That Computer Looks Great on You. By Brad King. March 12, 2002.

>>AUSTIN, Texas - The human body is being broken down, analyzed and
>>reimagined as part of an effort to build a better wearable computer.
>>
>>Using the contours and movement of the human body to improve
>>technology,
>>the government, private corporations and universities are creating new
>>products - usually a blend of hardware and software - that will
>>radically
>>reshape how people interact with themselves and the world around them.
>>
>>"There's an idea of understanding and appreciating the body, then
>>designing
>>better technologies that are more sympathetic (to how the body moves)
>>and (more) powerful than desktops," said Chris Kasabach, head of
>>product
>>development at Body Media, a company developing medical armbands that
>>patients wear outside of hospitals.
>>
>>The idea of the wearable computer evokes scary thoughts of sci-fi
>>super-soldiers, intelligent cyborgs and an always-on government
>>tracking
>>its
>>citizens. Kevin Warwick, the professor who embedded a chip in his arm
>>to
>>link
>>him to his research lab, and the Jacobs family who want their medical
>>records implanted, have done little to quell those fears.
>>
>>But most computers have benign purposes, meant to enhance an
>>individual's
>>experience through the use of technology. College professor Steve Mann
>>has
>>developed devices, which by using a pair of sunglasses and a handheld
>>clicker, enable people to link to the Internet, surf the Web and send
>>e-mail.
>>
>>Mann is the most extreme case, designing his own prototypes. Consumers
>>can expect to find wearable technology much more user-friendly.
>>
>>The Wearable Computer Group at Carnegie Mellon maps the body, looking
>>for the parts that rarely move no matter what the motion. Then, the
>>group
>>develops an outline shape. New technology is designed to fit within
>>that
>>space, since those places are less likely to disturb the technology.
>>There are
>>pockets in the mid stomach and hamstring area, but the most obvious
>>place
>>is the one that watch makers have known about for years.
>>
>>"As technology is shrinking, new forms are taking the shape of the
>>wrist
>>watch," said Francine Gemperle, a design researcher at Carnegie Mellon.
>>"Simple technologies need to add function to our body."
>>
>>One of the most talked-about wearable computers is NTT DoCoMo's cell
>>phone Whisper, which is still in development. The phone vibrates on the
>>inner
>>wrist when there is an incoming call. To answer, people touch their
>>forefinger
>>to their ear and speak. The device uses bone conduction to transmit
>>voices.
>>
>>Mapping human motion is an evolving science but it has already brought
>>breakthroughs in everyday products. Kinetic maps of divers have led to
>>innovation in wetsuits for surfers and Navy SEALs. The Wright Patterson
>>Air
>>Force Base is home to new three-dimensional imaging projects that show
>>how well equipment handles body contours.
>>
>>While the entertainment usages are fun, medical care could be the
>>biggest
>>beneficiary of wearable computers. Joint and cochlear implants,
>>prosthetics
>>and tooth replacements are being refined and experimented at medical
>>facilities. Right now, doctors have the ability to monitor their
>>patients once
>>they leave the office, using devices that monitor various body
>>functions.
>>
>>"In the case of medical technology, (wearable computers) means
>>prolonging
>>and changing the quality of life," Gemperle said.
>>
>>Source URL: http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,1282,50975,00.html


VICUG-L is the Visually Impaired Computer User Group List.
To join or leave the list, send a message to
[log in to unmask]  In the body of the message, simply type
"subscribe vicug-l" or "unsubscribe vicug-l" without the quotations.
 VICUG-L is archived on the World Wide Web at
http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/vicug-l.html