View Full Version : Is this a crazy idea?
PhishSchticks
August 8th, 2003, 12:40 PM
I have been perusing the many posts dedicated to the mounting options of dive computers....console or wrist?
It occured to me that another option would naturally be a heads-up display integrated into the mask.
Heads-up displays have been available for Corvettes and other GM automobiles for some time now.
It seems only a matter of time until the technology is cost effective enough to be put into such a narrow market as scuba diving.
MikeFerrara
August 8th, 2003, 01:09 PM
Sure would hate to loose a mask like that. I don't think I could read anything that close to my face anyway. Sound like a neat idea but I don't see why I would need such a thing.
WJL
August 8th, 2003, 01:26 PM
You could never implement a heads up display in your mask, because the mask surface is too close to your eyes to focus on.
But, how about a holgram projection out in front of you somewhere, a la the communicators used in Star Wars. R&D costs couldn't be more than a few hundred million. Of course there could be some reliability issues taking the device into a high pressure (salt) water environment.
norcaldiver
August 8th, 2003, 02:33 PM
The navy already has a HUD. Hydro Optics masks claim to have one in the works (a bolt on attachment I think).
LVX
August 8th, 2003, 03:04 PM
There is a mention here for what it is worth.
http://www.scubadiving.com/gear/geartoday/
Northeastwrecks
August 8th, 2003, 03:29 PM
I believe that Kirby-Morgan makes a helmet that has a HUD available as an option. However, I've never seen it.
My biggest concern would be failure modes.
roakey
August 8th, 2003, 04:12 PM
Cochran has a HUD mask/computer that's "almost in production." At least that's what they've been telling DEMA goers for years...
I think they first showed it (and claimed that it "was just about ready to go into production") when surface suppled air was still being pumped by leather bellows.
Roak
SpyderTek
August 8th, 2003, 04:47 PM
WJL once bubbled...
You could never implement a heads up display in your mask, because the mask surface is too close to your eyes to focus on.
How close the projected screen is to your eye is not relevant to your ability to focus on it with regard to properly designed HUD systems.
They have computer monitor eye glasses and monocles already. It is done by projecting a sort of holographic view that causes the image to appear to 12"-16" in front of you.
What I would like to see in a mask in one that doesnt use clear surface. Instead works like a pair of VR goggles. Instead of projecting a computer generated image on the "screen" it would be hooked to a digital camera(s) mounted to the front that you would be able to zoom / wide angle / Light Amplify / IR what have you. Simular to the Light Amplification goggles used by the military. Could also have small Flash chip so it can store a "snapshot" of whatever images you are looking at (just like normal digital cameras).
Spydertek
roakey
August 8th, 2003, 06:13 PM
SpyderTek once bubbled...
What I would like to see in a mask in one that doesnt use clear surface. Instead works like a pair of VR goggles. Instead of projecting a computer generated image on the "screen" it would be hooked to a digital camera(s) mounted to the front that you would be able to zoom / wide angle / Light Amplify / IR what have you. Simular to the Light Amplification goggles used by the military. Could also have small Flash chip so it can store a "snapshot" of whatever images you are looking at (just like normal digital cameras).
It already exists. It's called an "ROV."
Roak
wb416
August 8th, 2003, 09:57 PM
roakey once bubbled...
It already exists. It's called an "ROV."
Roak
:D
blackice
August 8th, 2003, 10:14 PM
Why not - it can't be that far away - the main requirement to making this happen is getting one of the geeks at MIT interested in SCUBA.
Also what about the sony glasses used for DVD watching while on the move. they are close to you eyes.
Hands up as a tester :-)
cornfed
August 9th, 2003, 07:12 AM
MikeFerrara once bubbled...
Sure would hate to loose a mask like that.
Once again Mike cuts right to the chase.
blackice
August 9th, 2003, 11:35 PM
cornfed once bubbled...
Once again Mike cuts right to the chase.
Sure we would all hate to lose such a mask, but to lose it you have to have it first.
And is there any dive gear that you would be happy to lose ...
ElectricZombie
August 9th, 2003, 11:51 PM
A mask display would just make things more complicated than they need to be. An analog SPG works great and is a lot cheaper. Losing the mask would be a big issue too.
cornfed
August 10th, 2003, 08:05 AM
blackice once bubbled...
Sure we would all hate to lose such a mask, but to lose it you have to have it first.
And is there any dive gear that you would be happy to lose ...
You're really not paying attention, are you?
