With many augmented reality and virtual reality headsets showing images in a “flat” and unnatural way, as opposed to the the way the human eyes see images in the real world, a solution to solve this problem has arrived, and as you’ll see in the video below, it’s quite remarkable!
CREAL has developed a patented AR (Augmented Reality) light field micro-display technology stack, enabling a pair of glasses to uniquely project images into the eye providing correct depth perception.
By enabling continuous focus, from up-close to infinity, to match the real world depth, CREAL’s technology enables a much-needed natural and healthy visual experience with no trade-off on image quality, computational requirements or system architecture.
The company’s video below is a clear demonstration of the technology at work, which has been developed over the last six years, and with the tech commercially available for licensing and manufacturing from early 2024, the AR display technology enables headset makers to develop AR glasses that uniquely provide correct depth perception to users.
Once you seen the demo video below, it seems obvious that future augmented reality headsets will use this tech to bring our sci-fi enhanced expectations into reality, so let’s see the video in question, with my video interview with the CEO and Co-Founder of CREAL, Dr Tomas Sluka, further below:
Further information from CREAL is below, but let’s take a look at that video interview with Dr Tomas Sluka from late September 2023 to learn more!
So, what makes CREAL technology different to what’s already available?
The company explains its light field tech is very different from the standard ‘flat’ images provided by current displays on the market, and notes that “light field-based content has real-world depth, even if viewed by a single eye.”
CREAL further notes that it has developed a patented AR light field micro-display technology stack combining licensable hardware and software, and that “unlike current 3D displays which present two flat-screen images each to one eye, light field recreates the light rays as they exist in the real world, creating an incredibly realistic image with true depth and top quality.”
The company says its light field technology is used with a combiner (no waveguides needed), a simple-to-apply thin holographic film laminated onto a standard or prescription lens.
The light field display technology also removes the main sources of eye-strain, eye-fatigue, and nausea that are so commonly experienced with AR and VR headsets today.
Indeed, we are told that “sSeveral leading AR glasses and headset ODM’s are currently evaluating CREAL technology for their next-generation designs, expected to become commercially available in 2024”, and given the clearly visible benefits of CREAL’s solution, it’s obvious you’d want your future headset to work this way when displaying images to your eyes.
That’s because AR headsets available on the market today can’t display close-up content painlessly due to the so-called ‘vergence accommodation conflict’ as well as focal rivalry, which as CREAL explains are known visual problems endemic to the entire AR and VR market.
As a result, CREAL notes “all AR content is recommended by the headset makers to be displayed at a distance significantly distant from the user’s eyes, which is totally antithetical to real-world viewing. Our eyes evolved with the ability to focus to less than 20 cm for that very reason.”
Dr. Tomas Sluka, CREAL’s co-founder and CEO said: “By enabling continuous focus from up-close to infinity – matching the real world depth perceived by users – CREAL enables a natural and healthy visual experience with no substantial trade-offs regarding image quality, computational requirements or system architecture (unlike competing solutions).”
CREAL has now raised a total aggregate funding of $18M US, with a team of 30 people worldwide. Participating VC firms include Swisscom Ventures, Verve Ventures and DAA Capital Partners, with the company now opening up a new round of funding for interested worldwide capital funds.
Here is a summary of the topics we spoke about:
– I started by introducing Dr Tomas Sluka, asking him to explain what augmented reality is, and what the current problems are in display it on existing headsets.
– Tomas then explained the CREAL solution and why it is different, while also explaining how the images are projected so your eyes can see them in a much more natural manner.
– Clarifying that CREAL doesn’t make its own headsets but partners with headset manufacturers, while also wondering whether Apple’s Vision Pro headset can do the same kind of thing, Dr Sluka explained when we might see the technology commercialised in products people can buy.
– Tomas shared what the journey of creating CREAL has been like, and the company’s plans for further investment.
– I then asked what CREAL stands for, and how Dr Sluka and his co-founder came up with the idea to create CREAL technology, after which he shared how he thinks the technology will evolve over the next couple of years.
– Tomas then shared memories of his first computer, the first headset he remembers trying, great advice received in life, and his final message to the viewers and readers.
So, please watch the videos above and below to learn more!
Here is CREAL’s technology explainer video:
Here is Dr Tomas Sluka’s talk at Techblick AR, VR, and MR Vision Systems, titled: “Advances in light field display”:
