I’m Zack Freedman, part man, part Raspberry Pi! I’m writing this blog post from a wearable cyborg Raspberry Pi, or as I like to call it, Pi in the Face.
When Rob Bishop of the Raspberry Pi Foundation visited the space yesterday, he challenged the attendees to build a project using the tiny open-source computer. I decided, why not take advantage of its small size to make myself a cyborg?
Wearable technology is my main area of hacking, so I had some parts lying around. The wearable display uses the innards of a pair of MyVu Crystal video glasses – these are tricky to disassemble, so check this tutorial. You can cut off the earbuds and one microdisplay without breaking the functionality. I bent a coat hanger into a behind-the-ear mount, electrical-taped the parts in place, and viola, monocular HUD.
The brains of the operation are, of course, a RasPi. I fitted it with a 2GB micro-SD card in the excellent Quilix pIO mini-adapter, Raspbian, a Duracell phone recharger, and a cheapo mini keyboard-trackpad combo. Apart from the video cable, the system is totally wireless! I zip-tied the RasPi to my belt and the keyboard to my wrist. Everything is wearable with zip ties!
No one brought a wi-fi dongle, so no wireless intertubes. The upside is that when I wanted to go online, I could actually jack into an Ethernet port!
I built this with parts lying around, but a similar setup would cost just over $100. Not bad for a fully-functional wearable computer, especially one with connectivity and around four hours of battery! Plus, ladies love a Pi in the Face. Maker ladies, at least.
If you’re interested in wearables, cyborg tech, and augmented reality, I write about the subjects weekly on my blog. Thanks to Rob and the RasPi crew for making such a versatile micro-computer!
how practical is it, do you find the screen to be too small to do anything or do you find it to be useful. just curious because i have thought about doing this as well.
It’s not a computer substitute! Although I wrote this blog post on it, I had to spoof the mobile user agent to get the font size big enough.
However, with specially-written HUD apps designed for minimal input and big text, it could be totally usable. More hacking is needed!
Its good to see someone being creative with these things, because I thought I was the only one! So far I’ve managed to get a raspberry pi to run In a Nintendo DS system with no problems (Accept the fact that i had to remove the bottom screen and replace it with a keyboard) And I was hoping id see something like this! You’ve inspired Me and now I’m trying to fit my raspberry pi to work with a tiny screen inside my snow goggles!! Your awsome!!
Could you post somewhere how you did that because that would be amazing. I have an unused DS and the only problem is the bottom screen is caput, so that would be prefect!
Very nice project!
Can you tell me the model and manufacturer of LCD screen?
Correct me if i wrong, it’s a 1.5” right?
Thanks!
That is epic!
This is kewl!
Makes an iphone feel prehistoric!
Somehow this reminds me of Zack McKracken..are you related?
It doesn’t replace a phone… yet! I may install Android on it, though, so you never know.
Believe it or not, most Zacks are unrelated. This goes double for the fictional ones. I really do need to add Zak McKracken to my to-do list of old Sierra point-and-clicks!
Awesome, but I’ll wait for the occular implant edition
Wasn’t Zac McKracken a LucasArts game?
Love love this !!!
Hi there! Nice work! I built a very similar system for testing in the medical environment a few years ago. It also used the myvu crystal, a vga to avi adapter, and a netbook worn under the labcoat…User input via bluetooth keyboard/mousepad and for some time a wearable mouse from dealextreme. The display was encased in (cnc cut) thin sheet aluminum origami and docked to my glasses magnetically for inconspicuous use (could be taken off when speaking to patients or staff). In use I found myself extremely annoyed by the (display)cable, and the limited resolution- although to my knowledge the myvue had the highest resolution of all the consumer displays; also the battery life was limited to 4h. Send a message if you would like to see pictures.
regards,
Michael Wakileh
With those MyVu glasses, where does your eye focus – close up or at infinity, or somewhere in between?
I’m thinking of using something similar as a HUD in a motorcycle helmet (I’d reflect the screen so I had a clear view ahead), but don’t want to be re-focusing my eye all the time.
It reminds me of the Scouters from Dragonball Z…. I so want one!!
Its a shame that the screen parts are so small (and that its do hard/expensive to find a decent sized one) =[
The power level is under 700mA.
Re. wifi.
What about one of those microPCI cards used on netbooks?
A bit of glue logic and it would fit onto the Pi expansion slot.
Or address it via HDMI out ?
I could just plug in a Wi-Fi dongle if I had one handy.
I’d love to build one of these and code specific apps for it… with a proper HUD it could be great!
Nice job!
Hey Zach. Spoke to you briefly at the MakerFaire. I like your implementation. I used the exact same glasses with a beagleboard XM as the ‘brains’. But after I cut off the second display, the remaining LCD got so hot it actually destroyed itself. Let me know if you start facing this issue. Otherwise, I may have just had a defective unit and will try again! Here was my take (sunglasses):
You’re using internals from the MyVu Crystal? Mine worked flawlessly for two days of punishment at Maker Faire. Perhaps the wire bracket on mine is acting as a heatsink? Maybe it explodes without the left monitor? If mine goes kaput, I’ll let you know.
Hi Zack, Thomas,
I disconnected the right LCD and am now suffering the same heat problems. Maybe the two LED backlights were in series so now the remaining LED gets double the voltage?
I had to join pins 0 and 1 where the ribbon connector from left to right used to fit in order to get a single LCD working.
Pretty sure the heat is coming from the LED backlight and it’s plenty hot enough to cook something if I leave it on.
Any advice appreciated
If you have an oscilloscope, this may work. Identify which wires lead to the backlights – they should have a PWM signal with duty cycle proportional to the brightness. Use a multimeter to determine the resistance of the driver and the forward voltage drop of the backlight. Put a diode and resistor with the same values in parallel with the active backlight. This could substitute for the missing backlight if the circuit regulates current.
You could try putting a resistor in series with the active backlight, but this will decrease the brightness.
Awesome, thanks for the tips
When both LCDs and backlight LEDs are connected the voltage across each LED is between 2.55V and 2.95V depending on the brightness setting from the MyVu pendant.
When one LCD and LED are removed from the circuit and pins 0+1 are shorted where the long ribbon cable used to be the voltage across the remaining LED is 4V and the brightness control on the pendant no longer functions. It’s insanely bright and heats up quickly.
I think there is just enough room at the base of the LED to solder the legs for a resistor+diode whilst still being able to get the LED aimed into the slot for the lens assembly. My LED is only accessible as I accidentally broke the retaining plastic lugs when taking the glasses apart.
Thanks,
Chris
Actually, I don’t know why I overcomplicated that. Figure out the forward voltage drop on the LED (many multimeters have this functionality) and the value of the series resistor. Then swap in a new resistor to provide the same current at 4v instead of 2.95v.
Very impressive, but why not just attach the RasPi to the existing Myvu Crystal shell, and build a stable casing on that?
You could also add another RasPi on the other side?
You hit a big beef I have with my design – it has a cord. I’d love to make this self-contained in one head-mounted unit.
The problem is, the RasPi, power, and control thingy for the MyVu are heavy and big. There’s only so much… dare I say it… headspace?
Dual RasPi’s may get me twice as much geek cred, though…
Is the screen transparent ? Where did you buy your myvu? the page is down at the moment.
Looks great!
It’s not translucent, but the other eye fills in missing details so I can ‘see through’ it in a sense.
I got the MyVu on Craigslist for about $50. The company is out of business, and the company that bought MyVu’s patent portfolio is dysfunctional.
Lost the controller thingy for my myvu crystal glasses. Did you patch the video in directly to the glasses or into the controller?
You need the controller, unfortunately. MyVu did sell backups, but they’re hard to find.
If you end up not using it any more, I could try to use it. Shoot me a PM or email and we might be able to work out a trade.
Would it be hard/expensive to put a small webcam in front of the screen lens so it can act as an “eye”?
Having that, augmented reality would be right around the corner
I actually do have a tiny webcam fom which I extracted the board to attach to the unit. The RasPi drags when dealing with USB video. Perhaps the upcoming 5MP camera board will do better?
I would like to buy one of u but could it be incorped into sunglases and could the screen be bigger
Awesome hack! I added it to my “Coolest 10 Pi projects” list. I hope you don’t mind. http://www.apeboymonkeygirl.com/2012/11/10-of-the-coolest-raspberry-pi-projects/
Hey, love your project. On my RPi I used an extremely cheap ($9) nano Wifi USB dongle, its super tiny and didn’t require a separate powered USB port:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005CLMJLU/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00
I also have found a great USB battery pack that might help, I have pics, instructions and links to the hardware I used on my blog: http://contractorwolf.wordpress.com/raspberry-pi-radio/
Hope some of that will help some makers out there, keep up the great work!
What type of RCA cable did you use? Great project.
I can’t remember the exact name – it converts from a four-banded headphone jack to video and stereo. They’re available for some older media players. Note that the plug must have four bands – a standard stereo to composite and mono adapter like you get with digital cameras won’t work with the MyVu.
Raspberry Pi ordered! Nevermind expensive purses, this is the greatest accessory I could ever have.
Women wonder how to meet intelligent guys and you’ve just nailed it!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRsPheErBj8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyDk-UYuleY
use the keyboard instead of https://leapmotion.com/
I actually have a preproduction Leap. Waiting on those Linux drivers…
Hi Zack. First of all, this is an incredibly cool project. Secondly, I’m completing my own google glass that’s quite similar to yours for a school project, and despite my best efforts, haven’t been able to figure out the right way to connect to rasPi to the myvu glasses. Is there an RCA port on the glasses themselves?(I haven’t dismantled mine yet) Or would I need to purchase an adapter?
The headphone-plug-looking thing on the bottom of the control/battery module is an RCA input. It takes a four-banded 3.5mm jack – the bands are ground, left audio, right audio, and composite video.
I’m pretty sure my video connector is one of those 3.5mm-to-composite video and audio cables that comes with some digital cameras. I believe I plugged the 3.5mm jack into the MyVu control thingy, and the black coax jack into the Pi’s video out.
Get ready to be sued by google.
If anything, I could prevent others from suing them! My previous wearable was publicized before Glass was announced, making it prior art
So was mine, and there are plenty of us around!
is possible buy your machine? Ciao dall’Italia!
nice project! maybe one could use one of those:
http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2012/04/6-glasses-with-integrated-displays-that-you-can-buy-today/
Great site from that which I’ve looked at already. My name’s Maximilian and I’m very pleased to have come across your site. In fact, I’d
love to get in touch with you. Will you make sure you drop me a e-mai?
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It always blows my mind when a project gets attention outside the US. Hacking truly knows no bounds.
Hello from Sarajevo ; ) Neat project!!!