Verifocal Kit by Lemnis Technology
A CES 2019 Innovation Award Winner
Verifocal Kit by Lemnis Technology is a XR platform and headset created to reduce user discomfort while in XR experiences. The headset uses eye tracking technology to measure where the eye is looking and how it is focusing. This allows the headset to adjust the lenses to help the eyes focus on that area and blur the other areas similar to the behavior of eyes in real life. This creates a better depth of field for the user and reduces the vergence-accommodation conflict (getting sick, dizzy, disoriented, due to extended exposer to VR experiences that disorient your natural balance and sense of the world).
The “dynamic focus and large field-of-view in compact head-mounted displays” offered by the Verifocal Kit, helps reduce eye strain, headaches, and nausea-symptoms commonly resulting after VR experiences. The adjusting lenses also eliminate the need for corrective lenses.
The Verifocal Kit shows promise, but still needs to be improved before bringing the technology to consumers. According to a prototype test by Ian Hamilton at CES 2019, the lens adjustments in the Verifocal Kit currently produce a distracting noise while in a VR experience. While they do improve depth a field, enhancing VR experience, the mechanical noise produced pulls the user back out from the immersive experience. However, Lemnis is working to improve this by using liquid lenses in a R&D prototype; which Hamilton was also able to try out. This prototype had a smaller field of view, but eliminated the audible adjustments of the Verifocal Kit lenses.
According to Hamilton’s article, Lemnis is also working on a third prototype, this headset provided a “spot on” on experience with AR.
“The sense of depth seen in the world around me appeared spot on as I moved my hand through a floating solar system that was inserted into my view of the real world. I also touched objects in the real world shown where I expected them to be.”
Currently, there are only a few other headsets integrating the adaptive eye tracking and lens adjustment technology. The main competition is Oculus’ Half Dome. However, this project does not seem to be as far along as the R&D happening at Lemnis. The last media update was released in May 2018 at Display Week 2018. According to the presentation, it seems the Half Dome is also facing noise issues when the lenses adjust.
The product, Verifocal by Lemnis Technology, has a likelihood of success. The Verifocal Kit represents one of the biggest improvement to XR experiences to reduce the eye strain, headaches, and nausea, commonly resulting from VR experiences. Their three prototypes approach the depth of field issues from different angles, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. Going forward, if Lemnis can produce a prototype that combines the strengths of the three prototypes into a new version, they would be set up for great success at CES 2020.
Will Lemnis be around in 10 years? 5? I would be inclined to say probably not. With the rapid advancements being made in the XR space the past few years, I foresee other companies quickly catching up with Lemnis (Oculus, is already closing the distance with Half Dome). On the other hand, I could see a later version of Verifocal becoming the new standard for VR headsets. In this scenario, I think Lemnis would sell their product to the big names of the industry for use and further development, before disappearing into the woodwork.
