Head-mounted display

A head-worn device that presents images near the eyes. It can show a virtual scene, overlay digital content on the surroundings, or combine both.

Virtual retinal display: A display technique that scans light directly onto the retina to form an image. It is one way a head-mounted display can create an image without a conventional screen.
Near-eye display: A display placed close to the eyes, typically viewed through lenses or other optical elements. Head-mounted displays are a wearable form of near-eye display.
Virtual reality: A computer-generated environment experienced through sensory interfaces, often including visual and audio input. Head-mounted displays commonly provide the visual interface for immersive virtual environments.
Head-up display: A transparent display that presents information within a user's forward field of view without requiring a head-worn screen. It overlays information on a view while remaining separate from a device worn on the head.
Simulator sickness: Nausea and related symptoms that can occur during exposure to simulated motion or virtual environments. Visual motion in a headset can conflict with signals from the vestibular system.
Optical see-through head-mounted display: A head-mounted display that lets the wearer see the real world through transparent optics while adding digital images. Its transparent optical path preserves a direct view of the surroundings.
Virtual image: An optical image formed where light rays appear to originate, rather than where they physically converge. Lenses can make a nearby screen appear farther away and easier to focus on.
Augmented reality: Technology that adds computer-generated content to a view of the physical world. A headset can place digital annotations or objects within the wearer’s view of real surroundings.
Handheld display: A portable screen held in the hand, such as a smartphone or tablet. Unlike a headset, it must be held or positioned in front of the viewer.
Motion-to-photon latency: The delay between a movement and the corresponding change in displayed imagery. Excess delay can make head-tracked scenes feel unstable and contribute to discomfort.

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