NVIS nVisor SX60
The NVIS nVisor SX60 is a professional head-mounted display (HMD) for virtual reality applications, released in 2003 by NVIS Inc.[1][2]. The device was designed for high-end military, industrial, and research applications, representing state-of-the-art technology for its time.
| NVIS nVisor SX60 | |
|---|---|
| Basic Info | |
| VR/AR | Virtual Reality |
| Type | Head-mounted display |
| Subtype | PC-Powered VR |
| Developer | NVIS Inc. |
| Manufacturer | NVIS Inc. |
| Release Date | 2003 |
| Website | https://www.nvisinc.com |
| Requires | PC |
| Successor | nVisor SX111 |
| System | |
| Operating System | Windows |
| Storage | |
| Display | |
| Display | LCOS (Liquid Crystal on Silicon) |
| Resolution | 1280x1024 per eye (SXGA) |
| Refresh Rate | 60 Hz |
| Image | |
| Field of View | 60° diagonal (44° reported) |
| Foveated Rendering | No |
| Optics | |
| Optics | Custom engineered optics |
| Ocularity | Stereoscopic |
| Tracking | |
| Tracking | 3 DoF |
| Base Stations | No |
| Eye Tracking | No |
| Face Tracking | No |
| Hand Tracking | No |
| Body Tracking | No |
| Rotational Tracking | Yes |
| Positional Tracking | No |
| Audio | |
| Connectivity | |
| Connectivity | VGA |
| Wired Video | Yes |
| Wireless Video | No |
| WiFi | No |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Power | External |
| Battery Capacity | N/A |
| Battery Life | N/A |
| Charge Time | N/A |
| Device | |
| Haptics | No |
| Sensors | Inertial sensor |
Overview
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[3].
Technical Specifications
Display Technology
The nVisor SX60 utilized LCOS (Liquid Crystal on Silicon) display technology, specifically FLCOS (Ferroelectric Liquid Crystal on Silicon) according to some sources[4]. The device featured:
- Resolution: 1280×1024 pixels per eye (SXGA standard)[2]
- Native display resolution: 2048×1536 (according to some reports)[1]
- Color microdisplays with custom engineered optics
- Stereoscopic 3D capability
- 60 Hz refresh rate
Field of View
The headset offered a diagonal field of view of 60 degrees, though some sources report 44 degrees[2]. This discrepancy may be due to different measurement methods or configurations.
Tracking Capabilities
The nVisor SX60 featured 3 degrees of freedom (3DoF) tracking[2], allowing for rotational head tracking (pitch, roll, and yaw) through an integrated inertial sensor. The device did not include positional tracking capabilities.
Connectivity
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[5].
Applications
The nVisor SX60 was primarily used in:
- Military training and simulation
- Industrial visualization
- Research institutions
- Medical simulation
- Virtual reality development
Software Support
The headset was supported by various VR development platforms, including:
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
- Stereo and monoscopic output modes
- Analog and digital monitor output repeater functionality[4]
Market Position
At its release in 2003, the nVisor SX60 represented cutting-edge VR technology, offering features that remained unmatched for several years[1]. However, like most professional VR equipment of its era, it was priced well beyond consumer reach, targeting institutional and commercial customers.
Legacy
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[6].
Company History
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[7].
See Also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Road to VR. "A Look at 4 Virtual Reality HMDs Before Oculus." Engadget, November 27, 2016. Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "roadtovr" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 VRcompare. "NVIS nVisor SX60: Full Specification." Retrieved 2025. Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "vrcompare" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ TekGear. "nVisor SX by NVIS." Retrieved 2025. Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "tekgear" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ 4.0 4.1 EST Engineering Systems Technologies. "nVisor SX." Retrieved 2025. Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "est" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ 5.0 5.1 WorldViz. "nVis HMDs Documentation." Retrieved 2025. Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "worldviz" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ NDSU Center for Visual and Cognitive Neuroscience. "Facilities." Retrieved 2025. Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "ndsu" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ NVIS/Kopin. "NVIS Products." December 19, 2023. Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "kopin" defined multiple times with different content