BORG ALERT Friday, October 13, 2000

An new Borg came online Friday, October 13, 2000.  There is nothing ominous or fortuitous about this date, it simply coincides with the implantation of this drone’s final augmentation, a one-handed input device called a Twiddler.  This new Borg’s designation is “Rich_Ervin@hotmail.com”.

Cy-Ervin is one of a rare but growing breed of Borg tentatively known as the Business Borg.  This class of Borg is the natural result of the labors of the Research Borg over the past several years.  His trade is as an “Integration Consultant”.  He considers this latest adventure to both an extension of that trade and a valuable tool in the exercise of his profession.  Cy-Ervin will dedicate much of his personal time to exploring and promoting the fledgling “Cyborg” culture and it’s more commercial subset, “wearable computing.”

The chief distinction of the Business Borg is that they are likely to be implanted with commercial “off the shelf” components (COTS).  The Research Borg is more likely to be implanted with custom made hardware.  The Research Borg is largely focused on finding new ways to enhance the capabilities of the imperfect species “Human”.  The Business Borg is largely focused on finding ways to use those enhancements in the business world.  Cy-Ervin is likely to also be part of the Social Borg subclass, a group of Borg focused on learning how to more closely integrate society with personal augmentation.

FAQ:

Are you really implanted?

No, not really.  All of my gear (listed later in this document) is stored somewhere within my clothing or is in a body pack of some kind.  However, depending on what day you see me, the equipment may be disguised or hidden in such a way that you will not be able to tell that I have a computer strapped to my body.  The only indication will be the white (soon to be black) Twiddler in my left hand and some kind of HMD over my eyes.

What is Borg?

The word “borg” is an abbreviation of the science-fiction word “cyborg”, which is an abbreviation of “cybernetic organism”.  I won’t even attempt the derivation of the word cybernetic.  The use of the abbreviation “Borg” is an obvious reference to the popular science fiction series “Star Trek – The Next Generation” in which the Borg are an “artificial” race of beings who “assimilate” other cultures by kidnapping entire races of galactic beings, implanting them with technological components, then subverting their minds and bodies to work for the “collective”, or the Borg culture.  Star Trek Borg communicate through a node-based sub-space network (similar to the internet with wireless links).  Their goal as a race is to produce a “perfect” race by blending the best features of the captured races and enhancing them with electronics (similar to the modern-day Borg goal of compensating for certain limitations of the Human mind and body with computing technology). 

The ST Borg refer to the kidnapping and implantation process as “assimilation”.  While you would not want to be assimilated by the Star Trek Borg, who are very violent and single-minded, you might want to be assimilated, if just for a little while, by the peaceful and fun-loving Human Borg culture!  To find out more about becoming a cyborg, check out this web site and the many links that are accessible from it: http://www.extremecomputing.com/cyborgs.html.

What is Cy?

Cy is a “title”, similar to “Mr.” or “Mrs.” or “Sire”.   It is the portion of the word “cyborg” that is truncated to make the word “borg” (Borg hate wastefulness and don’t want to throw away even part of a perfectly good word).  It denotes one’s position within the Cyborg culture.  There are so few currently registered Borg that only one title has been apparently been deemed necessary so far.

What is the Cyborg culture?

The Cyborg culture is a small group of hackers, researchers, and technology lovers who are using Wearable Computing technology to enhance their human bodies and minds in interesting, fun, and profitable ways.  Some of these people are trying to get an understanding of a farther distant future when personal computers and electronics will actually be part of our bodies and built into the clothing we wear.

What is Wearable Computing?

Wearable Computing is any kind of hardware or software that makes your computer as common a part of your life as your clothing.  For some, a wearable computer is basically a computer in a backpack operating from batteries with a monitor strapped to the forearm and a Twiddler in one hand.  For others, wearable computers are a new class of fashion, integrating computers and electronics into everyday clothing items such as dresses with lights flashing in sequence or broaches emitting sound or light in response to environmental conditions or the wearer’s mood.  To many, a Palm computer is a kind of wearable computer that you wear in a pocket.

Is the average American ready for wearable computing?

The phenomenal success of the Palm computer and web-enabled phones is an indication that they are.  The average American is probably still unwilling to walk around in public with weird silverized goggles on their head, but is otherwise anxious to have instantaneous access to the internet.  The cellular phone industry is obviously predicting (or currently has) enormous demand for wearable computing that they plan to offer through the cellular phone.

Is the business world ready for wearable computing?

The obstacles to wearable computing are gradually disappearing.  HMD’s are getting smaller and more stylish.  Voice technology is improving.  Palm and cell phone users are already learning that a full-size keyboard and monitor isn’t the only way to interact with a computer.  Wireless technology will soon free our computers to go anywhere we want them to go.  When all of these factors reach the right combination of availability, cost, and consumer acceptance, the Average American will very gladly strap on a computer and escape their cubicles forever.

What are your enhancements?

Twiddler:  Nearly every Borg in the current Borg culture makes heavy use of the device called “Twiddler”, developed, manufactured, and distributed by Handykey corporation (www.handykey.com).  The Twiddler is a full-function keyboard and mouse that can be used in a single hand.  Few alternative input devices are available, and the Research and Hacker Borg have had little success improving on the technology.  Some Borg hope to replace the Twiddler with voice control.

Glasstron S700:  This is a Sony manufactured HMD (Head Mounted Display)  The Borg central processing unit (CPU) takes input from the Twiddler and generates output to the HMD.  An HMD is nothing more than some kind of miniature computer display like the LCD display on your laptop.  The Sony Glasstron is an imperfect output technology in that it consumes power quickly from expensive InfoLithium batteries.  It has a large control unit, flimsy cables, and the display itself is more unwieldy than one would like.  However, it is widely available and inexpensive, at least in comparison to the more compact models such as the M2 from TekGear (www.tekgear.ca).  An additional benefit to the Business Borg is that it displays 600x800 SVGA, so it works well with Windows, Macintosh, and other graphical based operating systems. 

The HMD’s in use by the Research and Hacker Borg are smaller, but have lower resolution and require additional electronics to display VGA or SVGA signals.  These are  suitable for Linux and X11 which are popular with researchers and hackers, but are more difficult to use with Microsoft Windows.

Toshiba Libretto 70ct:  This is a super-compact “laptop” computer.  It is about the size of a video cassette, a little larger with the port expander and oversized battery.  It is not the ideal CPU for the dedicated Borg because of it’s large size, but is an excellent choice for the new or part-time Borg because it has a small but fully functional keyboard and display built into it.  The Toshiba is no longer distributed in the United States, but is widely available used and can be imported from Japan with a US operating system.  Similar computers are available from other manufacturers.  The ideal Borg gear is a pocket sized computer with no keyboard or LCD display, which are unnecessary if you are using a Twiddler and HMD.  Such computers are available now from Tekgear and other vendors.  Big-name makers are now designing computers created specifically for wearable applications.

Cellular Phone:  The Borg communicate with each other and non-Borg through the internet.  We are attempting to make the best possible use of the fledgling wireless internet technology, but that industry is still underdeveloped for widespread use.  Cy-Ervin uses a cellular phone with digital capabilities to connect to the internet when traveling and a wired internet connection when deskbound.  He can also use a modem-ready telephone when appropriate.

SPONSOR WANTED:  Cy-Ervin is interested in exchanging promotional space and research results for digital cellular time and equipment.  Cellular time is currently too expensive to use routinely.  A few service providers offer unlimited access within limited markets, but that has limited value for the “Borg on the Go”.  Digital Cellular is the most pervasive technology currently available.

Windows 95:  The Toshiba Libretto came with Windows 95, and that operating system has served Cy-Ervin well.  The Libretto is capable of running almost any PC-based operating system including Windows NT, Windows 98, Linux, or OS2.  It probably can run many other OS’s such as Windows 2000, Solaris, Net or FreeBSD, and others, but I haven’t tested them.  Windows 95 is lightweight, compatible with the Libretto hardware, and runs most or all modern Windows applications.