Credit: Pixabay
On May 21, 2026, NHK Research Laboratories (STRL) announced the development of a thin VR headset with a light field effect that reduces visual fatigue. It will be presented at the “STRL Open House 2026” exhibition, which will run from May 28.
The new headset recreates the array of light rays emanating from an object and entering the human eye. Traditional VR headsets use two separate displays with lenses that create the illusion of depth through parallax. However, the focus of vision remains fixed on the larger display, resulting in a discrepancy between perceived depth and actual focus. The light field allows the eyes to focus naturally, as when viewing real objects.
NHK engineers combined two types of lenses into a single optical system. The objective array and eyepiece are in direct contact and function as a single optical element. This allowed the 3D image to be transmitted directly to the eye without the need for an intermediate image in the air. As a result, the thickness of the optical system was reduced by 79% compared to previous light-based VR headsets.
The prototype will be presented at the NHK Laboratories Open Day in Tokyo from May 28 to 31, 2026. Hours: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Admission is free; advance registration is not required.
