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MIThril Jacket Showcases Wearable Computing

Codeine writes "The Seventh Annual International Symposium on Wearable Computers (ISWC), to be held later this month, will again feature members of MIT's Media Lab showing off the group's MIThril jacket. Taking its name from J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings trilogy, the jacket combines body-worn computation, sensing, and networking in a clothing-integrated design, according to the project." According to a new paper (PDF link) to be presented at the conference, the latest version of this long-evolving system uses a Sharp Zaurus running Linux.

18 of 162 comments (clear)

  1. Mithril? by ComaVN · · Score: 4, Funny

    I'm guessing all it has in common with the Tolkien metal is it's price.

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    Be wary of any facts that confirm your opinion.
    1. Re:Mithril? by gl4ss · · Score: 4, Funny

      i dunno, all that hardware might protect you from stabbing as well!

      (geez, just look at the pic)

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      world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
  2. I wonder... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    if they'll have "wearable" computers like this.

    OH YEAH! Wearable on the inside, baby!

  3. Good-bye pocket protectors... by mcpkaaos · · Score: 4, Funny

    Because nothing says, "Please kick my ass," quite like wearing your computer.

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    It goes from God, to Jerry, to me.
    1. Re: Good-bye pocket protectors... by Black+Parrot · · Score: 5, Funny


      > Because nothing says, "Please kick my ass," quite like wearing your computer.

      Mithril Robe of *Geekiness* [2,-25]. +1 to intelligence, -5 to charisma. Aggravates nearby jocks and cheerleaders; provides immunity against getting laid. Activates every 50+d50 turns for spellchecking. This item is heavily cursed. If warn while riding a Segway, may polymorph your character into a dork.

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      Sheesh, evil *and* a jerk. -- Jade
    2. Re: Good-bye pocket protectors... by mcpkaaos · · Score: 1, Funny

      I stand corrected.

      --
      It goes from God, to Jerry, to me.
    3. Re: Good-bye pocket protectors... by sharkey · · Score: 2, Funny
      Activates every 50+d50 turns for spellchecking.

      Is strongly affected by the Slashdot Blog of Poseur. When in melee range of the Blog, the spellcheck function must make a saving throw against Posion, or be affected. Effects: spellcheck is activated every 1+1d6 turns. Blog will cause egregious spelling and grammar errors. Every 4+2d4 rounds it will cause the massive duplication of what has gone before, lasting 3 turns.

      --

      --
      "Outlook not so good." That magic 8-ball knows everything! I'll ask about Exchange Server next.
  4. lingerie by Psychotic_Wrath · · Score: 2, Funny

    I cant wait to see some hot chick in a Palm Pilot

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    Doctors do Massage in Longview WA now, who knew?
  5. Darlng.. by adeyadey · · Score: 3, Funny

    You didnt put my jacket in the wash.. er.. did you?

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    "You lied to me! There is a Swansea!"
  6. Womanizer by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    Man, If wearing that MIThril jacket won't get me laid, nothing will!

  7. Standard unfunny gag. by ideatrack · · Score: 2, Funny

    Gives new meaning to "running Linux".

    I'm so funny.

  8. And this next slide is... by Dancin_Santa · · Score: 0, Funny

    Geekus Majoris

    Previously thought to be only legend, the Geekus Majoris was discovered in the basements of MIT and UC Berkeley simultaneously in the mid 1960's. Their main habitat is underground and they frequently live with their parents until they find a mate and move out.

    They have in recent years become more common outside of their primary habitat and are frequently seen skulking about shopping malls and video stores. They seem to have an affinity for Japanese anime which explains their attraction to small woodland animals.

    They are the masters of camouflage. Some have developed the ability to blend in with the normal populace, though most are only able to appear homosapien. To determine if the creature you are viewing is a Geekus Majoris observe the fingertips. Bright orange fingertips are the telltale sign of the species.

    Approach with caution and do not attempt to feed.

  9. More like Star Wars than LOTR by Zog+The+Undeniable · · Score: 2, Funny
    Seeing as it looks like C-3PO in the "Phantom Menace", before he got his gold lame suit.

    As for its potential street cred, I don't think the combination of bare computer hardware, Linux and a Tolkien-derived name will see you having to beat off the hotties with a shitty stick ;-)

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    When I am king, you will be first against the wall.
  10. Locutus by tnmc · · Score: 1, Funny

    Great, be your own Borg...

  11. Re:Trilogy? by panurge · · Score: 1, Funny

    Since the term "trilogy" applied to a book in three volumes. Which describes LOTR. er, what part of this don't you understand?

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  12. Sorry! by stewwy · · Score: 2, Funny

    when u take it in the rain and it shorts out.... will it be a smoking jacket?

  13. MIThril vest is more like it, I'd say by Zero__Kelvin · · Score: 1, Funny


    Clearly simoniker is not a dedicated follower of fashion. A search of the MIThril page shows that the word jacket is never used. Most probably this is because it is a vest .

    --
    Guns don't kill people; Physics kills people! - John Lithgow as Dick Solomon on Third Rock From The Sun
  14. Re:So very tired... by hedgefrog · · Score: 2, Funny
    What happened to talking to your "significant other" while waiting for dinner to be served, or waiting for hte movie to start.

    This is slashdot; what significant other?

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