The VRD represents an exciting new technology with many potential applications. Research and development appears for the most part to be on target, but developing low cost blue and green light sources will be critical to achieving market ready applications.
Furthermore, the possibility exists that potential users may have psychological hang-ups about adopting this technology because of its perceived health risks. The potential health risks of VRD have not been completely evaluated. In order for VRD to be widely accepted, the potential health risks of using VRD should be completely and publicly evaluated.
As with any emerging technology the technology is only as good as the applications it produces and the business model used to bring the applications to market. After a recent panel in which MicroVision participated, Stephen Bradley, chief operating officer for Gartner Group Learning, pointed out that the keys to success hinge on much more than the development of spectacular new technologies. "It's going to take a strong business model, a clear identification of the application of the technology and it's going to take the market pulling that technology as opposed to just vendors pushing their technologies onto the market,…"
To be successful MicroVision must project more than images to its viewer's eyes. A strong business model will be required to facilitate the success of VRD. In addition to the portions of the model that are generic to all successful companies, a successful producer of VRD will have to address the following issues:
