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Wearable PC with an Artificial-Reality Helmet
Roland Piquepaille writes "In this short article, InformationWeek writes that 'two sexy technologies that flamed out five years ago -- wearable computers and artificial reality -- are combined in a new training-development system' for the military. This system, developed by Quantum3D, includes a binocular head-mounted OLED display and head-leg-weapon motion-tracking systems, integrated with a vest-worn tactical visual computer. It runs under Windows XP and is compatible with the 802.11 a/b/g wireless networking standards. It will be used by the infantry to train soldiers, but it looks so complex that I would need intensive training just for using it. Read more for other details and an illustration of the full scary system."
Welcome to the Borg !
From the article:
It runs under Windows XP and is compatible with the 802.11 a/b/g wireless networking standards.
Let the flaming begin.
Blue screen of literal death.
Games, perhaps?
Suudsu, that stuff is G-E-W-D.
Having XP in the background gives you something to blame for all the 'friendly fire'. Hey, I'd believe it!
Counter-Strike? Oh yeah.
Wasn't there recently a Slashdot story about people confusing reality with games? Nearly every comment suggested that gamers had that experience at least once... even with Tetris! I think this technology will can that to a whole new level.
Maybe we ought to have a game where you hunt for Osama Bin Laden and then let loose an army of 17 year olds into Tora Bora.
The global economy is a great thing until you feel it locally.
They are training the soldiers to pat their head, rub their tummies and wiggle their toes simultaneously to reboot.
Great, now instead of shooting at our troops, our enemies can simply attack them with viruses and spyware!
"Ok, I'm not as religous a microsoft hater as many here, but is there ANY good reason to have this run on XP?"
Since TFA wasn't all that informational I'm going to take a guess and say:
1) The military primarly uses Windows (Yes, I know there are exceptions....)
2) On a system like this I'd imagine a GUI-centric OS is essential, and face it...Windows does this better than Linux. (Note: don't confuse this statement with anything even close to the word 'stability')
3) In the event of a crash, I suspect on a system like this it's easier to hit the reboot button; rather than dumping the user to a Linux CLI where they have to have some access to a keyboard to restart whatever failed; whereas with Windows it's point-and-click.
Of course...these are entirely my opinions and I'm sure there are going to be plenty of Linux users to come along and attempt to shoot holes through them.
I think somebody should upload this picture to Wikipedia for the "nerd" article. Especially the helmet on the left; that picture is priceless.
main(c,r){for(r=32;r;) printf(++c>31?c=!r--,"\n":c<r?" ":~c&r?" `":" #");}
God help us
"Hello I'm Clippy. You'll go where I go, eat who I eat and bother who I bother" =)
I think the patent office may have something to say about this; Steve Jobs has had an Artificial-Reality Helmet for some years now.
Quidquid latine dictum sit, altum viditur
If you read the small print on the bottom of Q3D's picture of the Explorer you will see "Soldier not included". You need someone else to operate it after you pay an arm and a leg for it.
Windows XP, AND 802.11* networking? How long until the first soldiers are scarred for life by goatse beamed directly into their helmet?
The Helmet is a VERY good thing, IMHO.
After all, something needs to protect your head when you keep walking into things because you're staring at a COMPUTER SCREEN instead of the sidewalk.
94% of Repubs and 21% of Dems voted to renew the Patriot Act
The fact that he has 'accessories' kit or the fact that the caption says "Soldier not included".
Hello. I notice you're attempting to assymilate or eliminate deverse species into your race. It seems like youj're writing a letter...
whenever you encounter a company with the word "quantum" in its name, and you ask yourself why, you should always keep in mind one thing
Nobody would surrender to the dread pirate Westley
-- Avishalom is usually vish