Computing is undergoing the biggest revolution since it went mobile. Innovative companies of all sizes are building hardware and software technologies to enable the next frontier in computing: spatial computing.
Spatial computing will move our interaction with information from small, handheld screens to immersive experiences right in our field of view. This emerging technology has been in the works for years, but the industry has yet to turn its future promise into everyday reality.
Spatial computing utilizes augmented reality (AR) to render images that interact with and enhance the physical world. Leveraging AI, spatial computing can provide new visual search capabilities to enhanced navigation tools. It has the potential to advance design and manufacturing, boost productivity, deliver significant improvements in medical, accessibility and inclusivity, and transform everyday interactions like entertainment and shopping. .
The promise of spatial computing is strong, but the current evolution of the technology has not yet achieved widespread adoption. There are several pain points deterring consumers. Many existing products’ form factor limitations affect practical usability and user experience such as size, weight, comfort and image quality. AR glasses and headsets on the market are also not as stylish as regular glasses. Functionality has not hit optimal performance either, with limited display capabilities and users experiencing nausea with vergence accommodation conflict. The technology just hasn’t been ready to deliver a seamless user experience that feels like an extension of the real world.
To truly catapult us into the next era of computing, AR technology needs to address several critical elements for practical usability. Swave Photonics’ HXR is the only technology that has developed viable strategies to address the needs for a desirable AR experience.
Size
Seamless integration into daily life will require glasses that a consumer would wear without hesitation — stylish and sized similarly to eyewear already on the market, such as eyeglasses and sunglasses. For this to be possible, the hardware needs to be compact and able to fit into a small form factor. Swave’s HXR Spatial Light Modulator (SLM) utilizes the world’s smallest NanoPixel, a pixel smaller than light, which drives array sizes of less than 5mm x 5mm. By significantly reducing the bulkiness and unattractiveness, Swave’s technology allows glasses to keep their size and weight.
Weight
A majority of eyeglasses weigh 25 to 50 grams. Leading headsets weigh up to 650 grams — heavier than a basketball. That’s a big jump! Consumers want to limit the amount of extra weight added to their heads. The overall small size of HXR NanoPixel helps keep weight low. The Swave HXR SLM is one of the only AR technologies that does not require a waveguide, reducing overall weight. Additionally, the technology’s low power strategies reduce overall weight by limiting battery requirements.
Thermals
Swave HXR’s design offers notable advantages in thermal management and efficiency. Unlike conventional display technology that wastes unused light, HXR is a beam steering technology that directs all light precisely where it is needed, resulting in lower heat generation and improved thermal performance. The bistable nature of the NanoPixel reduces the total power requirement with the ability to be set on or off without the need to refresh it.
Brightness
High brightness levels improve the clarity of virtual elements overlaid on the real world. Thanks to its beam steering approach, Swave HXR ensures that all the light produced is utilized effectively and used only where required, and that the HXR display is bright enough to see in any ambient environment while saving power through its efficient approach. AR glasses are meant to be used in a wide range of environments and sufficient brightness ensures usability.
Image Quality
As with any display technology, image quality is a cornerstone of the user experience. There are four sub-elements that make up image quality:
Contrast
High contrast helps make virtual objects and text graphics more distinguishable. This is especially important in varying light conditions. HXR light steering and holographic algorithms ensure a practical, usable level of contrast is available resulting in crisp, clear images.
Resolution
Higher resolution provides clearer and more detailed images, which makes virtual objects and information overlaid on the real world look sharper and more realistic. This adds precision to tasks such as reading small text or interacting with detailed visual elements. Because the NanoPixel is so small and densely packed, you can fit a large amount of them into the SLM. Swave’s first HXR device has a quarter billion NanoPixels enabling retina-resolution images for 20/20 vision.
Field of view
A wider field of view allows virtual elements to feel more integrated with the real world. This enhances immersion, making the AR experience more natural and engaging. With a pixel pitch of less than 300nm, the HXR SLM provides large fields of view for comfortable user interfaces that do not obstruct the viewer’s view enabling a reality-first user experience.
Image defect avoidance
It is challenging to perfectly yield millions of pixels. Standard display devices like Liquid Crystal on Silicon (LCOS) and Digital Light Processing (DLP) can suffer from defective pixels leading to diminished image quality. HXR provides a different approach with a holographic pixel that uses light diffraction to display images. This method spreads and hides the pixel defects effectively rendering them invisible to the human eye.
Image Depth
For AR to be fully immersive, the virtual world needs to blend seamlessly with the 3D physical world. Digital augmentations need to appear at the same depth as the real-world object they refer to. For instance, if a sign in the distance needs to be translated, the translation needs to be displayed at the same depth as the sign. Holography allows a natural interaction with the right depth. Swave HXR is the only holographic SLM capable of this.
Easy on the Eyes and Brain
The eyes and brain have evolved over hundreds of thousands of years to be able to interpret depth cues like vergence and accommodation from real life. Without the ability to display at correct depth, it is difficult on the eyes and brain to interpret the image, causing physical effects like nausea and fatigue. Unlike AR products on the market that give users these symptoms, HXR uses holography to present the depth cues exactly as they would be in real life, making the resulting images easy on the eyes and brain.
Natively Compatible with Prescription Lenses
Being able to wear AR glasses with prescription glasses is important to a large portion of users. With AR glasses, both reality and virtual digital augmentations need prescriptive treatment. With HXR technology, you keep your normal prescription for seeing reality, and the digital world is brought into focus by software. With HXR holographic technology, wearing glasses is as simple as entering your prescription parameters during original configuration or at a later date as needed.
Swave HXR will allow the Future of Computing
Spatial computing represents the cutting edge of how we interact with technology and information, pushing the boundaries of digital and physical integration. At the forefront of this evolution is AR display technology.
Swave’s HXR chipset platform is demonstrating groundbreaking advancements, and stands out by overcoming many of the persistent challenges currently faced in the AR market. This platform’s advanced holographic design addresses all eight critical factors of AR spatial computing usability. By addressing key usability issues, the HXR chipset has the potential to transcend the existing limitations of spatial computing, setting new standards and paving the way for the next generation of AR applications.