists of a wireless computer and a hi-tech monocle, costing around $4,000.


The monocle is worn in front of the eye and reflects scanned laser light to the eye allowing mechanics to view car diagnostics and instructions superimposed on their field of vision.


There are four components to the system - electronics, light sources, scanners and optics.


The electronics acquire and process signals from data or an image source, say a web page or a video camera.


The signals contain vital information about the intensity and mix of the colours which can be reproduced by the light source.


The scanner then applies the image to the retina. It is made up of a tiny mirror that sweeps the light beam until a full image appears to the user.


The scanned beam is focused onto an optical element called an exit pupil expander. When the light from the expander is collected by a lens and guided by a mirror and a see-through monocle to the eye, it covers the entire area seen by the pupil.


Microvision say the technology is safe because of very low strength of the laser used.


The power of the light is about a thousandth of a watt," said Mr Goldstein.


"Not only is it low power, but it is also not dwelling in one place on the retina for any period of time. It is sweeping across the retina at a very high rate."