Retinal Displays
Retinal Displays was a virtual reality company founded by Dr. Jonathan Waldern in 1997. 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 two years (1997-1999), the company made a significant impact in the consumer VR market during a period when virtual reality was struggling to find commercial success.Cite error: Invalid parameter in <ref> tag
| Retinal Displays | |
|---|---|
| Information | |
| Type | Private |
| Industry | Virtual Reality, Consumer Electronics |
| Founded | 1997, United Kingdom |
| Founder | Dr. Jonathan Waldern |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom |
| Notable Personnel | Dr. Jonathan Waldern (Founder, CTO and CEO) |
| Products | HMD Dynovisor (licensed to Takara), Scuba Visor (licensed to Philips) |
History
Foundation and Background
Retinal Displays was founded in 1997 by Dr. Jonathan Waldern, who had previously established himself as a prominent figure in the virtual reality industry as the founder of W Industries (later known as the Virtuality Group) in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Waldern created Retinal Displays after the collapse of the first wave of virtual reality companies, often referred to as "VR 1.0," which occurred around 1997 when many major players in the industry, including Waldern's Virtuality, went under in close succession.Cite error: Invalid parameter in <ref> tag
Unlike many entrepreneurs who abandoned VR after the industry bubble burst, Waldern continued to pursue his vision for immersive display technology. Retinal Displays represented his effort to create more affordable and practical consumer VR products at a time when the technology was struggling to gain mainstream acceptance.Cite error: Invalid parameter in <ref> tag
Company Timeline
- 1997: Retinal Displays was founded by Dr. Jonathan Waldern in the United Kingdom.
- 1997-1998: The company developed its core technology: a novel three-element molded aspheric optical lens system designed to reduce the cost of consumer VR displays.
- 1998: Licensing agreements were established with Japanese toy manufacturer Takara for the Dynovisor and with Philips for the Scuba Visor.
- 1998-1999: Products reached the market in Japan, Europe, and the United States.
- 1999: Waldern moved on to found DigiLens Telecom, shifting his focus from consumer products to telecommunications infrastructure components.Cite error: Invalid parameter in
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Technology
Retinal Displays' primary innovation was the development of a three-element molded aspheric optical lens system. This technology represented a significant advancement in head-mounted display design, offering several advantages over conventional optics systems used in previous VR headsets.
Aspheric Lens Technology
Aspheric lenses differ from traditional spherical lenses by having a surface curvature that varies across the lens. This more complex surface profile helps reduce or eliminate spherical aberration and other optical aberrations like astigmatism. The advantage of aspheric elements is that a single aspheric lens can often replace a much more complex multi-lens system, resulting in devices that are smaller, lighter, and potentially less expensive.Cite error: Invalid parameter in <ref> tag
Retinal Displays' innovation centered on a molded aspheric approach using three elements, which allowed for cost-effective mass production while maintaining optical quality suitable for consumer applications. The system was specifically designed to provide a wide field of view while keeping manufacturing costs low enough to hit consumer price points.
Display Specifications
The optical system developed by Retinal Displays featured:
- Three-element molded aspheric lens configuration
- 120-degree field of view (FOV)
- Sony's Active TFT and LCD lenses
- Hi-Fi stereo sound
- Inter Pupil Distance (IPD) focus adjustment
- Contrast and brightness controlsCite error: Invalid parameter in
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This technology inherited some elements from Waldern's previous work on the Atari Jaguar VR headset, which had never been commercially released. It represented a refinement and cost reduction of earlier VR display approaches.Cite error: Invalid parameter in <ref> tag
Products
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.
Takara HMD Dynovisor
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Model Number | TAK-8510 |
| Display | Pupil Projection System with 120-degree FOV |
| Panel Technology | Sony Active TFT and LCD lenses |
| Audio | Hi-Fi stereo |
| Adjustments | IPD (Inter Pupil Distance) focus adjustment |
| Controls | Contrast and brightness |
| Compatibility | NTSC composite/AV output devices |
| Construction | High impact ABS molded components |
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.Cite error: Invalid parameter in <ref> tag
Philips Scuba Visor
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Release Date | August 1998 |
| Markets | Europe and United States |
| Display | Similar to Dynovisor but with slight improvements |
| Target Usage | Television viewing and gaming |
| Design | Similar to the Dynovisor but with Philips branding |
The Scuba Visor was a slightly improved version of the same technology licensed to Philips for distribution in European and American markets. Like the Dynovisor, it was marketed more as a television viewing device than as a virtual reality headset. This positioning reflected the market reality that pure VR was still not commercially viable in the late 1990s, while enhanced television and gaming experiences represented a more accessible market segment.Cite error: Invalid parameter in <ref> tag
Market Impact
Sales and Distribution
Despite entering the market during a downturn in VR popularity, the products based on Retinal Displays' technology achieved notable commercial success. Combined sales of the Takara Dynovisor and Philips Scuba Visor exceeded 160,000 units. This figure was particularly impressive given the state of the VR market at the time and would not be surpassed by another consumer VR headset until the combined sales of Oculus Rift DK1 and DK2 reached 175,000 units in June 2015 – more than 15 years later.Cite error: Invalid parameter in <ref> tag
The $299 price point achieved through Retinal Displays' optical innovations was a key factor in enabling this market success, as it made the technology accessible to a wider consumer audience than previous VR systems.
Historical Significance
Retinal Displays occupies an important position in VR history as one of the few commercially successful consumer VR product lines during the "winter" period of virtual reality that lasted from approximately 1997 until the revival of the industry in the 2010s with the emergence of Oculus and other modern VR platforms.
The company demonstrated that even during a period of industry contraction, innovative approaches to technical challenges like optical design could still create viable market opportunities. The optical principles and manufacturing approaches pioneered by Retinal Displays would influence future developments in head-mounted display technology.Cite error: Invalid parameter in <ref> tag
Legacy
While Retinal Displays itself operated for only about two 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.
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.
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.Cite error: Invalid parameter in <ref> tag
See Also
References
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