MCG Reports

BACKGROUND

Enabling New Solutions with Personal Displays (a multi-client program)

Two new products are on the horizon – the Viewer Headset and the Personal TV. Over the next two years, wireless services and consumer electronics companies, in combination with personal display developers, will introduce a new generation of communications and entertainment solutions incorporating headset personal displays. By 2008, sales of such display headsets are forecasted to top $1B.

“Our industry survey found a strong commitment throughout the solutions value chain to make these consumer applications real”, reports Steve Marsland, principal researcher and author of the study Near-to-Eye Technology and Market Report, published jointly by McLaughlin Consulting Group and Insight Media. “There are two major opportunities: a monocular personal Viewer Headset peripheral for information appliances and a binocular Personal TV display.

WHO SHOULD BUY AND WHY

The report is a comprehensive tool for consumer and vertical market electronics industry professionals to understand the timing and scope of emerging opportunities and develop their company’s response to those opportunities:

• Cell phone headset makers – Understand how and when displays will be incorporated into cell phone headsets, pricing and cost impact.
• Portable DVD makers – Understand opportunities for upscale portable DVDs incorporating Personal (big-screen) TVs, pricing and cost impact.
• Big-screen TV makers – Personal (big-screen) TV peripheral creates differentiation opportunity for big-screen TV makers.
• Cell phone service providers – Higher-definition displays in headsets allows delivery of more sophisticated value-added wireless services.
• PDA makers – Viewer Headset boosts attractiveness and usefulness of PDAs, design implications.
• Personal Display makers – Understand how and when high-volume PD sales will emerge, learn success factors for the emerging PD solutions
• Microdisplay makers – Understand price and performance requirements and timing for the microdisplays to be incorporated in the new PD products

SCOPE AND QUESTIONS ADDRESSED

The study covers all applications and markets for Personal Displays, including both vertical and consumer markets, and addresses questions such as:

• What are the truly unique values of near-eye displays? Where can such values be applied in solutions to provide compelling and stunning results? What are the consumer and enterprise applications and markets for these solutions?
• What are the key components for high leverage solutions? What are the performance requirements for the display, platform, software, input devices, and content delivery network? What are the hurdles to designing and building solutions?
• What do enterprises and consumers think about the solutions? What do they think about pricing of the hardware, content, and services? How do they react to currently available hardware? What are the challenges and hurdles?
• What is required to make a major step forward in the ergonomics, user friendliness, comfort, and styling of near-eye personal displays? What will it take to assure that a consumer can easily don, adjust, and use a near eye display with immediate and long-term comfort? How can styling become a plus?
• What do users really think of best of breed solutions? Is the value compelling? What pricing will it really justify? What are the key features and benefits?

Technology Scope. The following display technologies are included:

• LCOS: Liquid crystal on silicon (including F-LCOS)
• HTPS: High temperature polysilicon (AMLCD)
• LTPS: Low temperature polysilicon (AMLCD)
• Beam-scan: Laser or optical beam-scan
• OLED: Organic light-emitting diode

Market Scope. Personal displays designed for the following market segments are included:

• Vertical markets for immersion/simulation
• Vertical markets for information and communication (infocomm) use
• Consumer markets for entertainment
• Consumer markets for information and communication (infocomm) use

Product Scope. The following types of personal displays are included:

• Binocular
• Monocular see-around
• Monocular see-through

CONTENTS

The study is 175 pages and includes:

• Detailed analysis of both the Viewer Headset and the Personal TV opportunities focusing on price-performance requirements as well as solution needs, content, channel, comfort, ergonomics, and styling.
• Analysis of other smaller consumer opportunities for personal displays
• Broad review of vertical market opportunities for personal displays for all vertical markets
• Personal display forecast including system units and revenue
• Detailed forecast of the derived market for microdisplays by definition and technology.
• Company profiles for 24 personal display and 10 microdisplay players
• Five appendixes provide detailed analysis of the related electronic viewfinder market (including forecasts and competitive analysis), personal display system basics, Personal TV price point, wireless cost and availability, and Personal Display comfort, ergonomics, and fashion.
• View the Table of Contents.

METHODOLOGY

The MCG study is based on an industry survey. Marketing and technology leaders of major players throughout the value chain were surveyed by telephone during mid 2004. The report also draws heavily on MCG’s extensive research of applications for microdisplays accumulated over the past decade. Respondents to survey included companies providing consumer solutions in information and telecommunications as well as entertainment, manufacuturers of wireless portable electronics hardware, makers of personal displays and makers of microdisplays and other key components.

FORMAT

Either printed report or .pdf file, depending on whether site license is purchased.

SUPPORT FOR PURCHASERS OF REPORT

Available from the study’s principal researcher, Steve Marsland (contact info shown below).

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

The report been developed with extensive technical and analytical support. Steve Marsland was the principal researcher and analyst. Bill Nicholson of Insight Media developed microdisplay company profiles. Chris Chinnock of Insight Media provided editorial oversight. Charles McLaughlin acted as senior author and final editor.

For more information contact Steve Marsland stevemarsland@mcgweb.com 650 588-7558

SUBSCRIPTION

ORDER INFORMATION

To order use our online order form, you may also fax a copy to us (PDF) or contact Adrienne Hefter, info@mcgweb.com, telephone 650 323 1179. MCG office hours are 9-12 and 1-5 PST.

OTHER RELATED MCG STUDIES

MCG Research on Near Eye Displays Detailed information on the 2002 near eye research completed by MCG and sponsored by the US Display Consortium is included on our website. Information of the completed study, team biographies and information are posted on the MCG website.

Microdisplay Forecast Report 2004 Detailed Forecast for all microdisplay applications including rear and front-projection TV, electronic viewfinders (EVF), personal displays and other smaller applications.