THX Paves The Way For Excellence In Headworn Devices With Smartglass Certification Program

SAN FRANCISCO, May 30, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- THX, a leading provider of superior audio-visual experiences, has partnered with ODG (Osterhout Design Group), a leading developer of augmented, virtual and mixed reality smartglasses, to pave the way for excellence in headworn devices. The driving force of the partnership is the new THX Virtual Cinema Display Certification program, which ensures a world-class viewing experience for augmented and virtual reality wearable devices.  

The ODG R-9 smartglasses will become the first THX certified product in the program, setting the standard for display excellence and a high bar for future headworn certifications. It will ensure that the R-9 glasses, and any future devices that are certified, are calibrated to the same color and resolution standards that are used in professional Hollywood studios, giving consumers access to visual content from the 'best seat in the house', no matter where they are.  

"Augmented reality is the future of audio and visual advancement," explained Bill Rusitzky, CRO of THX Ltd. "We chose to partner with ODG to certify their product's best-in-class cinematic experience because we are dedicated to establishing high standards in next-generation technologies, as we have achieved with existing technologies over the past 30 years. We are excited to continue this commitment to consumers, and come together with ODG to deliver premium AV experiences in a very new way."

R-9 is based on ODG's award-winning 50° FOV, equivalent to looking at a 100" cinematic screen 8ft away. It is a fully loaded, self-contained computer with the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor and 1080p stereo display resolution. It is targeted to a variety of wide field of view experiences from light enterprise to prosumer media consumption. The R-9 is also a development platform for sophisticated mobile mixed reality and smartglasses applications. THX tests for color accuracy, video processing, grayscale quality and visual geometry to ensure the perfect viewing experience. THX certification also guarantees smooth video playback without stuttering or motion artifacts, which might disrupt the truthful expression of the artist's original vision.

"Certification from THX is a testament to our many years of hard work building and refining high–end smartglasses that deliver an exceptional quality visual experience," said Ralph Osterhout, Founder and CEO of ODG. "We are honored to work with THX and receive feedback from expert users that the quality of our imagery is unparalleled in the industry – no visible pixels and the ability to read 8-point font with photo-realistic clarity. ODG is pioneering a new medium of heads up, hands free computing that will transform how we consume, interact with and discover information, people and objects in the world around us, and we are pleased to be setting the gold standard in display quality."

ODG will be showcasing the R-9 smartglasses - alongside their broader portfolio of devices - at Augmented World Expo 2017 in Santa Clara, CA. ODG will be located at booth 411.

About THX:
Founded by legendary filmmaker George Lucas in 1983, THX Ltd. and its partners provide premium entertainment experiences in the cinema, in the home and on the go. Over the past thirty years, THX has expanded its certification categories beyond studios and cinemas to consumer electronics, content, automotive systems and THX Live!, a live-entertainment certification program. Today, THX continues to redefine entertainment, providing exciting new technologies and assurance of experiences with superior quality and high performance that guarantee an artist's vision is truthfully delivered to audiences worldwide.

About ODG:
San Francisco-based ODG was founded in 1999 as a technology incubator and today is the leading developer and manufacturer of mobile headworn computing and augmented, virtual and mixed reality smartglasses. ODG's amazing devices are changing the way we view the world. ODG is privately held and was historically self-funded. In December 2016, it 4 announced a $58 million Series A funding with strategic investors including 21st Century Fox, Shenzhen O-film Tech Co., Ltd., and Vanfund Urban Investment & Development Co. Ltd. The Series A is the largest ever in wearables, augmented and virtual reality. To learn more about how we're changing the face of computing, visit ODG's website, Twitter and Facebook pages.

Media Contacts:
Allied Integrated Marketing
Ginger Chan / Senior Vice President, National Publicity / [email protected]
Marina Beck / Senior Publicist – NY / [email protected]

SOURCE THX