A 2″ conventional LCD panel is not appropriate as an augmented reality device since the user can not look at the device and the real world at the same time. Real mobile augmented reality applications require see-through eyewear display companions to the mobile phone.

My company, Microvision, is developing Color Eyewear as a see-through companion display for mobile phones. Analogous to a Bluetooth earbud for audio, Color Eyewear extends the video capabilities of your phone, allowing you to access your personal content and applications while walking around and engaging with the world.

To achieve this, we’re developing a disruptive optical technology that’s extremely thin and lightweight and will help us overcome the really stringent fashion and ergonomic constraints that have been inhibitive to adoption of other head-worn displays. Likewise, our laser-based technology enables a see-through, daylight readable image with brilliant color that competitors will be hard-pressed to match.

We feel that with the increased adoption of 3G networks and the emergence of new mobile applications such as location-based services, that the display interface to the handset will need a revolution — the 2″ LCD display just can’t deliver the kinds of digital experiences that these new networks can accomodate.

As a result, we’re designing our embedded laser projector module (called PicoP) to enable a big-screen shared experience for viewing mobile multimedia, and our Color Eyewear platform for personal viewing and enhanced mobility.

There are some interesting synergies between these two platforms — I can imagine displaying a PowerPoint presentation on my phone’s laser projector while reading notes on my Eyewear, or receiving instant messages from a co-worker with (hopefully!) helpful suggestions.

It’s really a limitless opportunity for Microvision — our miniature laser projection modules can enable some pretty disruptive new products, and we’re working hard with some very large, well-respected industry partners to bring these to market.