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Ready-To-Wear PCs
perbert writes: "IEEE Spectrum has an interesting article in their October 2000 issue (and an online version) on new affordable ready-to-wear computers." Soon it won't require months of work to morph yourself into a gargoyle ;)
Better hope your wife doesn't read slashdot...
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Normally I'd agree, but when I think about it, all I've ever seen Mobile Suits do is explode.
Interesting idea, but have you ever accidently dropped your walk/diskman? They might be able to recover, I doubt a PC could. I'd be afraid to drop the damned thing. And there are too many wires! Damn head mount display should be wireless! The thing is already gonna cost a billion trillion dollars...what is another 5 thousand?
"Imagination is the only weapon in the war against reality." -Jules de Gautier
Winter is coming and I wouldn't mind wearing a beowulf cluster, distributed over my whole body to keep me warm as I walk on the frozen land known as Canada.
I can't see much application for a wearable PC. Sure, it's cool, but beyond sheer geekness, I see little point.
These articles about wearable computers keep coming up, and they're the usual deal, with a Borg-esque monocle/HUD, chorded keyboard, and fanny-pack CPU/etc case.
When I can wear one with as little intrusiveness (weight, bulkiness) as an earbud headset and do something useful, talk to me.
Something I'd like to see is a Writer's setup. I have delusions of grandeur and think I could be a novelist. Set me up with a 99.99% reliable dictation machine, a sensitive microphone so I can speak softly into it and have it transcribe what I'm saying. Recall Heinlein's Jubal in Stranger in a Strange Land. I want to be able to drive home or work while composing the Great American Novel. Recall Lain and the mobile DOOM-like game. If I tried to play that while driving I'd probably kill several people, including myself, to avoid being shot by the guy driving south on I-94. I can see wearable PCs being more of a hazard than cell phones if used irresponsibly.
Any kind of roving salesman or mobile worker of any kind that needs access to some kind of data storage or minimal, but frequent, input, could benefit from a wearable PC, but I can't see the average Joe User needing one. PDA's with appointments and contact listings would probably take up most of the mobile gearhead market, especially as they become faster, better, and more functional.
What do you want to wear today?
Microsoft Pants were unable to negotiage Socks connection.
Shutting down. Please remove and reinstall.
I like you, Stuart. You're not like everyone else, here, at Slashdot.
So that weird guy in the zipped up coat on the bus wasn't playing with himself, but instead playing game? I would have never known!
.... Game controls built into the pockets... Instead of being bored while on the bus or in class, you can be raising your kill count in Quake...
Kinda like this? http://www.microopticalcorp.com/egdem o.h tm
Or the home page, here...
No kidding. The reason I leave my desk is so that no one can page me, no one can e-mail me, my phone won't ring, my messanger won't go off, and nothing beeps. The last thing I want to is to be accessable everywhere I go. Technology is cool, but not when it invades the simple things in life.
Someone should make one of these anyway and get ThinkGeek to sell 'em! I'd gladly wear one to Comdex, for example.
sulli
RTFJ.
so how does that affect M$ and their 'naked pc' scheme if you intend to wear your pc. it surely isn't naked then, is it?
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"It is now safe to switch off your computer."
"The voice-activated wearable computer. It may be far out, but it isn't far off."
Back in the real world, one IBM Wearable PC prototype [Fig. 1] is being tried out on an assembly line for electric power generators at a General Electric Co. subsidiary. Containing a Pentium 233 MMX processor, 64MB RAM
y'know, once upon a time, I had a 233Mhz MMX processor on a computer. About 4 years ago, in fact. And one christmas I acquired a copy of 'IBM ViaVoice' and put it to work. It sucked totally: There was no way you could get any level of accuracy without sacraficing word rate to about 10 words per minute. Recently, on my 600Mhz computer, I got a new copy of ViaVoice. It is a lot better. Making a comparison, I would rate voice recognition on a 233Mhz MMX processor as 'Unbelievably, pitifully inaccurate whilst similtaniously far slower than is acceptable'. Don't qoute me on that, by the way.
Anyway, here's my point: Unless they have a very small vocabulary ("Buy" and "Sell"), voice recognition would be very difficult to implement.
Michael
...another comment from Michael Tandy.
"Goodness me, how unlike the FBI to abuse the trust of the American public." -- The Onion
Yeah... you fall the wrong way, or an important cable gets snagged on something, and you are S.O.L. There's your $5000+ wearable computer harddrive broken... unsalvagable data...
.sigs??
-- Don't you hate it when people comment on other people's
Good quote, too many chars. Seriously, the slashdot 120 char limit sucks!
If it makes chicks look anything at all like seven of nine then I'm buying one for my wife!
Bite my yammer.
You know how badly people drive when they are distracted because of a cell-phone call....
.sigs??
Now imagine some freak is playing carmagedon on his wearable PC while driving... You know its bound to happen...
-- Don't you hate it when people comment on other people's
Good quote, too many chars. Seriously, the slashdot 120 char limit sucks!
So, yes, I'd say it is his operating system!
-- Erich
Slashdot reader since 1997
No, seriously isn't that what the vcr was designed for? Why not the wearable computer. Hook up a few electrodes in a few discret places. Slap on a IR port and you can send what you're feeling to the girl sitting next to you.
And then she can send you a virus. :)
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Not from me, though. Imagine the fun of going through life with a real heads-up display mounted on your head, especially once it becomes socially acceptible to keep it on all the time.
You could:
-- He's fantastic, made of plastic....
Don't we have enough people driving into walls talking on cell phones?? i don't thing the human brain was designed to multi-task in such a fasion. These will be reat for nich markets, but impracticle fo day to day use. Hmmm although a full body motion sensor net and Quake arena might me fun......
Dirty Pirate Hooker
Everyday life today is very hectic to a lot of people. Plenty of things to remember, plenty of things to do, but it is not always that easy. One could argue whether it is caused by too many activities and too little time. Wether it is the one or the other, or a combination of these, it is of no importance. The situation is becoming an increasing problem, and people are lusting for a solution. (Many without being aware of it).
The solution are to assist in changing the perception of everyday life from being troublesome and at times inconceiveably complicated, to become more clear and manageable. - in short, the solution are to assist the individual in obtaining better control of everyday life - life in the fast lane.
The ideology behind such a solution is that it is to become easier to organize&manage. Common tools already in use are the wristwatch and the mobile phone and in part also the computer. By adding another tool which users are also to keep track of is a frightening thought. With this, the idea of technology in convergence comes to mind. The more to keep track of, the more time we waste, and these technologies are to assist us, not cover us in burdens. The idea a convergence product that integrates the wristwatch, the mobile phone and a computersystem hereby appears.
One can without much problems imagine 3 obvious platforms. One, where the technologies are gathered into a wristwatch. Another where they are gathering into a mobile phone, and a third putting it into one of those handheld computers. Evolution will most likely show, and has to some extent already, that all 3 platforms will emerge(and have already) and taken in use for each their purpose.
A convergence product that gathers the funtionality of the watch, phone, computer in one unit, makes it easier to keep track of, should present a simplified system, organization wise, and thus a simplified data management procedure and thus a timesaver.
The functions concidered makes it into a personal assistent that provides you with easy and almost instant access to communication with the entire world while it at the same time assist you in delivering and processing of your desired information.
The optimal position of a personal assistent is by your side, 24/7. Your own personal mobile secretary. Trusted and invaluable. Wish you could wear one? I do. A wearable computer is the solution of today&tomorrow bringing you just that. (The solution of the future would be a good looking holographic AI extension of the wearable with sensors to represent a virtual secretary:). The wearables are the next step.
From existing proven and applied technology platforms the wristwatch is the most common device in use. And that is what I personally want my wearable to be like. As I will not have to carry it. It will fit in, giving the right dimensions can be reached.
Integration of wireless communication and computing in a wristwatch device with discrete but powerful extensions is a part of the future.
Through natural evolution of technology the wearables will emerge and integrate in the everyday environments just like the wristwatch and the mobile phone. So do you ask me: "Are wearables entitled to existence?" I can only answer YES!
Not only will the technology have gigantic impact on personal management, it will also spawn an entire market for the industry to keep the workers busy making accessories/extensions of all kinds. The best base products will appear as modular systems tailored for personal solutions using open systems for extended connectivity, compatibility, interoperabilty. The base software will be structured as an open unix system. Entrepreneurs and Engineeres will find plenty of different purposes of use. Users are to apply whatever software solution they desire and need. Embedded versions of linux, bsd, qnx, something else prefered or something new in the future, it will be their choice as its their need and its going to be open.
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..Open for all..
Through time I have been visioneering & researching the discussed technology. This are soon to result in my first report presenting thoughts, ideas and conclusions on subject.
Greetings to Dirk Husemann from IBM R&D, Zurich.
Pardon for not having contacted you yet, your approach after my last comments in relation to the wearables pleased me. Due to heavy load on my shoulders, putting in a serious reply are still awaiting.
My name is Casper Andersen. Ressources for RESEARCH at our educational institution would be highly welcomed. I am studying at IT College Denmark, website: www.it-college.dk
email regarding eductional relations: caspera@it-college.dk
email regarding corporate relations caspera@sophistic.com
On a different topic, remember Ken Olsen of Digital, when he could not imagine anyone wanting a computer at home. Probably even Joe A. User will get his Kyber wearable some day, even if there isn't a real need for it. Look at the tons of things people want nowadays which they didn't need before clever marketing came along, e.g. the Finnish with their mobile phones.
Thirdly, apart from the obvious problem with batteries (this won't really be solved any time soon: like harddisk, RAM or whatever, you'll always need more of it:), IMHO the important question is 'net connection. WLANs just don't seem too promising at the moment, apart from small-range (home/office etc) use.
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Escher was the first MC and Giger invented the HR department.
"now about job site wearables... I'm not sold. I don't think this is the niche that wearables are really looking for,
Aircraft companies and the military have been using wearables for some time now with great sucess. That IS the nich market that will take off. "Wearables" just are not "cool" enough yet that everyone is going to want one. more batteries to replace, more distractions, ect....
Dirty Pirate Hooker
A few months ago, Xybernaut (whose offices are down the street from mine; do they call asking for testers? NOOOOO....) was featured on (IIRC) CNBC. They showed off the geegaws and gear and you could literally watch their stock price on the ticker at the bottom of the screen rise in relation to the buzzwords. I think a few days later it had settled down to what it was before the interview...
ZOMG I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR FEELINGS ON MACINTOSH VERSUS WINDOWS, VI VERSUS EMACS, AND HOW YOU'RE NOT A DORK
Actually, my girlfriend and I are looking forward to the day we can both be (discreetly) wired and networked together. Of course, I also thought Lain was hot when she was covered in wires, including the clip on her lower lip, and 7 of 9 was much better looking before the Doctor took out all the implants.
While using a laptop/handheld in public is often ridiculed as a repellant, in my experience it tends to draw the best women, while filtering out the idjits.
Of course, I usually attact women at places like the local Rocky Horror, local fetish clubs, SCA events, or other places where my laptop/handheld is probably the most *normal* item on my person.
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Evan
"$30 for the One True Ring. $10 each additional ring!" -- JRR "Bob" Tolkien
I'm still holding out for my own personal Gundam.
decidedly uncool looking.
Throw all that nonsense stuff on the belt into a fanny pack, or at least a horizontally-oriented case. (Try to sit down without castrating yourself.) Ditch that "I watched 'The Abyss' too many times" forearm keyboard in favor of a twiddler. Replace the borg/Universal Soldier pirate-eye-patch display with a two-eye display (with adjustable opacity), and make it look like normal glasses or sunglasses.
The point is to make it look like something stylish. Not an electronic dialysis/colostomy machine.
It's pretty schweeet. The main prof hasn't used a desktop computer in years, and I see one of the grad students looking out the window and keying in stuff on his chording keyboard thing... talk about desktop backgrounds! :-)
-- Erich
Slashdot reader since 1997
Judging from the picture of the guy, and the rest of the article of course.. this is not wearable, this is a disasembled laptop. Loose parts hanging all over the place, cables going everywhere, etc.
On the other side, if the company were to take, say, a nice leather trenchcoat and integrate all the parts and wires, that would be wearable.
People replying to my sig annoy me. That's why I change it all the time.
Xybernaut has been around for a few years...
And I hardly call 5k for a sealed unit you'll have to throw away in a few years thanks to Moore's law as being terribly afordable.
Wake me when there's a $1,000 model.
Anyone know where I can get a pair of these?
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And the men who hold high places must be the ones who start
To mold a new reality... closer to the heart
I always knew she was really just housing some serious geek equipment in that shirt!
Bite my yammer.
Now, I don't mean to be picky or anything, but "emacs operating system"?
:-)
Emacs isn't (quite) large enough to qualify as an os just yet
Cheers,
Tim
It's official. Most of you are morons.
When Will The People Making The Glasses/Monitors Figure Out That People DO NOT want to look like cyborgs. I just want a monitor that i can wear on glasses that doesn't look like the terminator. How about a normal set of glasses?!