Vision measurement and training system and method of operation thereof

1. A binocular viewer having left and right display screens and comprising:

a variable focal depth optical subsystem located in an optical path between and separate from said display screens and a user when said user uses said binocular viewer; and

a control input coupled to said left and right display screens and said variable focal depth optical subsystem and configured to receive control signals operable to place images on said left and right display screens and vary a focal depth of said variable focal depth optical subsystem, said control signals varied based on an assessment of physical responses from said user to said images on said display screens.

2. The binocular viewer as recited in claim 1 wherein said binocular viewer is part of a vision measurement and training system that includes a computer coupled to said control input and configured to provide said control signals.

3. The binocular viewer as recited in claim 2 wherein said computer is integral with said binocular viewer.

4. The binocular viewer as recited in claim 2 wherein said vision measurement and training system further includes a human input device, said control signals being at least partially based on input received from said human input device, said input representing said responses.

5. The binocular viewer as recited in claim 1 wherein said images constitute video graphics and are based at least in part on input received from said user.

6. The binocular viewer as recited in claim 1 wherein said images cooperate to form a stereoscopic image and said control signals are operable to vary in concert an apparent depth of said stereoscopic image and a focal depth of said variable focal depth optical subsystem.

7. The binocular viewer as recited in claim 1 wherein said images include at least one feature unique to one of said left and right display screens.

8. The binocular viewer as recited in claim 1 further comprising an eye tracking device.

9. The binocular viewer as recited in claim 1 further comprising alignment features configured to indicate an alignment of said binocular viewer with respect to said user.

10. The binocular viewer as recited in claim 9 wherein said binocular viewer is configured to transmit signals indicating said alignment.

11. The binocular viewer as recited in claim 10 wherein said alignment is employed to prompt said user to realign said binocular viewer.

12. The binocular viewer as recited in claim 10 wherein said alignment is employed to adjust data collected from said user.

13. The binocular viewer as recited in claim 2 wherein said computer is configured to store and compare data pertaining to said binocular viewer and generate a user alert based thereon.

14. The binocular viewer as recited in claim 1 wherein said binocular viewer is configured to provide a coded message that identifies said binocular viewer.

15. A method of measuring and training vision of a user, comprising:

viewing left and right display screens of a binocular viewer through a variable focal depth optical subsystem associated therewith and separate therefrom;

receiving control signals into a control input of said binocular viewer, said control input coupled to said left and right display screens and said variable focal depth optical subsystem, said control signals operable to place images on said left and right display screens and vary a focal depth of said variable focal depth optical subsystem; and

varying said control signals based on an assessment of physical responses from said user to said images on said display screens.

16. The method as recited in claim 15 wherein said binocular viewer is part of a vision measurement and training system that includes a computer coupled to said control input and configured to provide said control signals.

17. The method as recited in claim 16 wherein said computer is integral with said binocular viewer.

18. The method as recited in claim 16 wherein said vision measurement and training system further includes a human input device, said control signals being at least partially based on input received from said human input device that represents said responses.

19. The method as recited in claim 15 wherein said images constitute video graphics and are based at least in part on input received from said user.

20. The method as recited in claim 15 wherein said images cooperate to form a stereoscopic image and said control signals are operable to vary in concert an apparent depth of said stereoscopic image and a focal depth of said variable focal depth optical subsystem.

21. The method as recited in claim 15 wherein said images include at least one feature unique to one of said left and right display screens.

22. The method as recited in claim 15 further comprising an eye tracking device.

23. The method as recited in claim 15 further comprising alignment features configured to indicate an alignment of said binocular viewer with respect to said user.

24. The method as recited in claim 23 wherein said binocular viewer is configured to transmit signals indicating said alignment.

25. The method as recited in claim 24 wherein said alignment is employed to prompt said user to realign said binocular viewer.

26. The method as recited in claim 24 wherein said alignment is employed to adjust data collected from said user.

27. The method as recited in claim 16 wherein said computer is configured to store and compare data pertaining to said binocular viewer and generate a user alert based thereon.

28. The method as recited in claim 15 wherein said binocular viewer is configured to provide a coded message that identifies said binocular viewer.

29. A vision measurement and training system, comprising:

a binocular viewer having left and right display screens and a variable focal depth optical subsystem located in an optical path between and separate from said display screens and a user when said user uses said binocular viewer;

a computer coupled to said control input and configured to provide control signals to said binocular viewer that are operable to place images on said left and right display screens and vary a focal depth of said variable focal depth optical subsystem, said control signals varied based on an assessment of physical responses from said user to said images on said display screens; and

a human input device, said control signals being at least partially based on input received from said human input device that represents said responses, wherein said human input device is an input device selected from the group consisting of:

a keyboard,

a game controller,

a microphone,

a mouse,

a touch pad,

a foot pedal,

a steering wheel, and

a joystick.

30. The system as recited in claim 29 wherein said computer is integral with said binocular viewer.

31. The system as recited in claim 29 wherein said images constitute video graphics and are based at least in part on input received from said user.

32. The system as recited in claim 29 wherein said images cooperate to form a stereoscopic image and said control signals are operable to vary in concert an apparent depth of said stereoscopic image and a focal depth of said variable focal depth optical subsystem.

33. The system as recited in claim 29 wherein said images include at least one feature unique to one of said left and right display screens.

34. The system as recited in claim 29 further comprising an eye tracking device.

35. The system as recited in claim 29 further comprising alignment features configured to indicate an alignment of said binocular viewer with respect to said user.

36. The system as recited in claim 35 wherein said binocular viewer is configured to transmit signals indicating said alignment.

37. The system as recited in claim 36 wherein said alignment is employed to prompt said user to realign said binocular viewer.

38. The system as recited in claim 36 wherein said alignment is employed to adjust data collected from said user.

39. The system as recited in claim 29 wherein said computer is configured to store and compare data pertaining to said binocular viewer and generate a user alert based thereon.

40. The system as recited in claim 29 wherein said binocular viewer is configured to provide a coded message that identifies said binocular viewer.

41. A binocular viewer having left and right display screens and comprising:

a control input coupled to said left and right display screens and configured to receive control signals operable to place images on said left and right display screens, said images including at least one feature unique to one of said left and right display screens.

42. The binocular viewer as recited in claim 41 further comprising a variable focal depth optical subsystem located in an optical path between said display screens and a user when said user uses said binocular viewer, said control signals being further operable to vary a focal depth of said variable focal depth optical subsystem.

43. The binocular viewer as recited in claim 41 wherein said binocular viewer is part of a vision measurement and training system that includes a computer coupled to said control input and configured to provide said control signals.

44. The binocular viewer as recited in claim 43 wherein said computer is integral with said binocular viewer.

45. The binocular viewer as recited in claim 43 wherein said vision measurement and training system further includes a human input device, said control signals being at least partially based on input received from said human input device.

46. The binocular viewer as recited in claim 41 wherein said images constitute video graphics and are based at least in part on input received from said user.

47. The binocular viewer as recited in claim 41 wherein said images cooperate to form a stereoscopic image and said control signals are operable to vary an apparent depth of said stereoscopic image.

48. The binocular viewer as recited in claim 41 further comprising an eye tracking device.

49. The binocular viewer as recited in claim 41 further comprising alignment features configured to indicate an alignment of said binocular viewer with respect to said user.

50. The binocular viewer as recited in claim 49 wherein said binocular viewer is configured to transmit signals indicating said alignment.

51. The binocular viewer as recited in claim 50 wherein said alignment is employed to prompt said user to realign said binocular viewer.

52. The binocular viewer as recited in claim 50 wherein said alignment is employed to adjust data collected from said user.

53. The binocular viewer as recited in claim 43 wherein said computer is configured to store and compare data pertaining to said binocular viewer and generate a user alert based thereon.

54. The binocular viewer as recited in claim 41 wherein said binocular viewer is configured to provide a coded message that identifies said binocular viewer.

55. A method of measuring and training vision, comprising:

receiving control signals into a control input of said binocular viewer, said control input coupled to said left and right display screens and said variable focal depth optical subsystem; and

placing images on said left and right display screens, said images including at least one feature unique to one of said left and right display screens.

56. The method as recited in claim 55 further comprising viewing left and right display screens of a binocular viewer through a variable focal depth optical subsystem associated therewith, said control signals being further operable to vary a focal depth of said variable focal depth optical subsystem.

57. The method as recited in claim 55 wherein said binocular viewer is part of a vision measurement and training system that includes a computer coupled to said control input and configured to provide said control signals.

58. The method as recited in claim 57 wherein said computer is integral with said binocular viewer.

59. The method as recited in claim 57 wherein said vision measurement and training system further includes a human input device, said control signals being at least partially based on input received from said human input device.

60. The method as recited in claim 55 wherein said images constitute video graphics and are based at least in part on input received from said user.

61. The method as recited in claim 55 wherein said images cooperate to form a stereoscopic image and said control signals are operable to vary in concert an apparent depth of said stereoscopic image and a focal depth of said variable focal depth optical subsystem.

62. The method as recited in claim 55 further comprising an eye tracking device.

63. The method as recited in claim 55 further comprising alignment features configured to indicate an alignment of said binocular viewer with respect to said user.

64. The method as recited in claim 63 wherein said binocular viewer is configured to transmit signals indicating said alignment.

65. The method as recited in claim 64 wherein said alignment is employed to prompt said user to realign said binocular viewer.

66. The method as recited in claim 64 wherein said alignment is employed to adjust data collected from said user.

67. The method as recited in claim 57 wherein said computer is configured to store and compare data pertaining to said binocular viewer and generate a user alert based thereon.

68. The method as recited in claim 55 wherein said binocular viewer is configured to provide a coded message that identifies said binocular viewer.

69. A vision measurement and training system, comprising:

a control input coupled to said left and right display screens and configured to receive control signals operable to place images on said left and right screens, said images including at least one feature unique to one of said left and right display screens;

a computer coupled to said control input and configured to provide control signals to said binocular viewer that are operable to place images on said left and right display screens; and

a human input device, said control signals being at least partially based on input received from said human input device.

70. The system as recited in claim 69 further comprising a binocular viewer having left and right display screens and a variable focal depth optical subsystem located in an optical path between said display screens and a user when said user uses said binocular viewer, said control signals being further operable to vary a focal depth of said variable focal depth optical subsystem.

71. The system as recited in claim 69 wherein said computer is integral with said binocular viewer.

72. The system as recited in claim 69 wherein said images constitute video graphics and are based at least in part on input received from a user.

73. The system as recited in claim 69 wherein said images cooperate to form a stereoscopic image and said control signals are operable to vary in concert an apparent depth of said stereoscopic image and a focal depth of said variable focal depth optical subsystem.

74. The system as recited in claim 69 further comprising an eye tracking device.

75. The system as recited in claim 69 further comprising alignment features configured to indicate an alignment of said binocular viewer with respect to a user.

76. The system as recited in claim 75 wherein said binocular viewer is configured to transmit signals indicating said alignment.

77. The system as recited in claim 76 wherein said alignment is employed to prompt a user to realign said binocular viewer.

78. The system as recited in claim 76 wherein said alignment is employed to adjust data collected from a user.

79. The system as recited in claim 69 wherein said computer is configured to store and compare data pertaining to said binocular viewer and generate a user alert based thereon.

80. The system as recited in claim 69 wherein said binocular viewer is configured to provide a coded message that identifies said binocular viewer.