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Heads-Up Wearable Display
selfsealingstembolt writes "Looks like the guys at NASA are trying to combine some existing technologies into a wearable computer. At the moment it is designed as headset combined with a small box to wear at your belt or so. The interesting part is, that they are looking for new technologies at outside sources (companies, educational institutions, ...). The design is still subject to change, but the general idea is great."
Why can't they make these things look more like a nice pair of sunglasses rather than a Techno-Cowlick?
The design is still subject to change, but the general idea is great.
Yeah, it's a great general idea, but it's CERTAINLY not a new one. wearable computing has been around for how long now?
That said, it's great that it's getting some government funding, as that seems to be the only way to get something going in these lean times lately. And the display unit looks to be a new design, perhaps a new idea, but they say nothing useful about it in the article.
"You worthless post!"
-Shakespeare, 2 Gentlemen of Verona, 1. 1. 147
From the article:
"It's kind of like having your computer with you all the time," said Devereaux.
Well, no shit Sherlock! I thought that was the point of a wearable computer...
It's not the "cool" factor -- really, it isn't. You wear a wearable computer on the subway to work, and you deserve to be beaten down.
It's not the portability factor -- palmtops can provide a reasonable amount of punch too.
There are some niche uses -- say you're a mechanic -- it would be handy to have schematics right at your fingertips, er, eyeballs.
But more often than not, a wearable computer is really a wearable invitation for a well deserved ass kicking.
Admittedly, the article focuses on the use of wearable computers by astronauts and such, but as for use by the common man on a daily basis outside niche markets, its not going to happen.
Now those geeky enough to splurge for such a device can look even more "approachable" to women.
Can you imagine? Keep the "How to Talk To Women" e-book on your display as you peruse the club scene. That'll do the trick.
I'll wait until the model that doesn't block the vision from one of my eyes. I'm kind of keen on that whole depth-perception thing.
Why not project onto the inside of a partially-reflective sunglasses lens?
Seems like great technology, but it's hamstrung by a fairly simple interface issue.
No, I will not imagine a beowulf cluster of these things
Xybernaut already has wearables for sale. They've already got contracts with branches of the U.S. military, so swinging a deal with the space jockeys shouldn't be too hard.
Come to the University of Mars! Classes starting soon!
this looks like something that should be used to frag an opponent.
... people ...
The voice- activated wearable computer allows easy, real-time access to
Hmm, "attack co-worker with rocket launcher".
My other sig is an import.
I'd always end up walking round going.. "We are the Borg. Lower your shields and surrender your ships........" In fact - I think I'd buy it JUST for that reason. But then that's just me..... :D
RoseColor red={0, 0xffff, 0x0000, 0x0000};VioletColour blue={0, 0x0000, 0x0000, 0xffff};find / -name *mybase*|chown you
but I don't want to be a gargoyle.
My $0.02 will always be worth more than your â0.02, so
They can send a man to the moon, then can even build a tiny personal computer, however the most critical task to trying to figure out what it looks like? Hmmmmm...
"I bet I'll get blamed for this." --Mayor Quimby
With wearable computers comes wearable porn.
"What do you use your computer for?"
"Oh, data entry, keeping track of appointments, records, all that and more. What about you?"
"Portable porn. Check it out! It's hands free!"
you thought playing the virtual boy was disorienting.
how do you expect to be able to reach a usible ammount of contrast on a semi translucent screen? im minority report, who would want a clear monitor. it would suck if your were running around fragging and people just kept walking behind your screen, talk about distracting.
long story short, if its not a HUD or something, keep it opaque, if it is a HUD make it translucent.
I want 2D games back.
For those of you with spare cash.
Emagin has a developer kit available to make your own wearable displays.
It's not the "cool" factor -- really, it isn't. You wear a wearable computer on the subway to work, and you deserve to be beaten down.
I'm sure we would have thought the same thing several years ago about portable phones. Yet I see those bloody things (rather, I hear them) all over the place.
Admittedly, the article focuses on the use of wearable computers by astronauts and such, but as for use by the common man on a daily basis outside niche markets, its not going to happen.
You make a reasonable point here about no absolutely necessary reason for people to have a portable computer but how is that much different from today's cell phones? I always roll my eyes skyward when people tell me about how essential a cell phone is for today's lifestyle. There are plenty of times I've heard a cell phone go off in the movie theater. And while I've struggled to keep from throwing tomatoes at those morons who feel the need to chatter on their cell phone while grocery shopping, I'm not promising I'll hold off indefinitely. But of all the times I've overheard people gabbing on their cell phones (and there have been many such times), I cannot for the life of me remember one conversation that struck be as being essential to carry on at that moment.
I'm sure I'm inviting a slew of angry replies to this and probably some Troll or Flamebait mod points, but my point is that cell phones have florished in spite of the fact that the majority of people using them do not have a vital need for them. Rather, their "need" has simply been invented because the technology exists. So will it be with wearable computers.
GMD
watch this
People complain enough about having to carry laptop cases with a strap over their shoulder, I can't wait to see what they have to say about wearing something ON THEIR HEAD...
The wearable offers you what you can't get out of a PDA. Instant access.
The PDA has an appointment book, but if you want to check it, you have to pull it out, open it up, turn it on, go to the appointment book, and then look at the days. This takes time. A wearable is already on, you just have to bring up the appointment book. The alaram feature reminds you when a meeting is going to happen. Your wearable could keep your next 2 appointments in view, and with GPS and access to MapQuest or something similar, could tell you about how long it would take, with approximations for traffic.
Pulling out your PDA and trying to take notes in Graffiti is painful - it's very hard to keep up with a conversation. But with a wearable, you can type instead of write. Bringing a keyboard may not be an option, but a Twiddler allows you to type quite quickly with one hand, far better than Graffiti, anyway.
Imagine access to financial reports at the meeting with the boss without a laptop. Imagine in-view access to directions as you look for a client's office. Imagine sending someone an e-mail when you remember to do it. Imagine updating your to-do list while on the phone on the subway, without fear of dropping something. Imagine making changes to the database while the meeting is going on. Imagine never worrying about forgetting the CD you burned becuase you have the data with you. Imagine never worrying about someone else using your computer and messing up your settings.
If none of these things interest you, how about: Imagine reading slashdot during the meeting. Imagine reading slashdot on the subway. Imagine looking for new jobs while during the new policy meeting. Imagine being able to correct people by getting actual data at your fingertips. Imagine watching the Simpsons while you stare at a monitor covered with Excel sheets. Imagine organizing your MP3 collection during business hours. Imagine EverQuest.
That what was all this school was for... to teach us how to solve our own problems. -- janeowit
'Wearable Computers' are not about having a more powerful computer, just as portable phones are not about having a more powerful phone (web access, text messaging etc notwithstanding). The idea here is simply one of convenience, and access to computing resources wherever you may happen to need them. Consider the example of an online train schedule: When do you think you would get the most value out of accessing this site - when you're at home in front of the computer, or when you're out at the pub trying to figure out when you need to finish off that beer in order to make the last train home? I personally will be one of the first adopters of such technology when it becomes workable. getting driving directions while in the car, checking prices online while shopping in a real life mall, checking up on the kids and their babysitter via an X10 type camera in the house.... For me I think that this would eventually end up becoming the machine that I use the most.
Like it or not, I think you may have to get used to the idea of "wearables".
\/\/oobie
It's all about convenience - hardly anything ever invented has been pure "necessity." The wheel and the aqueduct are convenient inventions, but are by no means necessary. They're at least as "annoying" as cell phones - lord, those wheels are noisy rumbling down the road... and those aqueducts! What an eye-sore!
But all of these things, cell phones included, improve our lives more than just superficially - cell phones can be used to call your sorority sisters... or to call for an ambulance. If the benefits, both for convenience and for improving quality of life, didn't outweigh the annoyances that accompany a technology, it wouldn't survive.
All that musing aside, the bottom line is that, while you're at home denying the march of technological progress, I'll be e-mailing and calling my friends using my portable hardware and meeting everyone at the movie theater. To each his own, I guess.
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Spiral out... keep going.
If you want leg drivers, write them yourself.
DNA just wants to be free...
The biggest problem with wearable video is the fact that it moves with your head and can cause vertigo.
I want a head mounted display that lets me decide if I want the display to move when I move my head or if I want the display to stay where it is while I look at other things....
42 - So long and thanks for all the fish.