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PaperclipPerfector  10mo ago (text post)   4079 thread views

Small-Scale Question Sunday for January 7, 2024

Do you have a dumb question that you're kind of embarrassed to ask in the main thread? Is there something you're just not sure about?

This is your opportunity to ask questions. No question too simple or too silly.

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For near-infrared radiation (around 760 nm), which is emitted by most IR emitters used for VR eye tracking, ICNIRP has set a limit value of 0.8 W/m2 for continuous exposure over a period of time3. This means that if an object with an area of 1 m2 is exposed to a continuous near-infrared source with an intensity of 0.8 W/m2 for more than one hour, there is a risk of thermal damage to the cornea or iris.

The source you linked to strongly recommends not crossing that threshold.

However, I would assume that Apple's headsets are bright enough that they cause a pronounced pupillary response, and that their engineers are competent enough to stay within the same limit. After all, they've worked with IR and infrared LIDAR for ages, they know what they're doing.

I see it as very unlikely that it would cause even noticeable harm.

Sadly, Apple does love itself a walled garden, and telling users it's their way or the highway. Oculus, even after the Meta acquisition, has been far more tolerant of tinkering.

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