Parkinson’s disease patient showing a flexed walking posture pictured in 1892. Photo appeared in Nouvelle Iconographie de la Salpètrière, vol. 5. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Scientists are developing an early diagnosis system for neurodegenerative disorders. The system is intended to such diseases as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease and others. The diagnosis system is based on virtual reality (VR) – a person is immersed in a virtual environment to carry out some functional tests. Researchers vary the parameters of the virtual environment and record changes in the person’s movements.
A researcher compared the virtual reality experience with two different systems: the one with VR headsets versus one with an immersive projection system using a concave-spherical screen, developed by his research team and called Hybrid Virtual Environment 3D (Hyve-3D). He immersed 20 subjects whom preferred the virtual reality without headsets, because they could interact with other viewers and share their impressions in real time.
The new Google Daydream VR Headset is said to work while wearing eyeglasses unlike most VR Viewers. The headset is designed to work only with “Daydream-ready” smart phones, which appear to be the Google Pixel and some Moto Z phones, at this time (late 2016). Future phones from other manufacturers will presumably be compatible. “Daydream” is not just the headset but a set of hardware features built in to compatible phones, plus Daydream software apps too.
Snapchat’s Spectacles are dark glasses with integrated camera, for recording life’s activities. Interesting idea. Like most dark glasses, they are for those who do not need corrective lenses.
On the plus side, the lenses in Spectacles may be swapped out and replaced with corrective lenses prescribed by an optomerist. You then end up with prescription dark glasses integrated in to the Spectacles:
“To swap out Spectacles lenses for prescription lenses, consult a professional ABO-certified optician for guidance.
Please Note: Rx total power cannot exceed -5 diopter”
Those who ordinarily wear corrective lenses typically buy snap on dark lenses that go over their existing corrective lenses. Or purchase a set of corrective dark lenses.
Snapchat Spectacles are targeted at a specific demographic (from the Snapchat web site):
Snapchat recognizes the need to support those wearing corrective lenses, including with in this demographic, by making it possible to use prescription lenses in their product.
Tech companies that miss these large market opportunities risk alienating customers by providing unsatisfactory viewing experiences, which may translate into negative online comments and general disinterest in their products. And that will not be good for profits! I will continue to explore this topic in future posts.
Related: Snapchat Spectacles are not water proof or water resistant which restricts their use cases for those living in wet climates such as the the U.S. Pacific Northwest.
“The oculus rift kits come with three sets of lenses-A, B and C. lens pair A is to be used by people who have excellent long sighted eyesight as the rift is focused at infinity. The pairs B and C are to be used by people having problems with near sightedness, though cannot be used by all, especially people with major vision complications.
….
Furthermore glasses can also be worn along with the oculus rift goggles, provided that the glasses are not huge.”
Desai, P.R., Desai, P.N., Ajmera, K.D., Mehta, K. (2014) A review paper on Oculus Rift – a virtual reality headset. International Journal of Engineering Trends and Technology. Retrieved from: https://arxiv.org/pdf/1408.1173.pdf
The Homido VR Headset (version 1) included separate lens holders that adjusted the focal distance of the lenses. You can see how that works in this Youtube video review. The Homido features IPD adjustment as well. Homido has since introduce a version 2. The version 1 headset is available from Amazon (I have not tried it myself). The version 2 is said to be “not currently available” at Amazon, and Best Buy says one can only order it online, but if you try, Best Buy then says it is not available for online order – in other words, Version 2 seems not to be generally available.
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