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Old 03-03-2019, 05:02 AM   #1
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Augmented Reality - Epson Moverio BT-300

I have spent three days using my first Augmented Reality device, the Epson Moverio BT-300 "Smart Glasses", (intended) as a mobile reading device.
In short, my judgement of the experience was: very, very rewarding, with some limitations and issues, and above expectations in most areas.

The device is an Android 5.x handheld, cable-connected to a thin and light "ear-nose mounted display" (spectacles) featuring two transparent Si-OLED, 1280x720 displays. Controls are on the handheld: arrows-touchpad (electrostatic d-pad), "Back-Home-History", pointer-trackpad and side buttons; I am not sure if further controls embedded in earphones could be used.

The colour of "black" will be interpreted as "transparent". Hence, the obtained visual effect is to have a 16:9 shaped virtual page of white (apart from formatting variations), well defined (but not always crisp) characters on a transparent background. It is like having, for example a 6 or 7 meters wide (~300'' diagonal) virtual screen at 10 meters distance (very rough calculations).
It is probably already the case to state: if you are using "black on white" on a backlit device (LCD, OLED etc.), you are very probably "doing it wrong" (if reflections get in the way, the screen was supposed to be matte/d and you have done it wrong). In the case of AR, this is especially true: you can of course have a "transparent on white" rendering, which in many cases will be the software default, instead of the correct "white on transparent", but that would be akin to having a panel stuck in front of you mounted on your head with a pole... It would cover the environment, including all the things your brain demands to see when around - that is not what you want. All decent software offers "inverted colours" mode (otherwise, the Android option to invert colours system-wise is available). You will see the scenery, and the screen content, with different focus at change of eye focus.

Pleasantly, the bet is won about the good effect of actually carrying a readable screen "on your nose" as you move around: the optimal environment for such reading is to walk outdoors - which was the intended use. More clearly and explicitly, the purpose was to protract intellectual exercise while living healthier places, postures and actions. The goal was met with unexpected excellence. In fact, it seems that psycho-perceptual properties are key in the well-functioning on the system - as on the contrary the device would perform very poorly if remaining static in a dark room; the good staticity of the screen with respect to the eyes and the variable background are very well and naturally, effortlessly, interpreted by the brain. This seems to compensate the still imperfect technology: an "analytical scrutiny", in static posture in a dark room, shows that the characters are mostly crisp but with blurry areas. The readability becomes much better if the eyes are set to project to a distant point. Other perceptual postures can vary the visual quality - for example, I am not sure that the blurry areas are fixed in space, and they may depend on "eye calibration and preparation" (for lack of better terms. With "preparation" I mean at least: after a few hours at a standard LCD computer monitor I wore the glasses and just everything was very blurry). During use, if at some moment you want to read e.g. small details like the time in a system or reader application statusbar, they may initially seem small faint small and unreadable, and soon become readable by better orienting your head. I used my natural (not 20/20) eyesight and have not tried wearing prescription glasses.
As written above, the scenery around you is always available, and so is the AR content, already at a change of eye focus.

I tested the system with Kingsoft Office and with Ivan (Foobnix) Ivanenko's Librera, and also with other documents reading software of mine based on the Android WebView, and with both free format documents (.doc, .html) and fixed format ones (.pdf), with blissful results.
Given the special (AR hardware) case, I found it very comfortable to read at a 12-lines-per-screen zoom, but - as forced for example by PDF formatting - also at 20-lines-per-screen zoom the text was fully readable, though really not as comfortable. Note that, since we are speaking of "lines", the 16:9 proportion is "quite short"; I would have loved a more square display, such as 1280x1280, and actually all the space would be there to exploit it (the darkened """projection""" screen, as also visible in the reconstructions I posted below, is squarey). With PDF, the "embolden" function in Librera is quite useful (with reference for example to the Sans-serif font used by O'Reilly, which tends to be quite thin). Both Kingsoft and Librera have full-screen functions; incidentally, some Kingsoft Office version may have a bad "white on black" implementation (washed out, "grey on grey") - there is an Android option to invert the colours at display level (at system level), in case the specific software application is imperfect.

You can normally scroll and change page with the arrows of the electrostatic d-pad, on the handheld which you can keep in your pocket. Of course, you could also have all Turing machines and shed enthusiasts offer: vocal controls through a peribuccal mike, BlueTooth tricks... I would love a smart glove to write (Jeff Hawking's "Palm") Graffiti gestures in the air - that would pleasantly solve the problem of typing. But I guess that also "speech-to-text" dictation is possible (and possibly more dignified).
EDIT: mentioning a "smart glove", or "air mouse", I forgot that this Moverio system already comprises the hardware: if the handheld part contains gyroscope, accelerometer etc. (unless they are only in the glasses, it could in theory be used as an air mouse - you could wave the handheld part in the air to move the mouse cursor. At the moment I cannot find a way (an option, an app) to make this work.

The battery, 3000 mAh, lasts for 5 hours. I am not sure this can be improved, outside of severe system hacking (but for the basic Airplane mode and GPS Off). GSam Battery Monitor seems to indicate that the display has a heavy impact (those small screens?), but I have not tried lowering the brightness, which I keep at around 80%, with the "mild sunglasses" plugin mounted; Epson (very high apparent manufacturing quality and provided material by the way) also bundled a "darker sunglasses" plugin which I have not yet tried.
But I could note that as I carry around a 10'000 mAh battery the hours could be increased to the full useful day, and that I am content with 5 hours per day as a reasonable amount for this kind of reading practice.

Technical specifications for the device are also found at https://tech.moverio.epson.com/en/bt-300/

Last edited by mdp; 04-05-2019 at 10:31 AM.
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Old 03-06-2019, 07:26 AM   #2
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Extending the concept of reading to other related intellectual exercise, today I watched a University lesson on the device. Very rewarding. The impact increase on the battery was not much.

I also used other learning software, and again very pleasantly and effectively, but it was custom - using the dpad and having the right colors displayed is an asset.
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Old 03-06-2019, 01:34 PM   #3
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Here are (imprecise and suffering from space constraints) reconstructions of the effect.
Beware that the zoom in the browser may blur the images. Load the attached in case.



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Last edited by mdp; 03-06-2019 at 02:10 PM.
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Old 03-13-2019, 05:11 PM   #4
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In practice, with this kind of system and using some text rendering software, you may missed thicker fonts - they are easier on the eyes as the white text has to contrast against the scenery.

So I produced a thick version of the DejaVu, available here.

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Old 03-14-2019, 06:43 PM   #5
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One note now especially about the parallel topic of video, but important in the context of "OLED outdoors".
The video experience, having watched a few hours of university lessons and interviews, seems to be close to excellent. And all done in the open sunlight. When done in the shade, e.g. in the car, it was like enjoying a "big screen" projected anywhere a comfortable position and an adequate background may match.

So I write this to stress a fleeting thought which may be unduly overlooked. OLED is typically terrible when getting even close to natural light (and they marketed it as "infinite contrast" - in some interpretation of the terms that make no sense in the real world).
So how come this implementation works so well?
Simply, with the use of the sun lenses plugins. Reducing with a simple trick the light that would wash out the display. It suggests the parallel of being able to dim the light around you while holding a palm-oriented OLED-based mobile device, enclosing you in a temporary bell to reduce excessive sunlight... Somehow, there is genius in it.

If a technology was implemented, to match the available one of setting the display brightness, to have adjustable intensity of the sun lenses, from transparent to obscuring with a few degrees in between, electronically selectable...
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Old 03-17-2019, 02:51 PM   #6
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@mdp After spending the afternoon googling, I'm intrigued and delighted with your review of the Epson BT-300. The idea of an pseudo-AR reading experience is an exciting possibility. Honestly, I am surprised that an optical-mounted reader hasn't been a larger focus by hardware developers, especially as smart phones have dealt a fairly devastating blow to the ereader market.

Aside from this sub, where can I read more about this burgeoning technology?
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Old 03-17-2019, 06:06 PM   #7
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pseudo-AR reading experience is an exciting possibility
I have used it for probably over 50 hrs in the past two weeks, between text, video and interactive material, and happily: in my case it is a fulfilling reality.
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Old 03-29-2019, 08:58 AM   #8
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Thought I would chime in - I bought an epson moverio 35bt-e. It has very similar specs to the 300. Mdp's reconstruction pics are extremely accurate when using an inverted colour scheme.

The model I use allows for hdmi in so I can use it a second or even primary monitor for my comp or phone. It is a really cool experience.

Free hand drawing on my surface pro reflected in front of my eyes in real time is quite an experience.
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Old 04-03-2019, 01:36 PM   #9
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Fortunately this is not a limit. Every AR app company has the way to improve.
AR industrial apps are in the progressive phase today and they don't just refer to entertainment, it became useful in such aspects of industrial processes, as the quality control, training of the new-coming pros, repairing or remoting modelling and drone dev of course. So, it has already become a new way to explore the universe and describe it to the people.
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Old 04-03-2019, 03:18 PM   #10
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AR industrial apps are in the progressive phase
Very possibly there will be soon killer apps for AR that will have users wonder "How could we do without before?". Meanwhile, it is very good to see that current software applications are already usable on AR sets, so there is the benefit of a quasi-seamless continuity in the two worlds of mobile and augmented reality applications.
Also, it is very good that we are starting to see implementations like the Epson Moverio, that combine quality, well thought engineering and affordability (to my research, this product is the first one, and to my experience, it is a success). Without this, technology cannot soar.
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Old 04-05-2019, 10:12 AM   #11
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Mdp's reconstruction pics are extremely accurate when using an inverted colour scheme
But I compromised in making a few details precise, I wanted to give a fair idea without spending the effort needed to make it a fully faithful reconstruction.

Do you also have the display contents alternating focus and out-of-focus?
As in "Do you also have the display contents"
where with black I meant "in focus" and with grey "out of focus".

And the areas out of focus become in focus (while others lose it) if you move the glasses farther or closer or if you pan them to the left or right.
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Old 04-23-2019, 10:12 AM   #12
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Sorry for the late reply but yes there is a bit of that effect more near the edges of the display. Overall I didn't really notice it.

You were able to walk and read at the same time? I found I couldn't. sitting down outside reading or looking out a window was good though.
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Old 05-26-2019, 09:02 AM   #13
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Sorry for the late reply but yes there is a bit of that effect more near the edges of the display. Overall I didn't really notice it
(No prob.) I suspect it must be something with individual eyes.

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You were able to walk and read at the same time? I found I couldn't. sitting down outside reading or looking out a window was good though.
It's the opposite for me: I find the quality optimal as I read while walking. What I really experienced unnatural is to use them while sitting in the dark.
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Old 06-10-2019, 12:48 PM   #14
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A new way to read -- with a face mounted display

I found MobileRead by googling moverio and book reading.

The comments on this thread are very interesting!!

Motion sickness is often caused by discordant information on where your head is relation to your body and the world. When you are reading with a virtual image device -- like the Moverio[TM Epson] -- the page image moves exactly with your head -- against a real-world background. If most of the field of view is real-world , the moving image reinforces the sense of where your head is in relation to your body and the world -- and produces a mildly pleasurable sensation. For me, it worked when I rotated my head from side to side at about .5 to .3 Hz. [I was using a gadget that I made myself -- for another purpose] I suspect that , like motion sickness , the effect is very variable from person to person . If the effect is real and widespread , it may make reading more enjoyable -- with special benefit for those who are chronically or temporarily mobility impaired. Maybe people who have a Moverio or a similar device can make "Virtual Swing" parties to test the extent of this phenomenon

Reading with Moverio or other suitable Face Mounted Display [FMD] enables reading with both hands free -- to eat , knit, read instructions and work with your hands -- or maybe even nurse a baby.

It also lets you read in the dark without disturbing others -- or read where there is no space to hold a book -- like a crowded subway or sleeping bag.

It makes possible reading with very bright imagery -- which is important for older people -- while not requiring high power lamps -- which might also be disturbing to others nearby.

It may allow reading in cars or other situations where there is too much vibration -- if there is a comfortable -- maybe personalized --nose-piece.

Another advantage is that you can read with your eyes focused at a distance -- instead of close up -- which may be beneficial in reducing the tendency for book reading intensive people to develop myopia .

Epson Moverio is not intended primarily for reading -- though its OLED micro-displays have full color pixels that are theoretically only 1 minute of arc on a side when viewed through their optics. The actual image quality probably depends on exactly where the user's eyes are in relation to the system optics -- which depends on their interpupilary distance and the distance of their eyes from the see-through screen. It probably also depends on whether they are looking at the center of the page image or the corner and whether the image is black text on a white background , or vice versa -- or colored . Someone with a moverio might like to run a resolution test with a resolution test target on the screen.

Moverio's see-thru optics and the need to see imagery against a bright sky background make it relatively power hungry. A system designed primarily for reading -- and not see through -- could be extremely efficient in energy use --and very good for back packers and people who are off the grid.

I am working on the development of something I call the Personal Reader[TM]. At this point it looks like we can make a 50 gram device that enables you to read with both eyes for hours at a time without eyestrain The images are sharp, clear i-pad/page size/ portrait oriented and full color. The best compromise at this point appears to be the equivalent of a 8x6 inch information area at 50 cm -- or about a 10 inch 28 degree diagonal.
The 50 cm reading distance is based on what people choose when they are looking forward, reading 10 point type and the screen or page image is decoupled from the need to hold something in their hand.

[When people hold printed documents in their hands they average about 40 cm]

Devices with both larger and smaller angular page sizes will probably also be developed.

It should also fit in a shirt pocket and cost on the order of $50-200 -- depending on production volume and the cost of suitable micro-display.

It needs only one microdisplay for bi-ocular imagery and both Epson & Sony already have the technology to make the kind of microdisplay that we need -- at least for starters. Our system is designed so that the micro-display can be upgraded /replaced as better versions become available or if there is "burnout" when used in very high brightness modes.

Our system can also be used as a passive microscope --and can be used to read microfiche on ambient light. The result is that it can be used on the Sabbath by Sabbath Observant Jews -- for reading books on microfiche.

If you would like to see a published, one page poster from a SID Dresden 2017 Europe conference on this-- with an update to this month -- -- I would be glad to send it to you as an attachment [avshadler@yahoo.com]
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Old 06-16-2019, 12:13 PM   #15
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50cm is far to far for less than 14 pt!
40cm is about right.
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