<title>Properties and applications of spherical panoramic virtual displays</title>

Spherical panoramic virtual displays are a new environment for presenting high resolution visual information to an observer. The virtual image is seen with both eyes. The new environment provides the wide field of view image, typically 180 degrees in horizontal and vertical directions, forming a collimated image over a half dome. The users stand in front of a dome window and see a collimated image filling most of their visual field. The spherical panoramic virtual display consists of an optical systems and a unique projector system. The system relies on the Schmidt principle for a spherical mirror in reverse to form the image. The optical system has a very high degree of symmetry. At the center of the system, the image is free of all aberrations. Away from the center, the aberrations are function of the users position, the size of the display system and the apparent focal distance. An example calculations of the aberrations will be presented. The projection system has three properties, projects light in one direction, is substantially transparent, and is spherical in nature. An example of a scanning projector is discussed. Examples of potential applications are presented.