What are some things to avoid when building a wearable computer? 1. Trying to do everything yourself. You may be able to hack your own display out of a camcorder or build your own core module out of a Gameboy or make your own keyboard out of paper clips but trying to do all of these is a mistake. Take a sober assessment of your skills and resources and choose your battles wisely. 2. Not knowing what you need. While I am a recent convert to thick client wearable computing, I went through a long period of minimalistic experimentation. If all you need is a data collector, maybe a Palm device and a Twiddler will do. If you just want GPS mapping then maybe you should consider a handheld GPS device (seriously). But if you need a desktop equivalent (for MP3's of course!) then set your sights on a desktop equivalent wearable. 3. Re-inventing the wheel. Research pays off! Has somebody already done what you want to do? Talk to them. Should I build my own wearable? The short answer is: if you don't have $5000 to spend, then you will have to! Complete wearable systems are just not available for less. A quick and relatively inexpensive way to get started with wearables is to convert a laptop. TheSync.Com has a video demonstration of 'How to Turn a Laptop into a Wearable'. The primary consideration is battery power. See 'Think Power' below. Who sells these complete wearables? Xybernaut ViA Can I have some details on how to get started? Sure, let me just access my details algorithm [er..rug..hmumph] [OUTPUT]: At this stage in wearable computing technology, the most important ingredient in a successful move to a somatic computer is determination. There are not a few obstacles to overcome in making such a dramatic shift in computing habits. However, if you take a little each day, you will have much less chance of becoming discouraged. First of all, you should start now. Even if you aren't ready to make the leap into somatic hardware, you can prepare by adjusting your software. Then as you see fit, you can add components until one day you are ready to launch. Below I outline a gradual method for entering the world of somatic computing. However , there is something to be said for taking this "new world" by storm and moving completely to a wearable as soon as possible. To a large degree, this depends upon how much 'free time' you have, as it will take plenty of time and practice for a full conversion. The philosophy behind this schedule is that you will be more resistant to disappointment if you develop the skills for somatic computing gradually, before you strap on your wearable. 1. Get emacs now. Emacs is an extensible text editor used by most of the wearable computer users today. It is really an operating system inside of an operating system. Advantages: Multi-platform. Runs in Windows and Linux (among others). This allows you to change operating systems without losing your familiar work environment. Open Source - Emacs is not only open source, Emacs restores power to the user. In GUI environments, in particular MS windows one is often lead to an inaccurate idea of how a computer (and software) works.. In Emacs, you can see as much or as little of the software process as you like. If you don't like something, you can change it, without a host of programming tools. You can edit, compile and execute files from within Emacs. Even if you aren't a programmer, learning Emacs will give you the ability to easily customize your working environment in just about any way. As they say 'you can do anything in Emacs'. Freely available - under GNU license. Popular - Future software for somatic computing is likely to be developed in Emacs. (Remembrance Agent is an example - currently available) Challenges: Learning curve. - Emacs does take a while to learn, but it is well worth it. Do as much of your work in Emacs as possible. Twiddle Gradient Buy a Twidder and start using it on your current computer. Start with five minutes a day and work your way up to full time. A command of the Twiddler will go a long way toward preparation for wearable computing. Research your core module There are a number of core modules available. Personally, I went with a sub-notebook for a few reasons. · For a gradual transition. I used the notebook display (with Twiddler) until I was ready for an HMD. In retrospect, I was a bit too slow in making the final move to an HMD and full time somatic computer. · Simplicity. I wanted to avoid the current fight for standards in embedded systems. · Flexibility. 3 PCMCIA, Parallel, Serial, PS2, Video, USB, Audio in/out ports all built-in. · Compactness. Overall size is likely smaller than an embedded system like pc104 (given the components in the Magio) although the form factor of pc104 is more workable and the power requirements are less. If you already have a notebook you may try to convert it, the concern with conversion is power requirements - see the 'Think Power' section. MIT uses the PC/104 embedded system standard for their Lizzy design. Prepare for the Display After using a hires SVGA (what 1600x1200, 1280x1024?) as your primary display, you may find it shocking or perhaps insulting to revert to 320x240 pixels in an HMD. Obviously if you are a graphic artist you should stop reading and wait a few years. But if you are a writer or programmer and can work in a text-only or limited graphics environment, you should have no problem after a brief orientation period, where you adjust to decreased screen real estate and increased fonts. As I have said elsewhere I can take no responsibility for brain damage caused by "holding one's breath" until the new generation of hires HMD's hit the market (and this 'new generation' may only be true 640x480 grayscale.) Consider IBM's wearable PC, I first heard a 4Q 1999 release now it may be Spring before it hits the market. And even though they promise a 800x600 color display sometime, the first model will have a 320x240 display. How much longer until the 800x600 display arrives? One can make a career out of waiting for this technology. While we're on the subject, if you are waiting for the IBM wearable to hit the market, there are a few things you should be thinking about. Do you really want to use voice recognition and a Trackpoint pointer for input? The IBM wearable has a USB port but as far as I can tell, no RS-232 port (in other words adding a Twiddler is not an option.) Can you get by with less than 2 hours battery life? Is a 240M MicroDrive large enough? And for how much? $3000? and with all that a display that does not improve on the TekGear M1 current standard? In the very least, the IBM wearable will require some hacking to make it cyborg ready. Here is what you can do to prepare for today's HMD technology: Increase your Emacs font to 16 point and decrease your screen size or Emacs window to 640x480. This will give you a feeling of what it is like. At first I found it unbearable. It wasn't until I had my complete system up and running and went to the M1 full time that I adapted: now it is a non-issue. Then of course, purchase an M1 HMD and use it on your desktop computer or portable. Think Power The M1 (and all HMDs) require their own power supply. The best solution is to power the M1 from the same battery as the computer is powered. Since the M1 can take 6.5VDC to 24VDC input, you can leech off of the battery of most notebooks. (note that the M1 works most efficiently as the voltage approaches 6.5V.) The Ricoh Magio and Hitachi Visionbook Traveler (P133 and below versions only) both use standard 7.2V Lithium camcorder batteries, making them ideal for use with the M1. Love your Wearable What things can you do to move more quickly into Somatic Computing? - Vacation with your wearable. Once you have completed your wearable, take a day off from regular work and devote it to improving your somatic computing skills. - Move! Get in the habit of walking. - Curl up with next to the fire with your computer and read an electronic book. |
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| Wearable HOWTO (PDA focus) | | | WearHard FAQ - Outdated | | | MIT Wearable FAQ | |||
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| Steve Mann WearComp FAQ | | | Steve Mann - WearHow | | | The Cyborgs are Coming by Thad Starner | |||
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