Weight/Comfort: The Wide5 is primarily constructed out of carbon fiber, with a plastic frame to support the carbon fiber sheets. It weighs less than a kilogram, and while I know an entire kilogram sounds can sound like a lot, I have to say that this is one of the most comfortable HMDs I have ever worn! The weight is very evenly distributed, with no single part weighing a significant amount. The effect could be described as similar to having a large box full of foam peanuts, and a smaller box full of metal screws. While they may weigh similar amounts, one of them feels much lighter, and is easier to spin around.
The front of the HMD is very lightweight, and because of that, does not really need a counter weight. The frame does, however, have a carbon fiber rod that extends out the back and carries the cable. This balancing act means that all of the weight is centered on the top of your head, where you feel it the least.
All of the straps are lightly cushioned with breathable fabric covered foam, similar to what you see in bicycle helmets. The ratchets allow you to adjust it very quickly and easily to fit any head size. The lenses of the unit are a comfortable distance away from your eyes, and can be used with even very large glasses.
Driving the unit is a backpack driver box that controls the Wide5. It takes a single custom DVI input, and the guts convert it into the distorted image that the Wide5 HMD unit needs.
Optics/Resolution: I should not talk about the hard tech specs, unfortunately. I can, however, talk about perception of them as by an end user!
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif)
Field of view: This is where the Wide5 really shines. It has a horizontal FOV of over 150 degrees, and a vertical FOV of about 130 (Completely covers vertical FOV). The effect of a FOV this large will be covered in another thread (Will edit a link in here when I write it) is hard to even convey. The image ENGULFS you! Most HMDs try to emulate a large television screen, at distances of no further than 12 feet. Has anyone here used a fresnel setup, and felt the effects of the immersion that being able to focus and converge into the vast distance gives you? When you look off a bridge, across a river and on to the snowcapped peaks in the distance, you feel like you are THERE! Your eyes focus as they would really looking at something that far away, and the convergence is near parallel.
I will cover this more later, since it is more related to the software side, but read this article on orthostereo if you have not: http://www.leepvr.com/37spie1990.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Orthostereo is, basically, the idea that what you see in the HMD perfectly matches what you would see in real life. Angles, rotation, etc. You can sort of get an idea of it by feeding a low FOV HMD a rendered image of 35 degrees or so with head tracking, but that is far too narrow to feel any immersion. When you have over 150 degrees to play with, there is no such limitation! Objects look exactly the same size they would in real life; Walk up to an armored humvee, and it has the same imposing presence it would in real life. Another virtual body waves their gun in your face, and you become genuinely concerned for the safety of your eyes. There is no concept of "screen depth" or "out of screen effects", it is just THERE, as it would be in real life.
Price: You essentially cannot buy one. At one point, several years ago I believe, a member here got a price of $35,000 quoted, but even if you had that money in hand, you would not be able to buy one. At the moment (As far as I know), there are no spare units just lying around waiting to be sold, so it would have to be a custom order.
I think that pretty much covers it! If you have any questions, please ask them, I will answer if I can.
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif)
Oh! Pictures! This fake head is a bit small, so if you are thinking "Hey, the lenses are too high!", keep in mind that it is an itty bitty foam head.
![Image](https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/302365_2283418919306_1063830478_32602220_688781033_n.jpg)
![Image](https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/313969_2283419119311_1063830478_32602221_842435542_n.jpg)
![Image](https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/318408_2283419279315_1063830478_32602222_552018370_n.jpg)
![Image](https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/298202_2283420039334_1063830478_32602224_778364832_n.jpg)
![Image](https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/318516_2283420119336_1063830478_32602225_119768902_n.jpg)
![Image](https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/312448_2283420239339_1063830478_32602226_1582085815_n.jpg)
Wow, especially that last pic shows how small the foam head is. See how far out the strap sticks?
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
Archive note: If these image links break, even if years in the future, please PM or email me so I can fix them.