[simpits-tech] Disruptive tech, flight sim edition...

[geneb]

Well today I had my mind blown.  Not just a little either.  We're talking 
full skullcap separation here. :)

I've been peripherially aware of an augmented reality project called 
castAR.  I saw a still photo of it in action the other day and this caused 
me to reach out to the designer with some questions about it.

Holeeee shit.

The castAR in its most basic form is a pair of 720p pico projectors 
attached to what amounts to eyeglass frames, coupled with some glue logic 
and a TrackIR style head tracker.

The light output of the projectors is so low that you won't see the image 
they project on a normal surface.  It requires what is called a "retro 
reflective surface"  It's essentially the same thing as a theatre's 
projection screen.

Now think about this - you're in a cockpit with all these things that 
won't reflect the light from the projectors, but "outside" is this 
material.  As you move your head around, you're going to see outside 
visuals where ever the castAR output hits the screen material.  Because of 
the head tracking (accurate to .07mm apparently) you're always going to 
see the right visual.

You see why my head exploded?

Now add to the outside visuals - instead of stuffing your cockpit with 
LCDs for the various avionics displays, stuff properly sized bits of this 
reflective material where ever the instruments go.  When you're looking at 
them, you'll be seeing those glass displays where they belong.

That's why the top of my head came off. :)

This is the most disruptive technology I think I've ever seen.  This could 
single handedly revitalize the whole flight simulator genre.  From what 
I've read, adding support for castAR isn't that difficult of a programming 
challenge.  I suspect that it won't take long for Eagle Dynamics and 1C to 
add support for castAR once it hits the market.

The company is called Technical Illusions and the hardware is designed by 
Jeri Ellsworth.  The website is http://www.technicalillusions.com

They're going to be opening a Kickstarter on October 15th - I would highly 
recommend that you folks check it out when it goes up.  Come hell or high 
water, I'm going to figure out how to get my hands on a pair of these 
things as early as I can.

g.


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