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Pioneer's Wearable Computer Jacket
i4u writes "Pioneer develops a wearable computer jacket with organic film electro-luminescent (OEL) display.
On the photo, Kayoko Tanaka, a PR staff member of Pioneer, tries on a prototype of a wearable computer, a jacket with a built-in display in its sleeve in Tokyo Thursday, June 5, 2003. Pioneer works on this technology since 2001. I also found an article in the Taipei Times from 2001. Back in 2001, the jacket looked a bit fake compared to the one shown today.
When the computer display jacket hits the market is unclear."
If we based future research upon the answer to the question, "What's the point, does anyone actually need this?", I think we would fail to advance as far as we have today...
Just wait for the whole back and front of the thing to be a OLED with ads.
And how far off are OLEDs from billboard useage?
http://www.englishfirst.org
What happens when it gets to hot to wear a jacket? Will you have to go with out your email on your arm?
- Your stupidity got you into this mess, why can't it get you out? -Will Rogers
Are the sales goons at Pioneer going to be wondering why figures are so lousy in the equatorial countries?
Or do they plan on intruducing hawaiian shirts with this technology, too?
"Sorry I didn't respond to your email, Bob. It was a really nice day."
I am the inventor of the hilarious refrigerator alarm.
...if you buy that jacket. 484k for a jacket?
A good test of foolishness is if one is soon parted with their money, after all. This sounds like something to hear from a carnival barker.
"Step right up! Ladies and gentlemen! Buy our mystical psychic banana! Only $199!
Buy now! Our electronic fish can be yours for only $3000!
Become a cyborg for a mere $484,000! That's right, you can own your very own wearable computer-vest!"
I think I'd go for the banana instead. Maybe they can sell it for slightly less than that, but still...I can't see it being cheap enough to justify the price anytime soon.
Mod me down and I will become more powerful than you can possibly imagine!
A pair of pants would be great because I could wear those just about any time, but then you have the issue of frequent washing. (OK, well maybe not everyone on /. has that issue, but I do. :P) Having to dry clean the thing would be a show-stopper, I wouldn't buy it. I think it may be entirely possible to make wearable computers washable with the removal of a few components, so I'd rather go the pants route than get a jacket I'll only use sometimes.
Ideally, I want body jewelry with processing power. It comes in the shower with you, but that's probably less damaging than being thrown around in a washing machine... and you'll always be wearing it. I can't wait until my cell phone consists of an earring and a lip librette.
For those who are not so punk, how about belts that sync when you hang them on your belt rack? That way you can always accessorize well without sacrificing your computing needs.
I just want to point out that wearable computing will not catch on with women until they start offering products that match our nail polish and make our butts look good.
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