Gizmodo: microvision

Pico Projector Gun Controller Beams First-Person Shooters on Any Surface

Sean Fallon — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 11:30:00 EST

Redneck Techie's vision for a pico projector Wireless Game Gun has been realized...by Microvision. As you can see, the controller allows gamers to break free from their fixed screens and project the battle on any surface.

Using the infinite focus capability of the PicoP display engine, combined with a motion sensing module, it's now possible to play video games on multiple surfaces, all while tracking your character's point of view in 3D space.

Granted, this platform looks cool and everything, but it seems like you would have to have a perfectly spherical room to take full advantage of it. Besides the dinky "screen," the image would become distorted on any misshapen surface. What do you think? Is this a gaming experience you could get into? [Microvision via Crunchgear via TechEBlog]

Video: Microvision Pico Projector Throwing iPod Video...on Some Dude's Back

Sean Fallon — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 21:19:32 EST

Up until now we have only heard about Microvision's "plug-and-play" pico projector for mobile devices like PDAs, PMPs, digital cameras and laptops. Now that CES is here our own Nick McGlynn got the opportunity to see what this bad boy can really do. We also learned that the device pictured here is actually a prototype—the final version is expected to be smaller. (And again, don't be confused by Texas Instruments picoprojector, which isn't anywhere near final production.)

At any rate, testing showed good video quality at around 50 inches, and it managed to get in the neighborhood of the advertised 100-inch range. Plus, the video proves you can project decent images onto someone's back. So, if you can find someone with a seriously huge ass with a thing for white pants, you can have your own mobile theater.

Microvision to Unveil Handheld 'Plug-and-Play' Pico Projector for Mobile Devices That Delivers a Home Theater-Sized Viewing Experience
Ultra-thin laser projector prototype with connectivity to mobile phones, PDAs, PMPs, digital cameras and laptops to be displayed during CES 2008

REDMOND, Wash.—Jan. 2, 2008—Microvision (NASDAQ:MVIS), developer of light-scanning technologies for display and imaging products, will unveil at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas next week an advanced prototype of the first handheld, battery-powered, 'plug-and-play' projector based on the company's single micro-mirror laser scanning display technology.

Code-named SHOW™, Microvision's stand-alone pico projector intended for mobile device applications, is powered by the company's proprietary ultra-miniature PicoP™ display engine. Microvision will preview the PDA-sized, fully self-contained, battery operated, full-color laser projector to select global OEMs, mobile carriers, content providers, development partners and members of the media.

SHOW connects directly to laptops, mobile phones, portable media players (PMPs), digital cameras and other mobile devices to project large, high-resolution images and video onto any surface. The images projected can range anywhere from 12 inches (30 cm) to 100 inches (2.5 m) in size depending upon the projection distance and are always in focus. The production version of the device is expected to offer approximately 2.5 hours of continuous battery life, sufficient to watch a full-length movie without a need for recharging.

Microvision says that SHOW can project a widescreen, WVGA (848 X 480 pixels), DVD quality image — offering a very different experience from the tiny 2-inch display solutions available today on various portable devices. Designed for viewing high-quality projected images in a variety of controlled lighting environments, SHOW offers more than five times the resolution compared with competing miniature projectors that typically only offer QVGA resolution (320 x 240 pixels).

At the heart of SHOW is Microvision's PicoP display engine, measuring close to 5 cc in volume and approximately 7 mm thick (approximately the size of a thin mint chocolate candy). Microvision envisions the PicoP display engine being used not only in stand-alone accessory products like SHOW, but also embedded directly into mobile consumer products.

"Consumers want better display solutions that will enrich their experience in watching TV, videos and movies, in playing games, and in browsing the web from their cell phones and other mobile devices," points out Alexander Tokman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Microvision. "While mobile multi-media subscription services are on the rise, handset manufacturers, content providers and service providers view tiny cell phone displays as a barrier to stronger consumer adoption of their products and services. With Microvision's SHOW you could view and share everything ranging from YouTube videos, MSN newscasts, and Google search results to PowerPoint presentations, feature-length films, and family photos in a large, full-color, hi-resolution format instead of a 2-inch, QVGA display."

Microvision Handheld Pico Projector Can Drive a 100-inch Image

Jason Chen — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 13:04:22 EST

If you really must have a way to watch those four seasons of Futurama DVDs anywhere you go, this Microvision SHOW handheld projector is the way to go. Not only is it about the size of a first or second-gen iPod, it can shoot out a 848x480 image (DVD quality) that's anywhere from 12-inches to 100-inches in size. It will have a 2.5-hour battery life, and runs off of their PicoP display engine. We'll have to see just how good this thing is at CES, but anyone who's interested in pulling out a projection show anywhere should be hot to trot over this bad boy. [BusinessWire]

First Hands-On of the Cellphone-Sized Pico Projector, LED Version Coming

Brian Lam — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 17:58:44 EDT

Giz buddy Sean Captain of Pop Science...Sorry, Séan... got a hands on of the Pico projector we saw at CES. From the photo, it looks surprisingly bright for a system meant to eventually be crammed into the gullet of a cellphone. The laser-based system is loud, but notes that we'll hear of the Pico in an official product before CES is through. (Don't forget, Motorola is already signed up.) He also notes that a LED-based system is coming that should run a lot cooler, and go for a lot less money, although I'd guess it won't be nearly as bright. Video:

[PopSci]

Motorola First to Commit To Mini Laser-Projector Tech

Brian Lam — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 16:27:01 EDT

Motorola is the first major cellphone maker to officially plan on putting Microvision's Pico Projector technology in future gadgets. The laser-based display engine is being placed in a prototype for now, using a 854 x 450 image. [Microvision via Oh Gizmo!]

CES 2007: Microvision to Debut Miniature Projector

Travis Hudson — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 16:12:54 EST

From the department of redundancy department, Microvision has announced today that they will be unveiling (announcing) a prototype miniature digital projector at CES next week. This projector is small (see picture above) and is designed to fit in handheld electronic device such as cellphones, PDAs or other multimedia gadgets. It is nowhere close to being ready for the market, but at least the prototype is done. We'll have more on this live from the show floor next week. – Travis Hudson

Microvision Unveils Tiny Digital Projector [uberreview]