French researchers have developed “Owl Vision” technology, a helmet that allows you to see behind you without having to turn around, as if you had an owl's neck. They may have found an alternative to mirrors.
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This mask would expand our field of vision and allow us to see what is behind us without having to turn around. Imagine you are in a car, motorcycle or bicycle, and you will no longer have a blind spot. All you have to do is tilt your head slightly to the left or right, and you will see the same thing as if you had physically turned to the side.
To see what's behind you, you no longer need to twist or turn your torso. We simply look to the side, at 90 degrees, and we will see what's behind your back. In fact, the VR mask films everything around you. Then it amplifies head movements so that the image can scan everything at 360 degrees, without you having to turn around, as if you had an owl's neck.
The image is a bit distorted, it feels weird when you try to capture something, because suddenly you have a much wider field of view. But everyone who tried the mask seemed to get used to it very quickly, within minutes. They automatically adjusted their head movements. They could grab and manipulate objects in space in a completely natural way. All this is thanks to the plasticity of our brain (we have amazing adaptive skills).
The problem is that when you remove the mask, you have to take a few seconds again to readjust your senses, because you are a little disoriented. It's a French technique called “Owl vision“Owl Vision”. Developed by researchers from the National Center for Scientific Research and the University of Montpellier, it may herald the future of rear-view mirrors.
Today, it is no longer possible to drive with a VR headset; the technology must be approved and ensured to be completely safe while driving, in all conditions. But tomorrow, why not? Fighter pilots are already benefiting from augmented vision systems that improve their perception of the environment. It would also be useful, on our streets, for the safety of cyclists, for example.
