Dycus wrote:The screen size is limited by the magnification. We could use a 4.8" screen if we had higher magnification lenses. Problem with that is then the exit pupil gets smaller and you get more distortion. Plus, there aren't even lenses like that yet.
The perfect screen size would be of an aspect ratio they don't mass produce yet. At 16:9, though, 7" is great.
Getting slightly OT, but:
Using single lens / current Rift design; perhaps. However, my view, building LEEP style plastics optics for anything UNDER 5.8" is easy enough - down to about 1.5" - aiming for an exit pupil of 30mm+
The reason the 5.8's are so good is that the IPD is already near perfect average.
A single 4.8" screen would have an almost unusable IPD of about 5.3cm (vs current 6.4cm) 2 screens of 4.8", in portrait, bring a side by side IPD down to a workable minimum 5.9cm.
(As I already have a head big enough for two side by side current 5.8 screen, for me this is moot - and the aspect ration detracts from the immersion)
However, the reason I wanted these screens is that they are the first small HD screens to do 120hz - this means I could build 3 in portrait running Nvidia surround in 3D with shutter glasses built into the helmet design. I made a 3 portrait mono rig with the current screens but it was A) bulky and B) Not 3D (though 30hz 3D possible it stinks)
Also, I would say a 7" screen is too big for comfortable side by side, unless you have a gargantuan planetoid of a head. Natural IPD of 7" diagonal screen is 7.7cm
Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pupillary_distance &
http://www.prinds.com/tools/screenDimensions.htm