Eccescopy, part 10

Head mounted displays are usually clunky, because they are designed as research instruments. Here, for example, is a perfectly functional virtual reality device that you would probably not want to use at home:

 

It’s pretty clear that an eccescopic populace would need something a lot less bulky and intrusive. The following device by Vuzix is a lot closer:

 

But it’s still not quite there, for at least two reasons: (1) The device doesn’t let you see the actual reality around you, and (2) When you are wearing it, people can’t establish eye contact with you.

The first problem could be tackled by installing little outward-looking video cameras (in fact Vuzix makes just such a product), but that not only degrades one’s view of the actual world, but it makes the second problem worse — with the cameras attached, the user ends up looking like some sort of scary cyber-martian:

 

There are head-mounted devices that let you look through them, so you can see the real world while also looking at cyber-enhancements. One of these is by Nomad, from Virtual Realities, Inc::

 

It’s a very impressive machine, but it’s not going to be winning consumer fashion contests any time soon. Much closer to the mark, in terms of something one might actually wear, is the Brother Airscouter:

 

How far off is this form factor from what is required, to enable an eccescopic world? That’s a topic for next time.