**Title:** A Test Run of Using a Transparent OLED for Wearable Display
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After the emergence of affordable transparent OLED displays in the market, there has been a growing interest in utilizing them to create wearable displays that are cost-effective compared to the pricier commercial options. However, in a bid to prevent enthusiasts from being let down by the difficulties that may arise from such a venture, Zach Freedman decided to take on the challenge himself and shed light on why crafting transparent wearable displays is more challenging than it seems.
Zach constructed a headband with an integrated microcontroller to support the transparent panel placed in front of the eye. While wearing it, anything displayed on the screen appeared virtually invisible, with only a subtle glow visible, making it arduous to discern. Many presume that the toughest aspect of wearable displays lies in the display panel itself, but in reality, it’s the optics that present the biggest hurdle. Zach elaborates on the physical limitations of the human eye regarding focusing on objects at such close proximity in a video shared later on, offering a comprehensive overview of optics in the process. To ensure a wearable display functions effectively, all light beams emitted by the display must be efficiently directed into the eye by lenses and/or reflectors without distorting the wearer’s view of the surroundings. This demands the use of lightweight and distortion-free collimators and beam splitters, which tend to be costly and intricate to fabricate.
Although these transparent OLEDs may not be ideal for practical heads-up displays, they do hold potential for exciting applications such as volumetric displays. Crafting your own smart glasses or augmented reality eyewear is indeed feasible, but the key lies in perfecting the optical components.
**Image Source:** Gizmochina
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**Embed Link:** [View the video here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZZ-Ea8RyjQ)
