When it comes to virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) hardware tends to be big and bulky, however Kopin wants to change this by making smaller chips made for VR and AR. VRFocus spoke to Stuart Nixdorff, Senior Vice President of Kopin, about how their engineers are designing ultra-small 4K display chip as well as their head mounted display (HMD) called Elf VR.
Kopin’s products range from ultra-small displays, optics and speed enhancement technology, to head-gesture command, low-power ASIC’s, packaging and system reference designs. Their costumers range from consumers to enterprise, as well as military. Nixdorff explains that they’re very much like Intel, working on core display and component technologies.
Kopin’s presence at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) 2017 means that they are interested in working together with developers working in the videogame industry throughout North America. Nixdorff explains that the Elf VR HMD is open to the first hundred developers as well as OEM companies, with no public pricing. He showcases their small chip in the video and explains how Elf VR has a small component new display technology that is capable of 4K displays and only an inch in size. He claims that the chip can significantly increase the resolution of the display inside the HMD. When asked which companies Kopin are working together with Nixdorff says various companies from the US, Europe and Asia.
The Elf VR has no AR capabilities, however Nixdorff says that Kopin engineers are busy trying to make both VR and AR more accessible to consumers by making consumer hardware products smaller, lighter and easier form factors. He explains that both the Oculus and HTC Vive developer kit was bulky and large in size, whilst Elf VR is their first developer kit and significantly smaller in size.
Whilst this video was made at E3, Elf VR has been shipping over the summer and will be coming out early 2018. Kopin will be at CES 2018, Las Vegas, next month, with various products in both VR, AR and audio. VRFocus will keep you up to date on the company’s latest products, but to find out more watch the video below.