Virtual reality (VR) has struggled to gain widespread adoption, primarily due to the cumbersome nature of traditional headsets. But imagine experiencing immersive virtual environments without the need for goggles—thanks to innovative display technology that enhances visual experiences. This is the mission behind Brelyon, a pioneering startup that is revolutionizing how we interact with virtual worlds.
Brelyon’s cutting-edge displays utilize a unique processing layer to manipulate light before it reaches the viewer’s eyes, creating expansive, three-dimensional visual experiences. The company is developing a content-rendering architecture designed to produce more efficient imagery. The result? A remarkable 120-inch screen that offers the illusion of gazing through a window into an immersive virtual environment where visuals shift dynamically based on user input.
“Our current displays leverage various light properties, particularly the wavefront of the electric field,” explains Brelyon co-founder and CEO Barmak Heshmat, a former postdoc at MIT’s Media Lab. “The latest architecture harnesses a stack of shader programming combined with inference microservices to adjust and create content instantly, enhancing user immersion.”
Brelyon’s technology is already being utilized in diverse sectors, including flight simulation, gaming, defense, and teleoperation. Heshmat emphasizes that the company is expanding its manufacturing capabilities in response to growing demand.
“Brelyon can enhance visual efficiency across multiple applications. Optically, our virtual displays facilitate larger, control-center-like experiences without requiring extra space or headsets. On a computational level, our rerendering technology maximizes screen utilization,” Heshmat states.
A Fusion of Light and Mathematics
Heshmat joined MIT in 2013 as a postdoctoral researcher in the Media Lab’s Camera Culture group, overseen by Associate Professor Ramesh Raskar. Here, he focused on computational imaging, which entails merging mathematical concepts with light physics to achieve innovative results.
During his time at the Media Lab, Heshmat collaborated with Raskar on a groundbreaking approach to enhance ultrafast cameras by incorporating time as an additional dimension in optical design.
“By directing light through an array of mirrors, we enabled photons to bounce multiple times inside the camera, allowing us to capture images at varying time intervals,” Heshmat elaborates.
Throughout his MIT experience, Heshmat published papers with five different professors, gaining not only technical skills but also the confidence to become a leader in his field. “MIT provided a vibrant, intellectually stimulating atmosphere where creativity thrives,” he shares.
After his stint at MIT, Heshmat worked for a VR company and observed a common user sentiment: people liked the idea of virtual reality, but disliked headsets. This observation prompted him to rethink how immersion could be achieved without physical devices.
He revisited insights from his research with Raskar, explaining, “There’s a symbiotic relationship between imaging and displays; they represent two sides of the same coin. My previous work on time-folded imaging at MIT inspired me to explore its inverse in display technology, igniting the inception of Brelyon.”
Brelyon received initial funding from the MIT-affiliated E14 Fund after Heshmat constructed a prototype in his living room.
The company’s displays effectively control light angles and focus, simulating expansive views and creating the idea of looking through a large window. Brelyon currently offers two models: Ultra Reality and Ultra Reality Mini. The Ultra Reality display features a 10-foot-wide format with a depth of around 3 feet, fully compatible with standard computers and laptops. Users can easily connect via HDMI and launch their preferred simulation or gaming software, eliminating the need for custom software typically required for traditional VR systems.
“This plug-and-play solution is far more convenient than establishing a projection screen setup; it doesn’t require a dedicated space, special environment, or projector alignment,” Heshmat highlights.
Mastering Light Processing
Brelyon has garnered interest from several leading simulation training providers worldwide. “In simulation training, large visualizations and expansive peripheral fields of view are crucial for situational awareness, letting users look around, like in an aircraft cockpit,” Heshmat continues. “Brelyon effectively achieves this within the footprint of a single desktop monitor.”
While currently focusing on business-to-business sales, Heshmat envisions a future where individual consumers can access Brelyon’s technology to enhance their visual experiences. “Picture being in the backseat of a car, not just staring at a 12-inch tablet, but gazing through an aperture that reveals a spectacular IMAX-style image,” he describes.
Ultimately, Heshmat believes Brelyon is creating a transformative platform that will alter how we engage with digital realms. “We’re developing a new processing layer that connects computer output to visual perception. This innovative photon-processing technology is set to redefine how light is utilized in displays,” he concludes.
Photo credit & article inspired by: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
