Laser-based Virtual Retinal Display

denmon writes "Seen on memepool: The HIT Lab has produced a virtual retinal display that paints a color VGA image directly on the retina using a low-power laser. They intend to miniaturize the components into a head-mounted display that will 'generate an inclusive, high resolution 3-D visual environment in a device the size of conventional eyeglasses'. Seems like Snow Crash gets closer every day... " Screw big flat screens, I want my interface right on my eyeball. Excellent.

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Additional benefits...

Cool, a story from my own home institution!

One thing that has been mentioned locally that has a great deal of significance for myself is that the retinal display technology has some unforseen benefits, such as the ability to project images onto previously damaged retinas.

A member of the board of reagents came by in a tour group to preview the technology they were funding. The board member removed his glasses when it was his turn and looked into the display. Stunned, he became excited and starting asking quite a few questions and asking about how it was working, seeming quite excited. It turned out that he (in an accident much like my own) had been involved in an accident that had destroyed his retina, the surface upon which this technology projects it's images inside of the eye.

The retinal display, however, was able to bypass the previous organic damage and feed information almost directly to the optic nerve for perception. Result: He was now able to see in stereo, where he had spent the previous portion of his life with only the ability to see out of one eye.

Since then, the project has incorporated at least one member of the medical staff from the UW Physicians Network, as this has some exciting possible medical uses for the future.

Exciting, no?