Augmented reality (AR) has been the subject of intense interest from science fiction writers and inventors for centuries, with the first actual prototypes appearing in the 1940s, but really taking off in the 1960s in military applications such as Head-Up Displays (HUD) and Head-Mounted Displays (HMD).

Smart glasses for augmented reality (AR) are almost ready for mass consumer adoption – but they’re not quite there yet. The major issue that has to be overcome is the display system, which is often too big and heavy.

When most people hear the term “AR”, they instinctively think of virtual reality (VR) technologies, imagining a bulky and heavy headset that cuts the wearer off from the outside world. VR headsets have tended to be expensive, with a focus on the gaming market, and can make wearers feel self-conscious.

Augmented reality (AR) is nearly here – and when Apple launches a flagship product, Vision Pro, into a market, you know it’s time to take it seriously.

The new MEMS scanner solution from Infineon Technologies AG features a MEMS mirror and MEMS driver for new product designs. Its miniature size and low power consumption enable augmented reality (AR) solutions for consumer applications such as wearables and for automotive head-up displays.