Wearable Computers...?

codename · December 15, 2001 7:13AM

<a href="http://www.spectrum.ieee.org/publicfeature/oct00/wear01.jpg"; target="_blank">Image of person wearing multiple wearble units.</a>

Apple, please start another revolution!

Let 2002 not be like 2002.

[ 12-16-2001: Message edited by: Codename ]

amorph · December 15, 2001 3:24PM

If that picture is any indication, the revolution has a ways to go yet.

Is anyone else imagining some idiot driving with that thing stuck to his face? And we thought cell phones were bad...

codename · December 15, 2001 4:39PM

About the wires...

One word: Bluetooth

As for display units...

I think Tekgear's M2 is ideal. It offers 800x600 resolution for under $5000.

<a href="http://www.tekgear.ca/graphics/images/M2.jpg"; target="_blank">TekGear's M2 unit.</a>

<a href="http://www.tekgear.ca/graphics/images/svgapanel.jpg"; target="_blank">LCD of TekGear M2</a>

BTW, there are new less unwieldy heads-up display units, such as this MicroOptical model EG-7.

It projects the image onto the glass, and costs under $3000.

<a href="http://www.microopticalcorp.com/Images/eg7bthumb.jpg"; target="_blank">Microvision's EG-7</a>

[ 12-16-2001: Message edited by: Codename ]

codename · December 15, 2001 4:53PM

Xybernuat would be Apple's only major competitor for wearable computers.

Their top-of-the-line MA V's specifications can be found at the link below.

<a href="http://www.xybernaut.com/newxybernaut/Solutions/product/ma_v_tech.htm"; target="_blank">http://www.xybernaut.com/newxybernaut/Solutions/product/ma_v_tech.htm</a>;

[ 12-15-2001: Message edited by: Codename ]

airsluf · December 15, 2001 7:04PM

cdhostage · December 15, 2001 7:16PM

iGlasses or the like are the only way to make this idea workable.

Without neural jazck technology\\, of course.

codename · December 15, 2001 11:09PM

Perhaps something less <a href="http://aeinnovations.com/content.php?menu=906&page_id=29"; target="_blank">conspicuous?</a>

codename · December 15, 2001 11:37PM

Rip out an iBook 600's internals.

Place motherboard w/CPU in a 5"x6"x2" w/30GB 2.5" HD and lithium polymer battery (total weight ~3lbs)

Add Bluetooth capability and incorporate the <a href="http://www.handykey.com/"; target="_blank">Twiddler 2 one-hand keyboard/mouse</a> with its own battery pack.

Use fibre-channel for heads-up display unit.

I estimate Apple could do all of this and make the total cost of each unit less than $10,000.

And of course, it would be revolutionary. Apple will truely set the world of wearables on fire as the first major computer maker to release one...

The world would never be the same (at least for me). It would be 1984 all over again.

BTW, personally, I'd get one of MicroVision's laser retina-projection displays, but at $15,000 a pop, they might not be suited for the mass market.

[ 12-16-2001: Message edited by: Codename ]

airsluf · December 15, 2001 11:52PM

codename · December 15, 2001 11:57PM

Here's a picture of MicroVision's retinal scanning display. It's very pricey, but it provides a "augmented reality".

<a href="http://www.mvis.com/IMAGES/MISC/Nomad_1_162.jpg"; target="_blank">Image of MicroVision's retinal scanner display.</a>

<a href="http://www.mvis.com/IMAGES/MISC/VRD_diagram2.jpg"; target="_blank">How it works.</a>

[ 12-16-2001: Message edited by: Codename ]

nostradamus · January 3, 2002 10:47AM

*bump*

[ 01-03-2002: Message edited by: Nostradamus ]

tjm · January 3, 2002 11:05AM

Could you perhaps be referring to:

<a href="http://www.mvis.com/home.htm"; target="_blank">http://www.mvis.com/home.htm</a>;

"01.02.02: Microvision ships first Nomad Personal Display Systems; Unique head-worn display will improve workplace productivity and safety"

tjm · January 3, 2002 11:35AM

OK, I've done a bit more ruminating, and have come up with this:

1) The iPod is the first of several "mobile digital experience" devices.

2) Apple has recently announced MPEG4 for high-compression video streaming.

3) Apple also has a new high-compression video format (I forget its name now) allowing large amounts of video storage in a few GB.

4) Codename/Nostradamus has been pushing us in the direction of "wearable computers" and MPEG4 related new hardware.

5) Steve is obsessed with DVD burning.

6) Apple has a new connectivity standard called "Gigawire".

If I put these together, I get:

A "Walkman"-like video player: it has a large HD like the iPod's (maybe 10 or 20 GB - availability?), capable of storing several hours' worth of video. The "Gigawire" port connects to the iMac/Towers for lightning fast downloads of videos, from DVDs or other sources. The unit itself clips on your belt, and this "Nomad" helmet (or something similar) lets you view the movies while walking/jogging/lawnmowing/driving <img src="graemlins/bugeye.gif" border="0" alt="[Skeptical]" /> /whatever.

Am I anywhere close?

[edit: typo]

[ 01-03-2002: Message edited by: TJM ]

ricrocket · January 3, 2002 11:49AM

while such a device *could* be cool, a couple of thoughts:

- wearable computing...just for movies? this seems like shooting pretty low

- with high compression video, why a new device? If you can compress it down to a few gigs, apple's already got the iPods in production

- you can't even take screenshots of DVDs currently (least not with Grab). Steve's focus is on iMovie's, no way I'm gonna be able to rip a DVD to some device.

I like the idea of wearable computing, and as much as I'd *love* apple to bring this primetime, I'm a little hazy as to the current mass appeal/usefulness...

rr.

tjm · January 3, 2002 12:09PM

I could see it with a DVD drive instead of the HD.

One problem, however, is that upon further investigation, this "Nomad" device is monochrome - bright red only. I shudder to think the cost of a full-color video helmet...

So, maybe I'm chasing my tail on this one.

Wearable Computers...?

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