Infinitx D - Crowdsourcing a new Curved Surround Display.

[theMightyAtom]

Being brutally realistic, the price point would be around $3000, given current component prices.
That's still less than half the price of say, an Ostendo http://gizmodo.com/5411486/ostendos-crazy-curved-monitor-can-finally-be-yours-for-6500?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+gizmodo/full+(Gizmodo)&utm_content=Google+Reader
...and over double the size.

To drive the price further downwards would require a large scale production, and with it some substantial investment.
Kickstarter would be a cool option, if only we were based in the UK or US. They don't currently accept applications from anywhere else.

LED/laser projector prices will fall and resolutions will increase, making it a more attractive proposition as time goes on.

Should anyone require one straight away, we have the facility to build them to order, in regular arc shapes from 60 to 360 degrees.
Just drop me a line

Cheers!

[BHawthorne]

What is the optimal arc for a wide screen gaming display? (Should there be different options?)
Needs to be divisible into 360. There are several reason for that. 360 / 2 = 180, 360 / 3 = 120, 360 / 4 = 90. I suggest 115 degrees per screen for those that might use 3 for a "full" FOV setup with flight sims and want a entry/exit space.

Is stereoscopic 3D important to gamers? (Does anyone actually use it?)
Is it important? No. Do people use it? Yes. Whether it's used or not should be measured on if it's an undue burden to unit cost to add it.

What’s the maximum acceptable physical size for such a display?
I'm bias to wall height panel units at 90" maximum height. Maximum outer box dimension of 10 foot width to fit into most regular rooms.

What should it cost? There are several places where it’s possible to compromise on materials and components. Which weighs heavier, the price or the output image quality?
My personal suggestion would be the baseline for the design be 3x1P. Pixel height is very important. 1280 or 1920 pixel height on the setup would be an excellent target considering PPI projectors have to deal with. 3x1P should be achievable @ 115 degrees with three projectors. It's up to you to work the engineering particulars to assure the projectors work in portrait mode with proper thermals. Since the design is custom the only question is it plausible to source the projectors affordably for that end use?

Should the screen be self assembly (think IKEA) of ready to rock?
Self assembly because the cost to ship will kill it otherwise.

Is portability a factor that should be considered? Should you be able to pack the screen down either for travel or storage?
Yes, and this plays directly into shipping too.

What’s most important, a display which is “true to life” (geometrically) or one that gives you the biggest advantage over your competitors?
Neither, what is most important is to produce something that most people can use within a standard room in a FOV divisible by 360.

Should the projectors be removable for use interdependently or in other setups?
No, that is outside of the scope of the design.

Frankly, I don't see how you're going to pull this off without pre-warping to maintain calibration. If you'd like to work an OEM agreement for a custom version of Nthusim, get ahold of me via PM and we can work details.

[Turbomipper_NL]

[quote="BHawthorne"][/quote]

I second that!
Saves a lot of typing

[Downtown1]

I'm really trying to be constructive here when I say this.. 2880x900 ? I have more pixels on my Nexus 10.

If you were selling this 5 years ago, I'm sure this would be fine, but please get your resolution up before this can be considered as a legitimate enthusiast product.

[theMightyAtom]

The only limit on resolution is how much you want to spend, and what projectors are available.
I'm not sure there is an enthusiast gamer market if the projectors alone cost $3300 (for example 3 BenQ W1080ST), or at least not for a desktop sized surround screen. With bigger set-ups, car and plane sims, you are getting a lot more screen for the same money, from the same hardware. This market is restricted by how much space you are willing to dedicate to such a set-up.

Our first model is 200cm x 100cm, and can be delivered in either 2560 x 800 or 3840 x 1080
It's 120 degrees and made to match the output from a GoPro.

[Randomoneh]

So VFOV is ~55, right?

[theMightyAtom]

That depends on your source material. If you are running 2:1 ratio, then it's up to 60 degrees.

[Randomoneh]

That depends on your source material. If you are running 2:1 ratio, then it's up to 60 degrees.

Wait, this is a cylindrical, not spherical display, right? It's curved horizontally but not vertically.
If that's the case, it can't be 120 HFOV and 60 VFOV. Horizontally, relation between size and FOV is linear but vertically it isn't.

[theMightyAtom]

If your source is a fisheye, then FOV's are proportional at the center line, though this would depend on the lens, whether real or virtual.
For example the GoPro black edition has a VFOV of 93 degrees, and a HFOV of 121 degrees, despite having a 16:9 output, which logically would give you a 68 degree VFOV (121/16 x 9 = 68 degrees). When we remap that to cylindrical, the HFOV and VFOV are maintained on the centerline and horizon.

Demo's to come

[theMightyAtom]

It's been a while.
During the summer we finished the second prototype. The conclusion was, it's close, but no cigar just yet.
Here's a couple of videos of the construction and the finished screen.
Apologies with the first timelapse, I left the display on on the GoPro and it ran out of battery without me noticing.

Construction:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-lperdGeXY&feature=c4-overview&list=UUdfmUD5q097W2hrLEzQGvuA

Live Demo:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bi6mXSgUar0&list=UUdfmUD5q097W2hrLEzQGvuA

The screen material we'd banked on just wasn't up to the job.
First of all it was glossy, as i usually prefer glossy screens. But in our particular design that was a mistake, as the screen ends up reflecting itself. So next time it will be a matt, none reflective finish.

Blending. You will notice on the video that there is a line clearly visible where the 2 projectors meet.
It's always been our goal to blend without software, but here we must admit defeat so far. In the next prototype there will be more overlap and we will also employ software if necessary to completely hide the join.

There were a lot of lessons learned and we look forward to putting them into practice in the next iteration.
Watch this space!

As always thanks for all your input

Cheers!

[Haldi]

Cool timelaps Video! To bad it did run out of battery.

And +1 for the matt screen!