Brother Industries, Ltd. (President, Toshikazu Koike) has announced that it has named the mobile spectacle-type wearable Retinal Imaging Display (RID)(*) “AiRScouterTM ” which will be launched in the 2010 fiscal year.

“Air” is a key word to express the RID which is ethereally lightweight and easy to wear, shows an object as if it is floating in the air. This name “AiRScouterTM ” was created by combining “scout” which originally means “a person who gets information” with the key word “air”. “scout” matches the concept of RID which provides useful information at the place where a user is located.

Moreover, AiR implies meaning of AR(augmented-reality) as the RID is a suitable display for AR technology which combines reality and virtual.

(*): The RID is a display that focuses light, of an intensity harmless to the eyes, onto the retina and then moves the light at high speed to create afterimages.Images projected onto the retina appear as if they existed in front of the user.

The newest prototype will be exhibited at “Brother World JAPAN 2010″ which will be held in Tokyo, Japan by Brother Sales, Ltd., (President, S Katayama)on Sep 15.

Compared to the prototype announced on Oct 20 2009, this prototype shows image more clearly with a redesigned optical scanning system which improves image quality.In addition, the new prototype has an upgraded design which allows it to attach a micro camera for practical use.

Feature of AiRScouterTM
1. The transparent display enables users to see the images without affecting the visual field.
2. Users can view private images and confidential data at anywhere.
3. Even though the is small and lightweight, users can view images on a virtual large screen anytime, anywhere. (16 square inches screen viewed in 1m ahead)
4. Due to this eyeglass-shaped wearable design, it enables users to read documents such as operation manuals at the narrow spaces, or to be hands-free when they want to use both hands.