The Apple Digital Binocular, gen1 (3 Viewers)

[kimmik]

Wonder how much zoom the forward facing main cameras can provide, then the headset will be effectively digital binoculars with 120degree AFOV 4k resolution.

Three element freeform aspheric eyepieces.

Just like camera phone, the first iphone didn't have much zoom capability nor image stabilization, and now they provide quite effective 10x zoom, some other brands even greater zoom.

And the binocular/headset/goggle will reduce in size over time, making outdoor use more feasible. 3D video capture and display.

 

[Maljunulo]

The whole idea of a digital binocular makes me cringe.

How to be totally isolated from what you are supposedly looking at.

Perhaps I misunderstand the technology.

 

[John A Roberts]

Hi kimmik,

Some more details would be helpful . . .

Are these images from Apple? If so, is there a link to them? And any other details?
(I couldn't find anything doing a quick search under 'Apple Digital Binocular'.)

Alternatively, if they're not Apple images, where are they from? And what is the context?


John

 

[Maljunulo]

Look up Apple WWDC.

 

[has530]

It is a AR headset: "apple vision pro". I think Kimmik was just thinking about the possibility of magnification on the AR cameras being used like a binocular.

 

[John A Roberts]

For details from today's announcement about the Apple Vision Pro headset and the intended use, see:

WWDC keynote recap: Apple unveils Vision Pro augmented reality headset, iOS17 (watch the replay)

Apple kicks off WWDC Monday announcing its new mixed reality Vision Pro headset along with updates on iOS 17, iPad, MacBook and Watch.

www.usatoday.com

 

[wllmspd]

It’s for creating 1x immersive views, which could be cool to “virtually visit” locations that you could otherwise not get to . No reason at all to add any zoom as that’s not the aim.
Peter

 

[Mono]

As the device's sole purpose is to superimpose made up images onto reality it might be good for those seeking certain woodpeckers!

 

[pppppvvvv]

I still think a thermal image superimposed into binocular views would be excellent.
With Option to turn it on or off, obviously.

Or even as a calibrated sight above the eyepieces!

 

[Alexander Stöhr]

Hello,
while I have the same thoughts as Maljunulo, there migght well be some advantages of a digital binocular.
There has been some discussion in the interesting and well known german forum here Leica Patent: Digitales Beobachtungsgerät mit variabler Verzeichnung and elsewhere in this forum.
If I remember correctly, some advantages would be

• variable distortion to suit different users and situations
• digital erecting of the image without the need for a prisma, that only adds weight and aberrations without contributing to magnification
• enhancing light/brightness in shadow areas bringing out details

But yes, the idea of adding an identification app sounds weird to me. But I can understand when people would like that too.

"So viele Menschen, so viele Meinungen" (or similar ....)

 

[kimmik]

“virtually visit”

Virtual visit has been the point of binoculars all along, isn't it?

No need to stop at 1x virtual visit.

The magnification can be set arbitrarily.

Its just a question of how good the main cameras are. like the situation on phones.

 

[hoolyp]

I'm wondering if these will turn out to be the next best thing or just another version of the old Google Glasses Similar to other responses, I prefer my optical technology for now

 

[John A Roberts]

Perhaps of interest to some . . .

The link in Alexander's post #10, is to a thread on the German language site Optical System Julich.

The first post is from Holger Merlitz, and the first line of Holger's post includes a link to Google Patents:
WO2021160195A1 - Digitales beobachtungsgerät - Google Patents

Clicking on the PDF option in Google Patents takes you to the full patent, that while the main text is in German,
it also usefully includes the abstract in English:



And going back to the Google Patent page and clicking on the 'English' option (top right of the page),
provides the full text of the patent in English.


John

 

[jafritten]

Hello,
while I have the same thoughts as Maljunulo, there migght well be some advantages of a digital binocular.
There has been some discussion in the interesting and well known german forum here Leica Patent: Digitales Beobachtungsgerät mit variabler Verzeichnung and elsewhere in this forum.
If I remember correctly, some advantages would be

• variable distortion to suit different users and situations
• digital erecting of the image without the need for a prisma, that only adds weight and aberrations without contributing to magnification
• enhancing light/brightness in shadow areas bringing out details

But yes, the idea of adding an identification app sounds weird to me. But I can understand when people would like that too.

"So viele Menschen, so viele Meinungen" (or similar ....)

Another possible advantage of a digital binocular would be image stabilisation, or shake reduction as it has been called in Pentax cameras since 2006. I'd much rather have a stabilised image than one that has no distortion when the binoculars are held still and has pincushion distortion when panning, which is the idea of that Leica patent.
The major downside are the electronic screens you'd be looking at, which makes me cringe, too. Horrible.
BTW Pentax is the only current manufacturer of dslr cameras with no electronic viewfinder.