NVIS nVisor SX60: Difference between revisions

|Platform =  

|Announcement Date =  

|Release Date = 2003

|Price =  

|Requires = PC

|Operating System = Windows

|Subpixel Layout =  

|Peak Brightness =  

|Pixel Density =  

|Field of View = 60° diagonal (44° reported)

|Horizontal FoV =  

|Vertical FoV =  

|Optics = Custom engineered optics

|Ocularity = Stereoscopic

|IPD Range =  

|Passthrough =  

|Tracking = 3 DoF

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|Eye Tracking = No

|Positional Tracking = No

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|Audio =  

|Microphone =  

|Camera =  

|Connectivity = VGA

|Ports =  

|Power = External

|Weight =  

|Headstrap =  

|Sensors = Inertial sensor

|Cable Length =  

The '''NVIS nVisor SX60''' is a professional [[head-mounted display]] (HMD) for [[virtual reality]] applications, released in 2003 by [[NVIS Inc.]]<ref name="roadtovr">Road to VR. "A Look at 4 Virtual Reality HMDs Before Oculus." Engadget, November 27, 2016.</ref><ref name="vrcompare">VRcompare. "NVIS nVisor SX60: Full Specification." Retrieved 2025.</ref>. The device was designed for high-end military, industrial, and research applications, representing state-of-the-art technology for its time.

The nVisor SX60 was positioned as a high-resolution professional VR headset, incorporating advanced [[microdisplay]] technology and custom optics. The "SX" designation stands for [[SXGA]] resolution, while "60" refers to the 60-degree diagonal [[field of view]]<ref name="tekgear">TekGear. "nVisor SX by NVIS." Retrieved 2025.</ref>.

The nVisor SX60 utilized [[LCOS]] ([[Liquid Crystal on Silicon]]) display technology, specifically [[FLCOS]] (Ferroelectric Liquid Crystal on Silicon) according to some sources<ref name="est">EST Engineering Systems Technologies. "nVisor SX." Retrieved 2025.</ref>. The device featured:

* Resolution: 1280×1024 pixels per eye ([[SXGA]] standard)<ref name="vrcompare"/>

* Native display resolution: 2048×1536 (according to some reports)<ref name="roadtovr"/>

* Color microdisplays with custom engineered optics

The headset offered a diagonal field of view of 60 degrees, though some sources report 44 degrees<ref name="vrcompare"/>. This discrepancy may be due to different measurement methods or configurations.

The nVisor SX60 featured [[3 degrees of freedom]] (3DoF) tracking<ref name="vrcompare"/>, allowing for rotational head tracking (pitch, roll, and yaw) through an integrated [[inertial sensor]]. The device did not include positional tracking capabilities.

The headset connected to PCs via [[VGA]] cables, requiring a graphics adapter capable of outputting the appropriate resolution. For stereoscopic operation, the system required dual monitor configuration support, often achieved through "horizontal span" mode on [[NVIDIA]] graphics cards<ref name="worldviz">WorldViz. "nVis HMDs Documentation." Retrieved 2025.</ref>.

The nVisor SX60 was primarily used in:

* Military training and simulation

* Industrial visualization

* Research institutions

* Medical simulation

* Virtual reality development

* [[Vizard]] VR toolkit, which included a dedicated nvis module for proper stereo and projection settings<ref name="worldviz"/>

==Video Control Unit==

The nVisor SX60 was typically paired with an Advanced Video Control Unit that provided:

* Plug-and-play support for analog and digital video inputs

* Analog and digital monitor output repeater functionality<ref name="est"/>

At its release in 2003, the nVisor SX60 represented cutting-edge VR technology, offering features that remained unmatched for several years<ref name="roadtovr"/>. However, like most professional VR equipment of its era, it was priced well beyond consumer reach, targeting institutional and commercial customers.

The nVisor SX60 was succeeded by the [[nVisor SX111]], which offered improved specifications including a wider field of view (111° diagonal) while maintaining the same resolution<ref name="ndsu">NDSU Center for Visual and Cognitive Neuroscience. "Facilities." Retrieved 2025.</ref>.

NVIS Inc. was a major player in the professional VR space, developing numerous products for military, industrial, and commercial organizations. The company was later acquired by [[Kopin Corporation]], and all NVIS products and support are now handled through Kopin's Training & Simulation division<ref name="kopin">NVIS/Kopin. "NVIS Products." December 19, 2023.</ref>.