It seems that Microsoft has started experimenting with “augmented reality” and filed patents for what looks like a head-mounted virtual display and a lighter version intended to be worn on glasses.
While there is a physical similarity to Nintendo’s ill-fated Virtual Boy, one of the patents seems to indicate that the device will project images with RGB lasers, instead of the Virtual Boy’s twin LED screens. According to the patents, ”each projector may project a 16:9 aspect ratio image that will appear to the wearer as if it were 21 inches in diagonal and viewed at arm’s length.”
Making the device even more Minority Report-ish, the displays may be translucent or transparent, making the images more of an overlay than an actual image.
The patents were originally filed in October 2011. It’ll be interesting to see if the devices see the light of day.
