Ora-X headphones plus patented light guide viewer on IndiGoGo web site, Source: OptinventMonte Sereno, CA based Optinvent was at CES with its ORA-X headphone/ AR viewer. The company had a small booth in the Sands convention center, and after making the trek, we found the booth was empty. Fortunately another person, the managing director of an EU-based system integration company was also waiting and he gave us some information. I was told the Android-based ORA-X used a patented (Israeli-based) technology that was a breakthrough in its ultra thin light guide approach at just 2 to 3mm wide. Interestingly, the company web site seems to emphasize the headphones rather than the display, calling the latter a “revolutionary extra feature.” The company is accepting pre-orders on its IndiGoGo crowdsourcing site at $349 each, and has raised over $72K since November 2015. Note: that price is $250 below the stated retail price of $600.
The HD imager device includes a 22-degree FOV (or the equivalent of 70″ at 15-feet (5m)) with a 99 pixel/degree full color display with 3,000 cd/m² of brightness and 120hz refresh rate. The unit has ambient light and proximity sensors, plus nine-axis position sensing (compass, gyro, accelerometer). A 5 megapixel auto focus camera and position sensor is also on board. It’s mounted on a 180º pivoting display arm with an interactive touch pad mounted on the right earphone cover. There is a mini-USB connector for charge and sync plus an audio jack. The device is powered by Li-ion battery the company claims lasts up to 8 hours and includes a docking port for recharging. The group said manufacturing is done in Japan with final assembly in Shenzhen China. Production is scheduled for June 2016. We couldn’t get more details on the display and that patented light guide, and we have a call into the company for a future update on this.
