Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!zephyr.ens.tek.com!tekgen!tekigm2!krisk
From: krisk@tekigm2.MEN.TEK.COM (Kristine L. Kaliszewski)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Private Eye
Keywords: small display
Message-ID: <7477@tekigm2.MEN.TEK.COM>
Date: 6 Dec 89 17:34:57 GMT
Organization: Tektronix Inc., Beaverton, Or.
Lines: 33

I got so much mail that I decided the response was good enough for me to
assume the Private Eye was of enough interest to others to post it on the
net.

The Private Eye sits on your head like a large set of earphones or a headset.
The display/screen is about 2"x2" and sits in front of one eye.  This can be
adjusted for focus distance and up and down if you want to be able to look at
other things.  The headset is then connect to the hardware/software "instrument"
by a cable.  This means your are limited in movement.  The prototype I've used
is unbalanced and heavy, but they are supposed to be working on that.  The
screen has good resolution, even for text, but I personally have trouble using
it.  They claim anyone can get used to it easily.  My eye feels strained and
it gets tired easily.  I haven't used it for hours on end either, though.  Other
people here had no trouble with it, maybe they knew how to adjust it better,
but they also never used it for hours.  I would personally worry about the
effects on your eyes (but then monitors are great either :-) )  The display does
seem to appear to be the size of a normal sreen.  The color of ours is red and
that doesn't seem to be too hard on the eyes.  It's also quite bright.  The
headset could be more comfortable, but then they've said they're working on that
The price for a starter kit seems to be $500 (cable, headseat, display, video
adapter board, installation documentation and software and programmer's guide)
but that was only up until 10/31, so I don't know what the price is now.  We
also were quoted $1500 for the simulator board and software.  I don't know if
this is different than that which is in the Starter Kit or not.  It didn't
include the display or anything.  I don't know what the display alone or the
Starter Kit is costing now.

If anyone has anymore questions, please feel free to contact me.  I have some
literature, so if you want technical info (speed, bit resolution, etc.) I can
look it up for you.

Kristine
krisk@tekigm2.men.tek.com