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Next Generation Xybernaut Wearable

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the fashion-trends-I-can-get-behind dept.

shanenewsom sent in linkage to a story running on the BBC which talks about the new Xybernaut Poma. A little light on the specs, although the headmounted screen is 640x480 and it runs WinCE. But it really does look like the first practical wearable. It should be available in March. Update: 01/21 18:52 GMT by T : Reader Eureses points out that the display is actually 800x600 rather than 640x480.

7 of 151 comments (clear)

  1. C'mon by DwarfGoanna · · Score: 1, Insightful
    I understand there are many possible (and valid) applications for technology like this, but is there really anything I can do on one of these that I couldn't do with a PDA, and still manage to keep my dignity intact? =)


    Somehow, I don't think consumer application and adoption of this stuff will happen anytime soon. The whole "wearable computing" movement seems to survive of sci-fi fumes alone.

    --

    "You know why you do not see me styling wit my homies? Because I have no homies!!" -Mojo Jojo

    1. Re:C'mon by Glytch · · Score: 3, Insightful

      One use I'd heard of is in construction work where there's limited room to move around. Instead of constantly moving in and out of small spaces to check a paper contruction plan, one could just put on a wearable, review the design without having to get out, and in the end be able to get the job done a lot quicker. Might be useful for diving, too. Wearables seem destined for industrial use in the near future. And maybe those who really, really want to be gargoyles. But I'm probably 100% wrong. :)

  2. Shopping on the internet at the mall by thitcho · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Maybe now we can finally compare internet prices while shopping at the store. No more printing out ridiculous sheets of amazon.com's catalog or writing down numerous prices for different items. Very cool.

  3. Xyber-snatching? by Dan+Crash · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I admit that the wearable idea is pretty intriguing, but wouldn't this be even easier to steal than a laptop?

    Imagine walking down the street, surfing the web, when suddenly you feel someone jostle your side. Your expensive new Xybernaut is yoinked off you and the thief takes off at Mach 1 while you're still trying to click the Back button.

    Until the price of wearable PCs drops down to the price of a cell phone (or world peace spontaneously occurs), a wearable PC will be like a sign that says "I'm a big, rich, nerd. Please rob me."

    --
    He who refuses to do arithmetic is doomed to talk nonsense.
  4. I can see a ton of uses for this... by acidfast7 · · Score: 3, Insightful
    in my field and in others. Imagine if Dragon came out with a WinCE version of the popular Dragon Dictate software. I would be able to take notes while performing experiments at the bench. I could keep an electronic lab notebook on the fly because my hands would be free.

    Also, it would be of great use to physicians, especially those in the ER. As an emergency patient rolled in, the doctor could fill out all the forms electronically (once again with Dragon Dictate-style software) and electronically send them to the nursing station and the "board". It would be very efficient and save critical time.

    I do have a question about the hardware. Does the display track retinal movements to position the mouse pointer? That would eliminate the need to open all of the software and menus with vioce-operated commands (perhaps an extended blink could serve as a mouse click).

    All in all it's an interesting concept, perhaps not for the general popultaion.

  5. Re:Effects on the eye by stereo_Barryo · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I played around with the MA IV and found the curved silvered mirror to be comfortable and easy on the eye. I don't believe the light source could get to the "dangerous" level. I'd be happy to use the head display for an extended period of time, but the MA IV was heavy in the vest we wore. Since the company has moved on to smaller devices the weight might not be relevant now. Also, according to this: http://www.xybernautonline.com/eCommerce/Poma/Plac _Poma.htm the screen is 640x480, not 800x600.

  6. Terminal over wireless link by Akuinnen · · Score: 2, Insightful

    It would limit the range but it seems to me this would work better if you used it with a wireless connection to a more powerful computer. Then you wouldn't be limited by the wearable's hardware or software capacity.

    Also I think they should work on making this less obvious. If they could get this into a normal looking pair of glasses or sun glasses with a switch between a translucent, a uninhibited data view and a uninhibited natural view, then I could see this taking off. A mouse pointer controlled by eye movement would be even better.

    A wireless data connection is the big missing piece here.