Wearable Computers...?
Does anyone know anything about wearable computers?
Do you think a wearable computer would ever be viable?
What will you be willing to pay?
What sort of features do you think it must have to be sucessful?
What sort of human interface, processing capabilities and storage must it have?
What could one use to create a wearable computer in terms of current/near-future hardware? What OS?
Do you think a wearable computer would ever be viable?
What will you be willing to pay?
What sort of features do you think it must have to be sucessful?
What sort of human interface, processing capabilities and storage must it have?
What could one use to create a wearable computer in terms of current/near-future hardware? What OS?
Comments
Wearable... Hmmm... The mini progected screen (monitor) in the lens of your eyeglasses, or bounced off a small mirror in your eyeglasses into your retna have both been tested, and are both on their way.
What they will run with is hard to say, but Apple could think about this with the iPod2. By then the storage should be bigger (more space in limited sizes) , and you will probably be able to connect it (iPod2) to your 3G wireless broadband phone. Speech recognition would be the most concielable, and lightest way of inputing commands, and/or text. Hmmm... Someone else give it a go, or continue.
[ 12-06-2001: Message edited by: Chung King ]</p>
<strong>The mini progected screen (monitor) in the lens of your eyeglasses, or bounced off a small mirror in your eyeglasses into your retna have both been tested, and are both on their way. </strong><hr></blockquote>
The only thing I have to say about these things is, nearsighted hell & eye strain city.
I agree with earlier post(s) about eyestrain, battery life and whatnot, the technology is just not ready. However, we already have wearable-enough computers in PDA's and cell phones.
AirSluf has it right with augmented cognition. Or how about infallible memory? Or "intelligence" modules that can give the user skills in certain areas, accounting, art, sex :eek: , you get the picture. It's just not going to catch on until it's seamless with being human.
My 2 pesos,
Composer
They peripherally involve people with brain implants and strings of nanotech computing modules strung amongst their neurons that give them super recall and other abilities of computers. Makes for excellent running of a cmpany, for instance. You could have a company buy an iplant ed brain for a CEO and have him sign his next decade over to them...
<strong>Was he the one who wrote about the pocketbrain? Anyway, if we ever get that far and allow ourselves to do it, we'll probably never see another PC again. In fact, it would probably reduce external computer networks to bare nubbins. I think.</strong><hr></blockquote>
I came up with something called the PocketMac. A small base device with iGlasses + speakers at the end of one cord. Input via Voice and some sort of esoteric input device on the side of the base unit.
Expensive, yes. Miniaturization still costs. But look at the iPod! Let's fold up the internal components of the iBook four times over so it's a thick block with metal exposed all over to disipate heat of the G3. You can clip it on your belt.
Presently there is some R&D work going on for commercial applications, but without a replacement for the keyboard or really good voice recognition there really isn't a way to impliment it. Size, battery life, further and the introduction of secure wireless means that all of the other parts can be put togeather.
The main work in the field is being done for and by the military. Several companies have contracts for R&D for such devices. Unfortunately much of the work is classified and will not trickle down to the consumer world for awhile.
Can such a computer be built and actually be useful and that consumers will buy? Maybe, but until there is really good voice recognition it won't happen. <img src="graemlins/smokin.gif" border="0" alt="[Chilling]" />
The input is definitely a problem though.
There are a bunch of ways to make keyboards for one hand that you could stick on the side of the pocketMac. Then again it makes people learn a new way to type.
I wonder if you could make a viable voice recognition solution on modern hardware. Three years ago, computers fast enough to do it were too large and too expansive. Now, with an iBook's components and ViaVoice...
Brainwaves.
Although I imagine that this type of interface would give the term Freudian Slip a whole new world of meaning...
Considering the advent of wireless technology and the web, not all of the system needs to be carried by the wearer. The prime operating system and voice recognition would have to be local and part of the system, but almost all other software and hardware could be remote. This lightens the load on the local hardware and lets the developer optimize the hardware and software for voice recognition and wireless communiction.
Both secure wireless communication and software have a ways to go before a really practicle wearable computer solution will be available. This includes a realistic spoken interaction with the computer on all levels and the advent of secure satallite wireless communication. The hardware is available to build the wearable part of the wearable computer today. With the advent of low power 64bit CPUs and fast bus and ram, it would take a manufacturer little time to put togeather a very practicle device. It just takes the operating system and practicle voice recognition software to truly make it practicle.
Things such as Airport and Bluetooth are a start.
But imaging an Earth-wide wireless network where you *always* have access to you stizzuff, nomatter what device you're using, be it your car, your desktop computer or your glasses with stereo speakers and voice-driven menuing.
Checking whether or not you have milk at home would be as easy as "Do I have milk?"
Your fridge would answer you: "You have enough for tonight, and I have ordered more, but it won't be in untill tomorrow afternoon."
This is, of course, while you're walking back to work from lunch.
You're talking to the air.
phones, etc..They will have wearable computers.
In less than five years Intels CPU will be around 11 GHz and
Motorola will be at around 20 GHz.They will be faster by then but just for discussion purposes.
Twelve years ago AT&T had an Optical Chip.These
future machines will use Gallium Arsenide.Right now in a NJ plant it is being produced 24 hrs a day.13 years ago they had studies of machines
connected to the head and through brain waves you could move the cursor on the screen.So, a cap with
connectors to your head and goggles all interfaced
to your on-board computer.All powered by a hydrogen battery.Also interesting to note is that
an executive from GenenTech is now at Apple Computer.In the 1960's there were experiments
where simple plants were used as storage devices.
I congratulate all posters.As I have enjoyed myself so much.If I was Steve Jobs I would give
you all $150.00 off minimum.For all the free public relations you have all done an excellent job.We have all been enticed and provoked.We are
Apple Computers Base line customers.We are hard core.We don't give up.Without our word of mouth...
I commend you all.Now if we only had one of our own who could do remote viewing.We could get a better perspective of what is in Apples Laboratory.