Headset projects virtual 15-in screen for hands-free systems control

EDN Europe, 12 May 2009

Kopin is a manufacturer of high-resolution micro-displays, and positions itself as the largest maker of such products in the US. Several years ago it developed the technology to make silicon-based transmission-mode LCD cells for projection-viewing of conventional graphics images. More recently it has incorporated its technology into head-mounted virtual-display products – where you have, for example, a helmet-mounted eyepiece that projects a virtual screen into your field of vision. It has produced many such products for military applications.
Now, it has introduced a mainstream consumer product that employs the microdisplay technology but adds several more significant features; specifically, a remote-access-over-IP package to enable you to operate your PC remotely (in a similar way to existing software products such as Go To My PC), and bundling software tools such as text-to-speech. Processing power is provided by a TI OMAP chip. The overall concept is to of a headset-mounted, hands-free, stand-alone product that permits the user to operate their PC remotely.
Called Golden-i, it takes the form of a lightweight (3-oz.) Bluetooth headset providing a 15-in. (equivalent) virtual PC display with a hands-free natural speech recognition interface for wireless remote control over an array of host devices including cellular phones, PCs, company networks and wireless systems. Golden-i accepts conventional user interface from any host device touch screen, keyboard or wireless mouse. It provides “spontaneous access” to virtually any information source; initial product development has focused on industrial applications. Users have the ability to command and control wireless devices and networks by natural speech recognition. It gives assess to broadcast programming and Internet services, including real-time, D-1 high resolution (720 x 480p x 30 fps) streaming video over industry-standard Bluetooth 2.0 which was developed in partnership with BlueRadios, Inc. It runs the 32-bit native, componentised, hard-real-time Microsoft Windows Embedded CE 6.0 R2 operating system, and can remotely waking a PC. After Golden-i establishes a Bluetooth, WiFi or cellular link through a host device, users will see their PC desktop screen on a 15-inch virtual display, offering full hands-free access to all PC applications, data files and services. When work is finished, the PC can be placed in hibernation with a single spoken command. Texas Instruments’ third generation OMAP dual processor platform provides the core of the device, with a 600-MHz ARM Cortex 8, 400MHz DSP, a 10 million polygon/second graphics accelerator with high performance POP (package on package) memory reaching several gigabytes. However, Kopin predicts power drain that will equate to over eight hours of standard use with a single 1200 mA/hr Li-ion battery.
Speech recognition is by Nuance’s VoCon3200 software, and same company provides text-to-speech. Other part of the bundle include Hillcrest Labs’ 6-axis, solid state real-time position tracker for cursor position across the virtual screen, with zoom and pan capability. It can remotely control up to seven other devices or networks at one time.
The optics are based on Kopin’s full-color CyberDisplay SVGA microdisplay, with injection-moulded optics.