Best device(s) for this cosplay

I have no idea what this thread is about.. but I'm alright with that!

I saw some mention of projectors.. I picked up this thing, it was so cheap. It's very likely LCD-based, not DLP at this price.

I wasn't expecting much, just something fun for kids to play with. However, it's a bit stinky (literally) in that it gets hot and smells!

I would like to open it but it is either glued shut, or is very tightly clipped together.

The image quality was better than expected! It doesn't work with all HDMI sources (maybe I need to set the source resolution) but this was from my Samsung phone's USB-C-to-HDMI connection, playing a video:

That was taken with the projector about 2.5 or 3 meters away from a slightly tinted wall. not quite white, and with room lights off since obviously it cannot output a lot of light. The image was slightly larger than the camera took (I had a portrait lens).

I wouldn't leave this thing on unattended or near clothing.. there's an excellent chance it would catch fire... or burst if one chooses the Lithium-Polymer powered version. 

In summary it is just an (unsafe) toy, but nevertheless image quality is better than what I had expected.. about as watchable as an old standard-definition TV.

Thanks for trying to help! Thing is, I'm looking for a small one that I can fit into a helmet, to create a HUD, potentially by a "pepper's ghost" type of effect.

This looks a fairly low cost way but may be tricky to fit it all inside unless you can oversize the helmet.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omNDLQ4cKnY

It looks like it uses a convex mirror creating a virtual focus point somewhere outside of the helmet. You might want to try a quick test to see how close you can comfortably focus.

The helmet is a bit big in its own right. But yes, something like this is amazing.  But The space thing, looking at the helmet... do you have any ideas how to try it? My brain is stalling.

My planned thought was to have at least one fan, in the separated left ear bubble, which pushes air through the hose to the front inside the mask. If I don't use an exhaust in the right side, or maybe in addition to, I can put this. But I'm stalling on if this is the best idea, whether to section off that bubble or not: Eg leave just a hole for the projector?

I'm making this out of foam to start probably, I don't have a 3D printer. I'm still figuring out best way to mount things for angles for trying.

Amethyst said:

The helmet is a bit big in its own right.

This could be used to your advantage. It just depends how big you are happy with going.

I think we perhaps need to see some example pictures of the helmet that you are aiming towards, from different angles, to see what space there is to potentially work with to come up with suggestions.

The DIY hololens looks like it would give you the most flexibility as to what can be displayed, however as it is inside the helmet, most people will never get to see that aspect when viewed from the outside, so you could be spending a lot of time on something that isn't actually visible. However, equally, if it helps you move and react to your environment, then it may pay off in other ways.

Also it will depend on how important is is for people to be able to see your eyes from the outside through the visor as you have to have the 45degree mirror for the Pepper's Ghost effect to work. Some pictures show the character's eyes quite visible behind the visor, others just show the green visor without the eyes. 

Image brightness may be an issue, so you might need to use a high brightness display screen to see it when augmenting the view outside.

Amethyst said:

My planned thought was to have at least one fan, in the separated left ear bubble

I think you will have a lot more flexibility with fan placement than with the display, so if you really want the DIY hololens then that will likely have to be positioned first, then other stuff worked around it. Fans come in all sorts of shapes and sizes and airflow can be ducted as well.

The DIY hololens will likely have three main requirements. The vertical display screen, the upper 45degree mirror/lens, and the lower 45degree transparent reflection screen that you will look through which will need to be at eye level. 

You may be able to place the display screen horizontally and place a lens below it then flip the image on the display. This would potentially reduce the overall height. A bit more like a teleprompter setup for a video camera. However you need the lens to create the virtual image far enough in front of your eyes to be able to focus on it.

I think you will need to spend some time having a bit of play with this aspect. Perhaps replicate the DIY hololens in the video to start with to see what it looks like for real and see if the image is bright enough. Then play around with the angles to see if you can come up with something that will work better with the helmet shape.

Amethyst said:

I don't have a 3D printer. I'm still figuring out best way to mount things for angles for trying.

I think you could do a mock-up of the DIY hololens using 'foamcore' artboard (thin polystyrene sheet with card either side). It's easy to cut / shape with a knife and can be glued or taped together to try stuff out.

You can also use wire / wire mesh / modelling clay / paper mache / balsa wood etc to create basic support structures. Check out what is cheap in craft shops.

It looks like a car HUD is very similar to that DIY hololens, just that it is upside down and uses an extra fold mirror to make it more compact for the dashboard.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCYEbvby-sg

It looks like a car HUD is very similar to that DIY hololens, just that it is upside down and uses an extra fold mirror to make it more compact for the dashboard.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCYEbvby-sg