Periodic Reporting for period 1 - POPULAR (PRESCRIPTION OPTICS PROVIDING A UNIVERSAL LENS FOR AUGMENTED REALITY EYEWEAR)
Reporting period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-06-30
Our societies digitalize at high pace for most human activities, hence triggering the design of a multitude of smart devices. Beyond smartphones, tablets & smart watches, the smart eyewear category carries the promise of becoming an indispensable wearable and an obvious medium of interaction, which appears even more compelling when it comes to augmented reality (AR). The future success of Augmented Reality Eyewear (ARE) relies on a society-aligned digital technology transformation that should be simply rooted into the essentials of everyday eyeglasses: aesthetic, lightweight with thin prescription lenses. None of current AR technologies and designs has unlocked this essential combination of human-centred features and technical requirements. The POPULAR project will demonstrate an inclusive see-through ARE technology which is compatible with visual correction needs and normal eyewear design rules. The overall challenge is to provide the new Gold Standard for affordable, non-stigmatizing and inclusive ARE with user interfaces adapted to several realistic use cases where displaying useful informative content is critical.
With the main objectives of designing, manufacturing and testing ordinary looking ARE devices based on free-form holographic mirror technology, POPULAR approach is both holistic and user centric.
All the main scientific and technologic challenges were addressed. It included the following developments:
1) RGB OLED stacks with optimized emission wavelength to match the reflection band of the holographic mirrors, while minimizing energy consumption and cross-talk between pixels
2) RGB holographic resins to record efficient holographic mirrors while ensuring mechanical stability of the layer and photoinitiator stability in the formulation
3) ARE optical architectures optimizing eye box, optical aberrations and aesthetics,
4) Optical simulation tools to model holographic mirror behaviour and optimize the holographic recording process
5) Coating processes close to ophthalmic industrial environment, including protection means for the holographic layer
6) Color SDK to drive the microdisplay according to the user needs.
In addition, Human Driven Design Methodologies were applied using user feedback at the main stages of prototype development. It included extensive survey campaigns combining both qualitative and quantitative research. 869 completed questionnaires were analyzed. Applications were developed to answer user needs in 1) logistic where the operator is presented with a list of tasks to complete, 2) training in health where a student is displayed with a list of tasks to perform on a manikin, and 3) sport to provide key data during rowing training sessions.
All the main scientific and technologic challenges were addressed. It included the following developments:
1) RGB OLED stacks with optimized emission wavelength to match the reflection band of the holographic mirrors, while minimizing energy consumption and cross-talk between pixels
2) RGB holographic resins to record efficient holographic mirrors while ensuring mechanical stability of the layer and photoinitiator stability in the formulation
3) ARE optical architectures optimizing eye box, optical aberrations and aesthetics,
4) Optical simulation tools to model holographic mirror behaviour and optimize the holographic recording process
5) Coating processes close to ophthalmic industrial environment, including protection means for the holographic layer
6) Color SDK to drive the microdisplay according to the user needs.
In addition, Human Driven Design Methodologies were applied using user feedback at the main stages of prototype development. It included extensive survey campaigns combining both qualitative and quantitative research. 869 completed questionnaires were analyzed. Applications were developed to answer user needs in 1) logistic where the operator is presented with a list of tasks to complete, 2) training in health where a student is displayed with a list of tasks to perform on a manikin, and 3) sport to provide key data during rowing training sessions.
The consortium was driven by a constant concern to deliver actionable results. This translated in choosing technical solutions adapted to industrialization and answering user needs in three use cases in Logistic, Sports and Health.
At the current achievement level of the project, the demonstration that free-form holographic mirrors are compatible with prescription lenses without impacting significantly the overall lens thickness and shape was done. This makes it an interesting alternative to waveguide technologies.
At the current achievement level of the project, the demonstration that free-form holographic mirrors are compatible with prescription lenses without impacting significantly the overall lens thickness and shape was done. This makes it an interesting alternative to waveguide technologies.