Periodic Reporting for period 1 - LIGHTFIELD (Seamless mixing of virtual & real-world objects in VR & AR)
Periodo di rendicontazione: 2020-04-01 al 2021-03-31
However, today VR/AR headsets have not yet entered mass adoption. One of the major reasons for that is the visual discomfort and eye strain of users. To correctly perceive depth, the human eye needs to change focus between objects in different distances. This is impossible in today’s devices based on flat screen technology. The mismatch between binocular depth and focus (vergence-accommodation conflict) causes eye strain, pain, and nausea for users. It is a serious problem in VR, but it is a true showstopper in the AR where our eyes see both real and virtual objects at the same time.
CREAL’s patented light-field technology generates truly 3D hologram-like images, our technology fully replicates human perception of 3D images with optical depth. It solves the eye strain and pain problems of current headsets, while increasing immersion of users and allowing proper mixing of virtual and real worlds.
In the first 12 months, we complete following technical tasks
- We investigated suitable image processing algorithms allowing lighter computation, smaller data bandwidth, and better light-field image quality, and are also suitable for ASIC implementation architectures. Additionally, we have specified the overall system architecture, the communication protocol from the source computer, the control interfaces, and other low-level subsystems of the device.
- We implemented the said image processing algorithms on a high-end field programmable gate array (FPGA) using a development board.
- We also implemented a dedicated low level spatial light modulator (SLM) driver on FPGA.
- We implemented more stable and optimized video processing and data transfer (more robust, lower latency, etc.).
On business development and communication side:
- we continue working and established new collaboration with various R&D groups in industry and academia, but restricted travel made demo meetings difficult,
- we continue refining our go-to-market strategy with our EIC coach,
- we continuously build awareness of the problem we solve, the “VAC” and “visual conflict” in VR/AR, as well as advantages of our solution through materials and lectures.
We closed a new financing round of CHF 6.5 M in October 2020, which will allow us to bring our light-field display technology from the current hardware-development-kit stage to the complete technology package for the next-generation smart glasses.