We saw an early version of Sony's wearable visor television thing at last year's CES and laughed loudly and rudely in Sony's face. Now that silly space visor is a real thing, called the Personal 3D Viewer, model number HMZ-T1, priced at $799. This thing claims to give you the experience of watching a 150 foot 3D screen from 12 feet away, and features 5.1 surround sound and easy HDMI connectivity. 

I was able to play a bit of PS3 on the wearable display to test it out here at CES 2012. Surprisingly, Gran Turismo 5 looked really nice on the HMZ-T1, with its subtle 3D effect and slick car models. I think the unit's little OLED screens do a great job of blasting HD gaming to your eyeballs. The game sounded pretty nice, too. Overall, it makes for an immersive gaming experience, and it's a cheap way to get into 3D.

It's too bad that this thing is a front-heavy beast. The space visor is not designed to be supported by your nose. Instead, you'll have to feel the squeeze of the unit's rear straps against the back of your head. Any less than the tightest setting will have the somewhat heavy unit falling down onto the bridge of your nose. That hurts, trust me. Even when it's mounted correctly to your head, the weight will have you looking like a stroke victim when you play, as it weighs your chin down to your chest. 

The HMZ-T1 actually performs better than I imagined it would. Too bad it makes you look like a weirdo cyclops.

Legacy Comments (will be imported soon)

PhilKenSebben

Make a comfortable way to wear and I don't give a fuck. I want it.

HaVoK308

Oh Sony, you just won't let it go will ya. They just don't get it!

PhilKenSebben

Nm the comfort. I'll ghetto rig it. When's it hit. I shall be the lawnmower man!

mix

I'm with PhilK3nS3bb3n, make it comfortable and I will be interested, still would like to try this out though!

Tahiri

I wanted that so muçh, but at that price I had to get their 3dtv instead ;_;

Chris Carter

I pride myself on trying to get the latest gaming gear, but $800 is absurd.

Courtney Roberts

Cheap?

Donuts

Why isn't there some type of small adjustable flattish support in the front, one that'll rest on your forehead and take some of the strain away from the back straps?

Leathersoup

Since when is $800 a cheap way to get yourself into 3D?

MrFloppyknickers

I could see getting this if had native game support. Using it to look around while running and gunning for example. But if it is just a forward only view I don't see the appeal. Better to wait for the glass-less 3d tv's that are coming.

C'mon Sony, you've a chance to innovate here. Make it functional, interactive, and from the description, balance the hardware's weight to make something cool.

AMexicanZebra

djnealb

We're just that much closer to The OASIS!

BoomingEchoes

Jordi didn't drive a car.. That picture is all wrong.

John Johnson

Hey people who know about science and stuff: what impact would this have on someone who can't see stuff far away but can see fine up close? Or vice versa.

Does anyone know, or even know what the hell I'm talking about?

Chris Carter

@John
You mean nearsightedness? I assume it would be the same as being really, really close to a TV, right?

PhilKenSebben

@mag: yes but, I'm assuming you're an 80s kid (i base this off your comments) or close. Remember the early 90s? It's happening. If its quality and good, I make enough to jump in before its actually affordable for most folks and before they do head tracking. It excites me.

Mark Mann

You called the Fiona sexy but you think the HMZ is ugly...


wat?

gattsocean

I actually tried this in a Sony store yesterday.. didn't get to actually strap it on my head, since they had it rigged to something.. but from the few minutes I was messing with it, it really wasn't that bad.. Sound was crazy good, even if it wasn't around ear speakers.. 3D did look nice on GT5, but I didn't fine tune the settings to make it look the best.. I did use it with glasses, although, again, didn't strap it to my head.. Either way though, way too expensive for something like that..

Tendonin

1. Make it have head motion-tracking
2. Give it a full 180 degree field of view
3. Make it cheaper and more comfortable
4. TAKE MY MONEY

The Nakedest

I have been looking into buying something like this for a long time now, but all the ones that I have seen have some problems with them.

SoundsLike

If its that close to your eyes, wouldn't it have to be at some crazy resolution like 2160p and up at 120hz to make it worthwhile?

LittleBigD

If the picture looks as good as advertised it would be perfect for condo living. As much as I want a 100+ inch screen 50 inches is about as big as I can bring in. Anything bigger would look silly.

Morcant

I don't understand why they don't put the electronics in the rear, connected via ribbon cable. Anyway, I'd just lay flat on my back using this. Bring on the surrogates.

CelicaCrazed

Is this like the ones they have set up at the Sony Store?? I saw one over the holidays playing Killzone 3 but it was wrecked beyond use.

darcade

Phew! I'm glad I'm not the only one worried about how I look when I play video games in the comfort of my own home.

/end sarcasm

EdgyDude

"It's too bad that this thing has a ridiculous price tag"

There, fixed that for you.

Asmith906

forget about how you look. What does this thing do to your eyesight.

Uzeless

Imagine watching a porno with this thing on and 'doing stuff' to yourself. Imagine that! But then imagine your wife coming home and just watching you doing it, without you even knowing.

quantumriian

150 foot 3d screen from 12 feet?! What? That sounds uncomfortable.

Nick W Stirling

Was gonna say it was a bad idea when Virtual Boy did it and its still a bad idea now... but I'm sure somebody beat me to it.

chiptoon

I honestly couldn't give a toss what it makes the user look look like. Is that really important? But its utterly dissappointing to find out its uncomfortable. that feels like Sony should just go straight back to the drawing board. It needs to be comfortable for several hours at a time.

N-effect-human

Sexualchocolate

I've got a pretty thick neck.

I'm down, i want one so bad.

Now just to explain to the mrs where £700+ has gone.