Retinal Displays: Difference between revisions - VR & AR Wiki - Virtual Reality & Augmented Reality Wiki

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{{Company Infobox

|image=

|image=[[File:dynovisor1.jpg|350px]]

|Type=Private

|Industry=[[Virtual Reality]], [[Wearable technology|Wearable Displays]], [[Consumer Electronics]]

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|Website=[http://www.retinaldisplays.com retinaldisplays.com] (defunct)

}}

'''Retinal Displays''' was a [[virtual reality]] company founded by Dr. [[Jonathan Waldern]] in 1997 in [[Los Altos]], [[California]]. The company specialized in developing head-mounted display technology using a novel three-element molded aspheric optical lens system for cost-effective consumer [[3D]] [[VR]] displays. Though operational for only a few years (1997-2000), the company made a significant impact in the consumer VR market during a period when virtual reality was struggling to find commercial success.<ref name="VRS">Virtual Reality Society. "Virtuality – A New Reality of Promise, Two Decades Too Soon". April 17, 2018. https://www.vrs.org.uk/dr-jonathan-walden-virtuality-new-reality-promise-two-decades-soon/</ref>

'''Retinal Displays''' was a [[virtual reality]] [[company]] founded by Dr. [[Jonathan Waldern]] in 1997 in [[Los Altos]], [[California]]. The company specialized in developing [[head-mounted display]] technology using a novel three-element molded aspheric optical lens system for cost-effective consumer [[3D]] [[VR]] displays. Though operational for only a few years (1997-2000), the company made a significant impact in the consumer VR market during a period when virtual reality was struggling to find commercial success.<ref name="VRS">Virtual Reality Society. "Virtuality – A New Reality of Promise, Two Decades Too Soon". April 17, 2018. https://www.vrs.org.uk/dr-jonathan-walden-virtuality-new-reality-promise-two-decades-soon/</ref>

== History ==

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While Retinal Displays developed the core technology, the company operated primarily as a technology provider, licensing its designs to consumer electronics manufacturers rather than selling products directly to consumers.

=== RD-800 Prototype ===

=== [[RD-800 Prototype]] ===

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The flagship RD-800 prototype was an AMLCD binocular viewer that delivered 800 × 225 pixels to each eye. It was shown at medical VR conferences and used in early immersion-therapy experiments.<ref name="ResearchGate">Riva, G. et al. "The Patient during the Second VR Session." ResearchGate dataset (2001).</ref> Its lightweight optics attracted interest from US Army aviation researchers investigating see-through VRD concepts.<ref name="EEtimes">EE Times. "Retinal Displays Catch Eye of Medical Researchers." July 12 1999. https://www.eetimes.com/retinal-displays-catch-eye-of-medical-researchers/</ref>

=== Takara HMD Dynovisor ===

=== [[Takara HMD Dynovisor]] ===

{| class="wikitable"

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The Dynovisor was licensed to Japanese toy manufacturer [[Takara]]. Released in Japan in 1998, it was marketed as a television headset rather than as a full virtual reality system. The device was compatible with any NTSC console or device with composite/AV output, including the Atari Jaguar, Nintendo systems, and other gaming platforms. While the optical technology was advanced for its time, the resolution of available displays limited the overall experience.<ref>AusRetroGamer. "Virtuality Reality Holy Grail". January 3, 2016. https://ausretrogamer.com/thrill-of-the-chase-virtual-reality-holy-grail/</ref>

=== Philips Scuba Visor ===

=== [[Philips Scuba Visor]] ===

{| class="wikitable"

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Retinal Displays formed strategic partnerships with several companies to integrate and advance its technology:

* **Cybermind Interactive Systems** – partnered to integrate the Dynovisor optics into a networked multiplayer attraction.<ref name="Cybermind">TechMonitor. "Cybermind Scraps the Virtuality Group's Elysium." Dec 1997. https://www.techmonitor.ai/analysis/cybermind_scraps_the_virtuality_groups_elysium_1/</ref>

*'''[[Cybermind Interactive Systems]]''' – partnered to integrate the Dynovisor optics into a networked multiplayer attraction.<ref name="Cybermind">TechMonitor. "Cybermind Scraps the Virtuality Group's Elysium." Dec 1997. https://www.techmonitor.ai/analysis/cybermind_scraps_the_virtuality_groups_elysium_1/</ref>

* **Boeing Phantom Works** – Retinal Displays optics were evaluated within the Army's Virtual Cockpit Optimization Program.<ref name="EEtimes" />

*'''[[Boeing Phantom Works]]''' – Retinal Displays optics were evaluated within the Army's Virtual Cockpit Optimization Program.<ref name="EEtimes" />

== Market Impact ==

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While Retinal Displays itself operated for only a few years, its impact extended beyond the company's lifespan:

1. **Technology Transfer**: The optical design principles and manufacturing approaches developed at Retinal Displays influenced subsequent head-mounted display designs.

#'''Technology Transfer''': The optical design principles and manufacturing approaches developed at Retinal Displays influenced subsequent head-mounted display designs.

#'''Bridging VR Generations''': The company's products helped maintain consumer awareness of VR technology during the period between the first wave of VR in the early 1990s and the modern revival beginning in the 2010s.

2. **Bridging VR Generations**: The company's products helped maintain consumer awareness of VR technology during the period between the first wave of VR in the early 1990s and the modern revival beginning in the 2010s.

#'''Entrepreneurial Continuity''': For founder Jonathan Waldern, Retinal Displays represented one chapter in a continuous career advancing immersive display technologies. He would go on to found DigiLens Telecom in 1999 and then SBG Labs (later rebranded as DigiLens Inc.) in 2004, continuing to innovate in related fields like holographic waveguide displays for augmented reality applications.<ref>Newswire. "Dr. Jonathan Waldern Joins Metamaterial as Chief Technology Officer". December 17, 2020. https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/dr-jonathan-waldern-joins-metamaterial-as-chief-technology-officer-844055891.html</ref>

#'''Industry Revival''': Although the company did not survive to see the VR renaissance, its efforts during the industry's "winter" period helped preserve critical knowledge and experience that would later contribute to the field's resurgence.

3. **Entrepreneurial Continuity**: For founder Jonathan Waldern, Retinal Displays represented one chapter in a continuous career advancing immersive display technologies. He would go on to found DigiLens Telecom in 1999 and then SBG Labs (later rebranded as DigiLens Inc.) in 2004, continuing to innovate in related fields like holographic waveguide displays for augmented reality applications.<ref>Newswire. "Dr. Jonathan Waldern Joins Metamaterial as Chief Technology Officer". December 17, 2020. https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/dr-jonathan-waldern-joins-metamaterial-as-chief-technology-officer-844055891.html</ref>

4. **Industry Revival**: Although the company did not survive to see the VR renaissance, its efforts during the industry's "winter" period helped preserve critical knowledge and experience that would later contribute to the field's resurgence.

== See Also ==

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<ref>Newswire. "Dr. Jonathan Waldern Joins Metamaterial as Chief Technology Officer". December 17, 2020. https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/dr-jonathan-waldern-joins-metamaterial-as-chief-technology-officer-844055891.html</ref>

</references>

[[Category:Companies]]

[[Category:Virtual Reality Companies]]