wearable electronics

tangentially related to

• vlsi.html has information on how to design chips. In particular, some sections talk about how to optimize chip designs to reduce power (tradeoffs between power, area (cost), and speed).
• Biometric systems
• Global Positioning System (GPS) machine_vision.html#gps
• Machine Vision machine_vision.html
• keyboards serialportdocs.html#keyboard
• ARM arm.html seems to be a popular computer architecture computer_architecture.html to use on wearable computers
• FireWire serialportdocs.html#ieee1394
• computer_architecture.html#forth Quartus Forth is a popular Palm OS software development environment (runs on the Palm itself).

news

• [FIXME: considering moving just about all this information to the handhelds wiki http://www.handhelds.org/z/wiki/ ] ... or http://handhelds.org/moin/moin.cgi/
• news:comp.sys.handhelds
• http://wiki.debian.net/?Handheld
• http://www.pdastreet.com/ reviews all kinds of PDA hardware -- Visor, Palm, Psion, etc. Also has free software downloads. Also has message boards. http://www.pdastreet.com/forums/
• http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/
• Pen Computing Magazine: Source for Windows CE, Palm OS, EPOC, wireless, Bluetooth, etc. http://www.PenComputing.com/
• http://www.geek.com/pdageek/
• http://www.hiptop.bedope.com/ ???
• Handheld and Palmtop Computer News http://dailynews.yahoo.com/fc/Tech/Handheld_and_Palmtop_Computers/
• VisorCentral http://www.visorcentral.com/ ``community resource for Handspring's Visor'' news and discussion board.
• http://www.handhelds.org/z/wiki/HandheldsBuyAndSell
• news specific to PalmOS (Palm, Handspring, etc.) #palm
  • http://www.visorvillage.com/
  • http://www.palmgear.com/
  • Palmstation.com http://www.palmstation.com/
• infoSync World - All about Palm OS, Pocket PC, Symbian and mobile phones. http://www.infosync.no/
• http://www.brighthand.com/ "the intelligent place for handheld computers"
• http://www.cewindows.net/ claims to be The most complete set of FAQs on Windows CE anywhere!
• Brian's PDA Optimized Web Site List http://cantoni.org/palm/links.html (general world and financial news, designed to be read on a PDA)

[FIXME: estimated prices]

general

wearables, in general.

wearable computing (should I split out ``textiles'' ?)

• ``Wearable Computing'' by Doug Sutherland http://home.earthlink.net/~wearable/ has lots of detailed technical information on how to integrate hardware into a wearable computer, displays, cameras, alternative keyboards, GPS, etc. Information on his smart jacket in particular (``Jacketized Computing''). Information on the wearable community in general. Also has lots of information on portable EEG, ECG (brainwave and heart sensing). [FIXME: link #GPS to his site]

  Doug Sutherland

  My web site is now restructured like this:
  
  http://home.earthlink.net/~wearable/
  http://home.earthlink.net/~wearable/devices/
  http://home.earthlink.net/~wearable/software/
  http://home.earthlink.net/~wearable/hardware/     -- parts
  http://home.earthlink.net/~wearable/homebrew/
  http://home.earthlink.net/~wearable/biopsy/
  http://home.earthlink.net/~wearable/access/
  http://home.earthlink.net/~wearable/galleria/
  
  ...
  Wear-Hard Mailing List Archive (searchable): http://wearables.blu.org
  

• The Minimalist Road Warrior's Guide to "Traveling Light" using a PocketPC by Beverly Howard, http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/bevhoward/TravLite.htm Total with GPS: 3 lb 0.0 oz = 1364 g

  DAV: actual numbers.

• http://elm-chan.org/reports/mpc/report_e.html How to build your own pocket-sized MP3 player. Includes photos of his wire-wrap prototype board.
• Scott E. Jordan, chairman and CEO of Scott eVest http://www.scottevest.com/ ... Fashion designers by trade scoff at people in the tech world who, like Jordan, a former corporate attorney, decide to design clothing. It's just that so-called geek's wear is so ... functional. -- http://www.wired.com/news/business/0,1367,49504,00.html ???
• e-Holster http://www.eholster.com/ holsters for holding PDAs and other accessories
• ``Tangible Bits: Towards Seamless Interfaces between People, Bits and Atoms'' paper by Hiroshi Ishii and Brygg Ullmer http://www.acm.org/sigchi/chi97/proceedings/paper/hi.htm almost poetic. Making digital information directly graspable. Makes it easy for people to interact with the computer 2-handed.
• ``Engineering Researchers Are Designing The Ultimate Fabrics, For Casual Or Military Wear'' article by ??? 2002-11-11 http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2002/11/021108072246.htm

  Mark Jones and Tom Martin ... The researchers are designing e-textiles -- cloth interwoven with electronic components -- for use as personal "wearable computers" and as large sensing and communications fabrics.

  ...

  ... The electronic wires and sensors woven into the fabric will perform the complex procedure of listening for the faint sounds of distant vehicles ...

  Within the fabric, the sensors and their connecting wires will communicate with one another to create patterns of information. This information can then be translated by computer software into images that will enable soldiers to determine the location of detected sounds.

  ...

  Sound detection is not the only potential use ... Fabrics can be woven with sensors that can detect chemicals, pick up satellite signals, and ... Jones and his colleagues also foresee numerous industrial uses.

  ...

  [FIXME: ultrasonic ?]
• Meet the Otter Pop Pilot http://www.phobe.com/otter/ (parody)
• http://www.pdaed.com/features/hpcscience.xml An inspirational story about how we *could* be using handhelds.
• "Xybernaut is the leader in Wearable computers" http://www.xybernaut.com/
• Wearable-HOWTO http://www.LinuxDoc.org/HOWTO/Wearable-HOWTO.html | mirror http://tldp.org/HOWTO/Wearable-HOWTO.html [FIXME: read]
• Ubiquitous Computing News http://ubicomp.editthispage.com/
• http://wearables.www.media.mit.edu/projects/wearables/mithril/vision.html "Over the coming months expect to see detailed plans (schematics, part lists, CAD files, etc.) for MIThril components as well as source code and other technical documentation."
• Wearable Computer Systems at Carnegie Mellon University http://www.cs.cmu.edu/afs/cs.cmu.edu/project/vuman/www/
• http://www.smaller.com/ "a big place for small devices" articles, product reviews, software (mostly for Palm OS). also: software developers for Pocket PC (Win CE) and Palm OS can submit their software here; then smaller.com takes 30% of sales and mails the developer a monthly check.
• Overview of Energy Conservation http://www.research.digital.com/wrl/projects/PocketComputing/

  The objective of this project is to develop an understanding of power use in pocket computers, and how energy consumption can be reduced through software and system optimizations. We are not, however, focusing on hardware modifications for low-power processors owing to it being unlikely that we could influence the design of such processors.

  [FIXME: low-power]
• http://wearcomp.org/ ??? Huh ? What happened to wearcomp ?
• The MIT Wearable Computing Web Page http://www.media.mit.edu/wearables/ points to the "So you want to build your own wearable?" FAQ and lots of other information on wearable computing.
• "'Cyborg' technology designed to make U.S. soldiers more effective" August 10, 2000 http://www.cnn.com/2000/TECH/computing/08/10/computer.soldiers.ap/
• Wearables Central http://wearables.blu.org/ /* was http://wearables.ml.org/ */ /* was http://reg16.admin.rochester.edu/ */ "wearable computing links and news archive" an archive for news:comp.sys.wearables and an archive for the mailing list Wear-Hard@haven.org
• If computer hardware were truly wearable, it would be securely attached -- there would be no need for "Grip-it Strips(tm)" http://www.grip-it.com/ . As it is, they're quite useful.
• The i-Wear project http://www.starlab.org/bits/intell_clothing/project.html intelligent clothing including: Fabric RF Antennas; Power generation, management and control. The team has developed a wireless communication system, the Fabric Area Network.
• HOWTO: Build a VASE lab wearable http://wearables.essex.ac.uk/spec/wear-spec.html (PC-104 based)
• Peter Strobel Pilot Pages http://www.pstec.de/ppp/ reviews 10 PalmOS devices and a Windows CE device from a hardware engineer's perspective: with very nice photos of the PWBs (circuit boards) Shows how the swivel in the Sony Clie NR70V works.
• "Wearable computers on trial" article by JoAnn Napier in The Ottawa Citizen http://www.ottawacitizen.com/hightech/990118/2191075.html
• wearables webring http://k.webring.com/hub?ring=wearablecomputin /* was http://nav.webring.yahoo.com/hub?ring=wearit&list */
• http://www.mobileinsights.com/ ???
• Vismod Tech Reports and Publications http://dbecker.www.media.mit.edu/cgi-bin/tr_pagemaker#TR426 has many papers on wearable computation
• wearable computation, information storage, and communication gear at MIT http://wearables.www.media.mit.edu/projects/wearables/
• Some people say affective computing and wearables will have a synergistic combination. See the book _Affective Computing_ by Dr. Roz Picard of the "Things That Think" section of the MIT media lab.
• wearable computing: the wear-hard mailing list at: http://reg16.admin.rochester.edu/wear-hard/
• search for wearable computing at IBM. http://www.ibm.com/Search?q=wearable /* was http://www.ibm.com:8080/db2search/?v=9&q=wearable&realm=h */
• Body-powered Devices http://slashdot.org/science/01/11/30/1248228.shtml [FIXME: link from VLSI#low-power]
• http://www.bedfordmags.com/lbg/bulletinboard/bulletin.cgi?9

  ``Carry your portable devices and manage their myriad cords and wires in style with the SCOTTeVEST, a garment with 15 pockets to securely holster the most complex arsenal of gadgets.

  Powered by the PAN-TECH conduit system, each SCOTTeVEST encloses a personal area network consisting of concealed conduits, or pockets, providing connections from cell phones to hands-free headsets or MP3/CD players to headphones. Wires are held in place with hidden contact fastners throughout the lining. The pockets range in size and shape to suit a stylus or a subnotebook, and everything in between.''

• ``TV on a T-shirt: New fabric displays glowing, changing images.'' article by Philip Ball 22 May 2002 http://www.nature.com/nsu/020520/020520-4.html
• Alex Lightman: Chief Executive Officer, Chairman and Co-Founder of Charmed Technology, Inc. http://www.charmed.com/ runs the Brave New Unwired World Fashion Show (BNUW) (photos online) featuring wearable broadband devices as described in _Brave New Unwired World: The Digital Big Bang and the Infinite Internet_ book by Alex Lightman. ``InfoCharms''.

  Charmed Technology, Inc. http://www.charmed.com/

  ``... a fully working personal computer enclosed in a lightweight aluminum case suitable for carrying on the body ... commercially available wearable ... With the addition of a wireless network card, the CharmIT allows mobile connectivity.

  ...

  The 266 Mhz Pentium model ... A 16-bit ISA PC/104 expansion ...

  The 800 Mhz Transmeta model uses a low power Crusoe TM5800 processor, ... A 32-bit MiniPCI expansion slot ... IEEE1394 firewire ports ...

  Charmed is the only wearable company that offers full information on its hardware, even down to the CAD files for its case. ...''

  also resells head-mounted displays.
• "The street finds its own use for things." -- William Gibson, in _Neuromancer_
• ``A Whole New Fashion Industry'' 2002-02-26 http://www.spacedaily.com/news/materials-02d.html

  Car seats that wake up drowsy drivers, bed sheets that monitor your health, socks that let you know when you are about to do a tendon, vests that trigger an emergency beacon if you are dying of exposure -- that's what an eclectic mix of researchers spent last Friday discussing as part of an Electronic Textiles workshop in Geelong.

  The textile scientists, polymer chemists, physicists, and bioengineers from around the world met ...

  Barry Holcombe ... talks of a future far beyond the "wearable electronics" -- jackets with integrated mobile phones and music players -- that are beginning to creep onto the market today.

  "These garments are still reliant on conventional copper wire technology that changes the character and feel of clothes. We believe the future lies with truly electronic textiles -- fabrics that contain electronic circuits but can be handled like traditional cloth, crumpled or ironed, thrown on the floor or into the washing machine," says Dr Holcombe.

  ...

• rec.games.video.classic Handheld Games FAQ http://www.geocities.com/icollect_2000/hhldv125.htm Clinton R. Dyer 1998 [FIXME: surely there's a more up-to-date version ?] has advice on repairing buttons, cleaning screens, etc.

roll-up electronics

electronics that can roll up into a tight bundle. The beginnings of "flexible electronics" that can be sewn into comfortable garments.

• [FIXME: flexible solar panels]
• http://www.powerbookcentral.com/columns/hildreth_moore/micekbs.shtml mentions the CoolMac Flexible, Waterproof USB Keyboard by CryWolf Inc., http://www.supermediastore.com/coolmac-keyboard-usb-white.html and the Eumax Foldable Keyboard http://www.iocombo.com/product/showproduct.php?productid=016A .
• $39.99 VIK, the "virtually indestructible keyboard" http://www.smarthome.com/9459.html , http://www.grandtec.com/vik.htm Lots of versions (all apparently the same price); a full 101-key keyboard, "mini-VIK" keyboards without the numeric keypad in black or bright colors ... waterproof, flexible keyboard. can roll up into a tight bundle. [FIXME: athletic]
• $39.99 PocketVIK http://www.grandtec.com/pocketvik.htm (slightly different versions for PalmOS and PocketPC) waterproof, flexible keyboard. can roll up into a tight bundle.
• Flexboard(R) Keyboard http://www.mmits.com/Flexboard.htm waterproof, flexible keyboard. can roll up into a tight bundle.
• $79.99 Whitelite FX100 Flexible Keyboard http://www.e-dealsdaily.com/whitelite/ also sold by http://www.man-machine.com/ waterproof, flexible keyboard. can roll up into a tight bundle.

wrist

wrist computers

There seems to be a convergence as (from below) cheap wristwatches keep adding yet another function to their primary purpose of displaying the time, (from above) general-purpose computers capable of handling email keep getting smaller and lighter and more and more portable (from the ``mainframe'' in a rack bolted to the floor, to ``desktop'', to ``luggable'', to notebook/laptop, to PDA, to email-capable cell phones).

[FIXME: this section currently contains general-purpose computers packaged to be worn on the wrist ... should I move time.html#watches near here ? Or leave single-function devices that *only* do time there ? They have a few things in common -- the importance of low-power, the ergonomics of the wrist, etc. ]

see also machine_vision.html#wrist_cameras and machine_vision.html#GPS_wristwatches

• Wrist PDA mailing list http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wristpda/ or send e-mail to wristpda-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
• http://www.laks.com/ wristwatch with integrated USB cable and 128 MB flash drive.
• http://www.electronsoup.com/xcom/Gadgets/Watches/
• WristPC Wearable Keyboard http://www.rs485.ie/dept.asp?dept%5Fid=97 very compact QWERTY + arrow keys keyboard, designed to be strapped to one wrist.
• ``Is That a PC on Your Wrist?: IBM, Citizen team up on the WatchPad, a wristwatch PDA that uses Bluetooth to connect to a PC.'' article by Kuriko Miyake, IDG News Service, 2001-10-22

  IBM is working hand-in-hand with Japanese watchmaker Citizen Watch on new prototypes of IBM's WatchPad wearable computer...

  The WatchPad 1.5, a wristwatch-sized device measuring 2.5 by 1.8 by .6 inches and weighing 1.5 ounces, runs Linux on a 32-bit ARM processor at a maximum speed of 74 MHz. It has 8MB of DRAM and 16MB of flash memory, a speaker, and a microphone.

  It has a reflective monochrome liquid crystal display QVGA screen, a fingerprint recognition device for security, and an acceleration sensor that detects the user's hand movements. It also has IrDA, RS232C, and Bluetooth network interfaces.

  ...

  ... The battery now lasts for at least a day ...

  -- http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,65623,00.asp

  ``Citizen to commercialize IBM's wristwatch computer'' article by Paul Kallender 2001-10-11 _EE Times_ http://www.embedded.com/story/OEG20011011S0074

• ``IBM clocks in with new Linux watch'' by Stephen Shankland Staff Writer, CNET News.com March 23, 2001, 10:20 AM PT http://news.com.com/2100-1040-254658.html?legacy=cnet&tag=ch_mh

  IBM has created a second-generation Linux wristwatch, this one smaller than the original and sporting a gleaming golden display, but still just as impractical.

  ... its battery lasts only two hours ...

  ...

  ... bright OLED (organic light-emitting diode) display... crams an array of 640 by 480 pixels into a watch face just 0.65 inches tall by 0.87 inches wide, said Chandra Narayanaswami, manager of the IBM Research Division's wearable computing program. ...

  ...

  The golden yellow pixels against the black background not only are far easier to read than the muddy liquid crystal display of the first watch, but they consume less power, Narayanaswami said. ...

• FOSSIL Wrist PDA
  • "Fossil’s Palm OS Wrist PDA Available June 30 ... $295" By Ed Hardy June 2nd, 2003 http://www.brighthand.com/article/Fossil_Wrist_PDA_Available_June_30
  • FOSSIL Wrist PDA http://www.fossil.com/PDA/ ``lets you download and store important personal data from your handheld using infared beaming, then strap it conveniently to your wrist. ... wristwatch-style design'' 190 KBytes RAM 48 KBytes ROM 102x64 pixel LCD

    unfavorable review at http://www.brighthand.com/article/Fossil_WristPDA (but note that this is the 2001 pre-Palm OS version)

  • ``Fossil unveils wrist-worn Palm OS PDA'' article by Jørgen Sundgot, Monday, 18.11.02 20:19 GMT http://www.infosync.no/news/2002/n/2635.html

    the world's first Palm Powered wristwatch. Slated for availability in stores in mid-2003, the new watch will be available under two brands; Fossil's own, and ABACUS.

    ... Motorola Dragonball VZ 33 MHz processor, 2 MB RAM, a 160 x 160 pixel resolution 16-level grayscale display and an IrDA 1.2-compatible infrared port ...

    The press release http://www.fossil.com/tech/News_Releases/news_2002_November_1.asp?ID=NewsReleases

  • Fossil Wrist PDA to run full Palm OS 4.1 ``"It's basically a Zire on the wrist," said Donald Brewer, Vice President of Technology for Fossil, ... Like the Zire, the new Wrist PDA has a 160 x 160 screen, and 2MB RAM; unlike the Zire, it has a 33MHz Dragonball processor and a backlit screen. ... The Fossil spokesman said that there would initially be two brands, the Fossil Wrist PDA, retailing for US$299, and the Abacus Wrist PDA, which would sell for US$199. ... the only differences will be cosmetic. There will also be plastic banded models... these will also be less expensive. The product is expected after the first quarter of 2003.'' http://www.pencomputing.com/palm/avantgo/palmmain.html
• http://www.PConHand.com/ $299 World's smallest computer/PDA... - Guinness Book of Records Standard configuration is: 16bit-CPU/128kB-SRAM/2MB-Flash Memory 102 x 64 pixel LCD display screen, cursor pointer, four (4) function buttons, and an internal speaker ... data can be input directly into the onHand [or] ... PC and the onHand ... through the docking station. And, you can transfer entire files, address records and other PIM applications to another onHand through the IR Communications port.

  Buy.com http://www.us.buy.com/retail/computers/product.asp?sku=10266787&loc=495 sells the Onhand for $251.95.

• Radiocontrol Project : Part I : Low Power DSP Wrist Watch http://www-imt.unine.ch/www/grp_pe/www/projects/Radiocontrol/
• the Web-@nywhere Watch-Organizer http://www.shoplifestyleonline.com/wa113.html ???
• http://timexfun.webprovider.com/ "High tech wristwatch info and mailing list for Ruputer, Datalink, etc." ???
• Seiko to sell wristwatch PC http://www.news.com/News/Item/0,4,20890,00.html (128 KB memory)
• Learning IR Remote Wristwatch Calculator http://www.smarthome.com/8178b.html (TV infrared learning remote control, and calculator, built into a wristwatch)
• VMPC Blood Glucose Monitor Wristwatch http://www.vmpc.com/BloodGlucoseWatch.html
• NTT has developed a prototype wristwatch-type PHS terminal, a "wearable communications device" that weighs only 70g including its batteries, antenna, and speaker. http://info.ntt.co.jp/mon/96_aug/wristphs.html | http://mobile.softline.fi/sms-monthly/News/news_98029.htm Japan's personal handyphone system (PHS) network "PHS, or personal handyphone system, an alternative digital telecommunications standard that is cheaper than traditional cellular systems but has a more limited range. " http://augustachronicle.com/stories/122197/tech_watch.shtml
• IBM's Linux Wrist Watch project http://www.linuxdevices.com/articles/AT9330943155.html project leader: Alex Morrow "It's a standard Cirrus part (an EP7211), which is based on an ARM7 core plus additional built-in system controllers and interfaces." http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS5153961039.html
• wristwatch games, bought and sold http://www.vonl.com/users/soundminded/Gameswanted.htm
• "The wristwatch telephone" article by Molleen Theodore (7/1/98) [FIXME: future history] wristwatch telephone "AT&T Labs' media relations director Brian Monahan, ... wants to provide service for a phone designed, built, and produced by someone else. Despite not wanting to get into the production market itself, AT&T is tracking the developments in the industry and according to Monahan, "wristwatch telephones will be commonplace in two or three years." " http://www.cnet.com/Content/Gadgets/Techno/Wristphone/
• "The HeartAlarm[tm] wristwatch works by sensing the electrical signals that the heart produces with each contraction. These signals can be sensed anywhere on the body's surface, including the wrist. When a blood clot blocks the flow of blood in the coronary artery, depriving some heart muscles of oxygen, a different electrical signal is produced. A microcomputer in the HeartAlarm[tm] screens the electrical signals, and sounds an alarm only when it receives typical heart attack signals. False alarms should not occur." http://www.alinfoundation.com/Medical%20Research/HeartAlarm.htm
• Radio-Controlled Wristwatch TM010 $760.00 http://204.127.238.82/tm010.htm ???

input devices

input devices particularly designed for wearable computers.

See also serialportdocs.html#ergonomics for other strange and wonderful keyboard replacements and strap-on keyboards.

• Twiddler
• The Design of a Wearable Computer Len Bass, Chris Kasabach, Richard Martin, Dan Siewiorek, Asim Smailagic, John Stivoric http://www.acm.org/sigchi/chi97/proceedings/paper/ljb1.htm ``user centered design''

  Wearable computers are often viewed as small versions of desk top computers. That is, they are rectangular in shape, use mouse and keyboard surrogates as input devices and use standard operating systems and software. This is a very narrow and constraining view. ... the VuMan3, a wearable computer ...

  We have two main points in the paper: 1) the use of a dial as a primary input device and the reflection of the dial in the look and feel of the user interface provides a new paradigm useful for wearable computers and 2) conceptual integrity is the key to a successful design.

  ... The dial was introduced as a concept in one of the groups of the integrated product team. It gradually grew to the point where it began to dominate the look and feel of the physical device. This required the electronics group to modify their design for the mother board. It caused the software to be modified to reflect the physical design decisions and this final result was a new user interface paradigm: circular input and circular visualization.

  ...

  The dial as a control device has long roots dating back at least to early radios. From the computer perspective, however, it is new to have it be the primary input device. It allows for low attention and one handed input that is orientation independent. It also allows for the operator to be wearing gloves and it is resilient to chemicals and dirt. ...

handheld software

PDA Software

pen computing (see wearables )

[FIXME: lots of software stuff in my ``hardware'' section ... should I just give up and merge into 1 section ? ]

• using a Pocket PC http://www.pocketpchow2.com/ ``_How To Do Everything with Your Pocket PC_ [by] Frank McPherson.''
• http://www.isaac.cs.berkeley.edu/pilot/ has some interesting Palm Pilot applications.
• BugMe http://bugme.net/index.php?page=bugme [FIXME: install on my visor]
• [FIXME: interesting people ?] Jonathan Markevich http://www.geocities.com/jmarkevich/ recommends using jpilot with Linux and Palm Pilot. many other Palm Pilot software recommendations. [FIXME: check out this software]
• GPE: The GPE Palmtop Environment http://gpe.handhelds.org/ (GPLed) [FIXME: I think this is completely unrelated to PalmOS]
• IIR Filter Design Reference for Palm http://www.visorvillage.com/software/pc/-IIR-Filter-Design-Reference-2002-10-11-palm-pc.html
• http://www.pdastreet.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=1677 how to sync Handspring with Linux desktop machine.
• handhelds.org http://handhelds.org/ "Our goal is to encourage and facilitate the creation of open source software for use on handheld and wearable computers." The authors of this site seem to be all excited about the Compaq iPAQ H3600 (StrongARM 206 MHz) but will probably port to HP and other handhelds.
• http://software.palm.com/ software for Palm; eBooks.
• http://www.pdacentral.com/ Windows CE and Palm OS software.
• Chris McKinney http://chris.mckinney.net/palmos/ has a list of his favorite PalmOS applications.
• http://www.clubpda.com
• The "WinLinx" software (for the Newton, the PalmPilot, and Windows CE) by PICA GmbH http://www.pica.de/ looks interesting.
• Tucows PDA software http://download.tucows.com/perl/PDA.html?Target=index.html
• ``The HP Jornada 540 and 548 plus A Few Tips, Tricks and Links'' by Beverly Howard 2002 http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/bevhoward/bhhpj.htm has some useful tips and work-arounds.

  How to turn off ActiveSync until you really need it. http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/bevhoward/ASync.htm#WCESCOMM you can use <Ctrl+Alt+Del> to bring up the current tasks at any time and "End Task" the Activesync module in memory named WCESCOMM at any time that the pocket pc is not connected

  Pocket Internet Explorer doesn't handle anchor tags (#) correctly when they refer to a file that has a space *anywhere* in the directory path (in particular, files in the "Storage[space]Card"). How to rename the "Storage Card" to "CF" (to work around the above bug). ... (even though the screen is 240x320) make a 240x300 pixel image and put it in \WINDOWS\HPSTART.BMP to override the default startup logo with a personalized image ... [FIXME: hardware I use; make specific PDA catagory here ?]

handheld hardware

contents:

• about PDAs in general: comparison reviews,...
• Psion
• other_PDAs
• palm pilot and handspring hardware and software

see also

• GPS receivers in a Springboard module: (Handspring) machine_vision.html#springboard_gps

handhelds, also called palmtops, also called personal digital assistants (PDAs), are early steps towards wearable computers.

general handhelds and PDAs

handhelds and PDAs, in general:

• At "Palm Boulevard", http://palmblvd.com/ , what is the difference between the "Message Boards" http://palmblvd.com/boards/ and the "Forums" button (which sends me to http://pdastreet.com/forums/ ) ?
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_Digital_Assistant
• Affordable Pocket PCs ZDNet Reviews December 10, 2002 http://techupdate.zdnet.com/techupdate/stories/main/0,14179,2901362,00.html [FIXME: finish reading]
• http://www.consumersearch.com/www/electronics/handheld_computers_pda/ has a very good review of PDAs (apparently continuously updated ?)
• ``Best Basic PDA'' TV news report. Reporter: Cindy Morrison 2002-09-16 http://www.ktul.com/showstory.hrb?f=n&s=56698&f1=con&f2=con&z=0
• ``Which PDA should you buy, and where should you buy it ?'' http://www.ratedpda.com/ ``Consumer Reports has just assessed twenty PDAs''
• Computers: Systems: Handhelds http://dmoz.org/Computers/Systems/Handhelds/ lots of links [FIXME: does this make my handhelds section obsolete ?] [FIXME: does this make most of my file obsolete ?]
• http://www.jewishworldreview.com/cols/consumer052201.asp May 22, 2001 has a good review of PDAs
• Open Hardware Palmtop Computing Association (OHPA) http://www.morphyone.org/ohpa/ ???
• ExtremeComputing http://electronsoup.com/xcom/ has lots of alternative keyboards [FIXME:] , head-mounted displays, and handheld PDA accessories (fingertip PDA stylus, etc). Lets you rate various items and see what the average rating is. (unbiased since apparently they don't sell the stuff, they just point at vendors), and information on ``Cyborg culture''.
• Warner's Mips based PDA info Center http://people.freebsd.org/~imp/pdamips.html lists lots of PDAs, and whether a Free OS has been ported to it yet.
• http://www.deja.com/group/comp.sys.palmtops
• http://www.deja.com/group/comp.sys.handhelds
• http://www.deja.com/group/comp.sys.pen
• New World Technologies (NWT) http://www.nwt.com/ Sells "Psion Series 5" ($429 in 1999-03), PalmPilot, and WindowsCE hardware and software.
• ``The Linux-PDA and PDA-Linux Quick Reference Guide'' by Rick Lehrbaum (Updated Jan. 9, 2002) http://www.linuxdevices.com/articles/AT8728350077.html has photos of *lots* of PDAs running linux. [FIXME: does Lehrbaum's list make my list obsolete ? Why not let Rick maintain the list, while I do other stuff ?]
• [FIXME:] http://home.netscape.com/computing/packages/gearheads/home.html?cp=dwnthkyou1 handheld comparisons ?

  Best Buy: Compaq iPAQ H3650
  Most Compact: Palm Vx
  Easy to Use: Handspring Visor Deluxe
  Most Connected: Palm VIIx
  

other PDAs

misc particular handhelds and PDAs:

[FIXME: categorize: A: open hardware, B: runs open software, C: completely closed/proprietary. ]

• ``the Filewalker, a new Linux-based handheld, with a very unique (one-handed) means of inputting characters.'' http://slashdot.org/articles/02/01/26/0428214.shtml 133 MHz StrongARM processor and 32 MB RAM
• IBM's meta-pad concept

  ``New 'ultra-personal computer' will run Linux (and much more)'' Apr. 17, 2002 http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS4054087444.html

  OQO (pronounced "oh-q-oh") unveiled a unique tiny modular computer ... weighs just 9 ounces ... built-in 10 gigabyte hard drive ... 1 GHz Transmeta Crusoe TM5800 ... 256 MB RAM (not expandable) ... 4-inch diagonal TFT color LCD; 640 x 480 pixels resolution ... * Built-in 802.11b and Bluetooth radios and antennas ... * 2 Firewire interfaces * 2 USB ports * Serialized PCI bus ... Around $1,000 to $1,200 ... in volume production by the end of 2002

  http://www.oqo.com/

  `` The MCC, or “mobile computer core,” ... core consists of the Crusoe processor by Transmeta, 10 GB hard disk and 256 MB Ram all contained within 3"x5"x3/4" -- smaller than a typical PDA. Low power consumption makes it ideal for portable applications, and no fan is required. ... Use it to run Windows 2000, WindowsXP, or Linux operating systems. Use it in multiple configurations -- desktop, laptop, handheld, tablet, or wearable.'' -- http://www.antelopetech.com/op.html

• VTech Helio http://www.brighthand.com/article/VTech_Helio ``the Helio runs VTech's VT-OS operating system, and you can get its C based SDK from VTech's developer website at no charge. Plus, as you may have heard, VTech has ported Linux to the Helio'' $149.99 initial list price 2000-11-11
• MINIX on the HP200LX Palmtop http://users.erols.com/rld/ ``These services should be equally useful for booting LINUX-86 (ELKS) on the HP200LX.''
• The Simputer Project http://www.simputer.org/ "The Simputer Project, initiated by the Simputer trust, aims at developing low cost access device that can pervade the rural landscape, especially in third world countries." [FIXME: think about volunteering ?] in India
• ``KaiiTM LinuxTM/JavaTM PDA Developer Community Site.'' http://kaii.info/ in India
• Morphy One http://www.morphyone.org/index_e.shtml ``The world's first open hardware palmtop PC'' [FIXME: think about volunteering ?]
• MyLinuxTM Pocket Linux Workstation http://mylinux.sourceforge.net/ ``PLW (Pocket Linux Workstation) An Open Source, custom Linux embedded platform small enough for your pocket and powerful enough for your workstation.'' [FIXME: think about volunteering ?]

  ``Grass roots PDA enters prototype debug phase'' article http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS7501598978.html has pictures of the first prototype PLW circuit board. http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS2710016031.html

• Xircom REX 6000 MicroPDA reviewed by Steven G. Bush January 5, 2001 http://www.brighthand.com/html/otherpdas/rex_page1.html $149 "micro-PDA" credit-card sized. "One-fourth the size of a Palm V" "it's a Type II PC Card. It's a PDA" 240 x 120 pixels. 2 MB flash http://rex.net/ ???
• $599 Phenom from LG Electronics http://www.shop4digital.com/shop/SearchResults.asp?ProdStock=LGEPHENOM manufactured by LG Electronics http://www.lgeservice.com/faqinfo.html#HandheldPCs /* was http://www.lgphenom.com/ */ 16 MB RAM, 100 MHz Hitachi Super H RISC, 33.6 modem; WinCE, 640x240 (1/2 VGA) 256 colors; IrDA port, PCMCIA slot, color VGA output port (even on the black-and-white models), close to a full-size keyboard. According to http://www.kingmaker.co.uk/phenom.htm , "the LG Phenom Express is no longer in production.".
• PLEB (Pocket Linux Embedded Box project) http://www.cse.unsw.edu.au/~pleb/ developing ``Photon'', a credit card sized StrongARM based prototype unit; ``Nova'', an Atmel AVR http://www.atmel.com/ (AVR is 8 bit RISC MCU family, some as small as 8 pin package) based board for small projects; and related software. Delayed because gPCB is not yet available [FIXME:].
• Ian Stirling http://www.mauve.demon.co.uk/ Designing the TurboTortoise, a Linux PDA. [FIXME: volunteer to help:] ``Some help ...
  • Printed circuit design/production, I can do this for prototypes, but some help for production would be welcome.
  • EMC testing, or an example of a typical technical construction file (for CE marking, which is needed, to sell in the EC)
  ...''
• http://www.handhelds.org/COTW/projects/nino/ "The Nino ... based around a MIPS R3000A 32-bit RISC processor core running at 75MHz. It has 4-16MB of EDO RAM (depending on model) along with the 8MB FPM ROM which holds the WindowsCE OS. It has a CompactFLASH Card slot which can take up to a 96MB CompactFLASH memory card or other peripherals. The LCD display is 320x240 pixels ... four shades of gray. ... IrDA compliant infrared transceiver which also supports speeds up to 115 Kbps."
• Avigo PDA http://www.ti.com/avigo/ "Texas Instruments is no longer selling the Avigo personal organizer."
• Yopy Linux PDA http://computer.freepage.de/yopy/ ~ $500
• Itsy http://www.research.digital.com/wrl/projects/Itsy/ | http://research.compaq.com/wrl/projects/itsy/ and http://www.stanford.edu/class/ee380/lect08.html

  Itsy Pocket Computer Version 1.5 The Itsy Pocket Computer is a flexible research platform. ... designed to encourage the development of innovative research projects, such as novel user interfaces, new applications, power management techniques, hardware extensions, etc.

  This distribution provides most of the information necessary to build the Itsy pocket computer version 1.5. This distribution includes the documentation, the schematics (including net-list), the PLD programming data, the PCB manufacturing data, the PCB assembly data (including bill-of-materials), and the case manufacturing data.

  Itsy includes the StrongARM 1100, and runs Linux.

  Computer Systems Laboratory Colloquium

  4:15PM, Wednesday, February 24, 1999 NEC Auditorium, Gates Computer Science Building B03

  Itsy: A Platform for Pocket Computing Research

  Bill Hamburgen Compaq Computer Corporation, Western Research Laboratory

  About the talk:

  Itsy is a small handheld computer based on the fast, low-powered, StrongARM SA-1100 microprocessor. Our current prototype runs at 200MHz on a pair of AAA cells, and sports a tiny, high-resolution LCD with touchscreen, an audio codec, and up to 64MB of memory.

  Itsy is designed to be an flexible platform for research projects ranging from OS power management to novel gesture and speech-based user interfaces. The base Itsy hardware provides a flexible interface for adding a custom daughtercard, enabling a wide range of hardware projects such as wireless networking, cameras and alternate displays. Itsy supports the Linux OS and standard GNU tools, facilitating the development of kernel and application software, as well as ports of existing packages. Recently, Squeak (Smalltalk-80) and Java environments have also become available on Itsy.

  My talk will outline the motivation for the project, describe details of the current hardware and software, and suggest areas where further work is needed to further the usefulness and acceptance of small, truly personal electronic appliances.

  About the speaker:

  Bill Hamburgen is a researcher at Compaq's (formerly Digital Equipment's) Western Research Lab in Palo Alto. He initiated and leads the Itsy pocket computing project. His earlier work focused on packaging high-powered microelectronic components and systems. ...

  Contact information:

  Bill Hamburgen Compaq Computer Corporation Western Research Laboratory 250 University Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94301 1-650-617-3329 1-650-617-3374 bill.hamburgen@compaq.com

  Don't confuse this with the Compaq iPAQ, ~$500 (Circuit City 2000-12-28) http://www.handhelds.org/z/wiki/HandheldsAvailability | http://www.handhelds.org/platforms.html "The iPAQ H3600 ...based on the StrongARM SA-1110 processor running at 206 MHz. ... color screen (320x240) ... Infrared data (IrDA) serial port up to 4 Mbps ...

  "Compaq iPaq 3650/30 PocketPC" review by Ken "Cæsar" Fisher http://arstechnica.com/reviews/4q00/ipaq36x0/ipaq36x0-2.html (the 3630 and the 3650 are different ways of marketing the same thing ...)

• some low-level technical details on low-cost PDA-like devices: http://www.maushammer.com/systems/vista/vista.html | http://www.maushammer.com/vmu.html ``Why?? Where else can you get a small processor, a decent screen, lots of memory, a serial port, a buzzer in a case for only $25 (including the batteries!)? It's a great little platform for writing mini games and for little hardware projects.''

  points to ``SmallArms. This is a website dedicated to the pursuit of information about small pocket devices.'' http://www.cs.jhu.edu/~fezzik/virtualboy/

• Royal sells some very low-cost PDA-like devices http://www.royal.com/content/pda/ -- $29 (at Wal-Mart) Excelsior 384kb Memory (flash); 6-Line x 20+ character Backlit Display; ...
• $18 Royal Keychain Organizer RE885 http://www.shoplifestyleonline.com/re885.html

psion

lots of stuff on the psion in particular

• http://linux-7110.sourceforge.net/ "Linux7k is a project to port the unix-like operating system Linux to a small group of palmtops. The "7k" in the name comes from the processor 'macrocell' (central architecture), which is the Cirrus Logic PS-7110 chip. This architecture is currently used in the Psion Series 5 and Geofox One palmtops." Note: " However, the newer Series 5mx and 5mxPro do not use a commercially-available system chip. In addition, requests to Psion for hardware configuration information on these units have gone unanswered. Therefore, without Psion's assistance, it is unlikely that a port to the '5mx will be successful. We hope that Psion will eventually realize the benefits in working with the Open Source community, in the manner shown by other makers of handheld computers. The site www.handhelds.org contains information on other, more Linux-friendly vendors. "
• http://www.psion.com/ the Psion Series 5, a very nice handheld computer (12.5 oz. PDA). [FIXME: David wants one] [FIXME: Alex Buell, alex.buell@tahallah.clara.co.uk also wants one http://www.LinuxDoc.org/HOWTO/Framebuffer-HOWTO-13.html ]
• UNIX-Psion tools http://www.gumbley.demon.co.uk/plptools.html

  Linux and Psion HOWTO by Hans Kugler http://www.LinuxDoc.org/HOWTO/Psion-HOWTO.html | mirror http://arizona.speedchoice.com/~lufthans/unix/docs/HOWTO/psion-HOWTO.html "This document describes how to use Psion palmtops with Linux, but does not cover running Linux on a Psion palmtop. See the Linux on Psion Project for that." Linux on Psion http://linux-7110.sourceforge.net/ /* was http://sourceforge.net/projects/linux-7110/ */

  "project members to port the Linux kernel to the Series 5. You can learn more about that effort (and download the software) from this site.

  However, the newer Series 5mx and 5mxPro do not use a commercially-available system chip. In addition, requests to Psion for hardware configuration information on these units have gone unanswered. Therefore, without Psion's assistance, it is unlikely that a port to the '5mx will be successful.

  We hope that Psion will eventually realize the benefits in working with the Open Source community, in the manner shown by other makers of handheld computers. The site www.handhelds.org contains information on other, more Linux-friendly vendors. "

palm pilot

lots of stuff on the palm pilot and handspring PDAs in particular.

see also #palm_news .

• ``Congratulations! You got a handheld Palm device for the holidays!'' http://fredlet.com/palm/newpalm.htm some tips to the newbie on software, accessories.
• Ron Nicholson's Short and Completely Unofficial FAQ on PalmOS Handhelds http://nicholson.com/rhn/palm/ has a small section on programming PalmOS (" PalmOS application development tools ")
• ``Linux Palm Developer's Quick Start Guide'' by Jim Weller http://www.tldp.org/REF/palmdevqs/index.html
• Official Gadgeteer Article: Daily Use Comparison of Palm OS and Pocket PC by Tom Munch 11/24/2000 http://www.the-gadgeteer.com/daily-comparison-palmos-pocketpc1-article.html lots of tips on how to use these PDAs for simple daily tasks.
• Ron's Palm Computing(tm) Information Page http://www.nicholson.com/rhn/pilot.html by Ron Nicholson includes lots of application development tools -- tiny versions of Forth, Basic, Lisp, Logo, etc. to run on the palm, and Palm emulators to run on desktop machines during development.
• Steve Feldon ``PalmOS ... Software that I consider essential'' http://feldon.org/steve/handhelds.html
• http://www.planetnz.com/palmheads/ [FIXME: check out the PalmOS software they recommend]
• supposedly there's a ``visor take-apart movie'' at http://www.gethightech.com/ sells replacement screens, replacement outer cases, battery doors, screws, etc. for Palm and Handspring PDAs. replacement PWBs (circuit boards). Buys broken PDAs, sells refurbished PDAs.
• [handspring] Handspring Visor Springboard module list Todd Ogasawara, Forum Manager, Handhelds Forum http://www.to-tech.com/palmos/SpringBoardList.html points to ``Visit the Handhelds Forum Messageboard to discuss Visor Springboard modules.''
• I've heard that "the team behind the original Pilot" is now at http://www.handspring.com/
• comparisons of lots of different models of Handspring, Palm Pilot, and other devices runing PalmOS. http://www.mikew.org/html/palmos_hardware_matrix.html [FIXME: prices ????]
• ``Alien Palmtopsy'' http://www.hackcanada.com/homegrown/palmpilot/palmtopsy.html has pictures of the PWB (circuit board) *inside* of the Palm III. ___ gives detailed instructions on hot to fix a stuck button.
• Handspring Developer Forum http://www.escribe.com/computing/handspringforum/
• [tosurf]

  From: Mark Eichin 
  Newsgroups: gnu.misc.discuss
  Subject: Re: GCC cross-to-m68k compiler
  Date: 30 Mar 1997 16:33:26 -0500
  Organization: Cygnus Solutions, Eastern USA
  Lines: 4
  ...
  you might look at the patches for the USR Pilot cross-tools, available
  starting from ftp://ns1.pfnet.com/pub/PalmOS/README.  They add some
  relative addressing modes for the CPU32 "dragonball" 68k in the pilot,
  which is commonly used in other embedded apps...
  

  ftp://ns1.pfnet.com/pub/PalmOS/README

• http://oasis.palm.com/dev/kb/ programming the Palm OS
• µClinux: the Embedded Linux/Microcontroller Project computer_architecture.html#uClinux ``The first target system to successfully boot is the 3Com PalmPilot''
• http://www.hewgill.com/ Development Tools for PalmPilot page;
• http://www.dejanews.com/~comp_palmtops_pilot/ | http://www.dejanews.com/~comp_palmtops_pilot/[ST_chan=cpu]/cog.xp?j=comp_palmtops_pilot
• Mindless Palm Pilot Stuff http://www.moshpit.org/pilot/
• http://www.mikew.org/ ??? Palm Pilot dissection [pseudo-advertisement] [PWB: circuit board]
• Palm OS Programming from the Ground Up Robert Mykland $34.99 0-07-212152-1 http://www.pbg.mcgraw-hill.com/betabooks/jan00/mykland/chap02.html
• ptelnet: telnet on a Palm Pilot http://netpage.em.com.br/mmand/pt_shots.htm

PalmPilot

• http://www.3com.com/ /* was US Robotics http://www.usr.com/ */ www.pilotgear.com/
• http://www.pilotgear.com/
• "Palm Computing has made good its promise to release parts of the operating system source code ... Source code to the applications that come bundled with the Palm has been available for some time ... Bercow stopped short of saying that Palm would move the OS to the open source model popularised by Linux, but said it is looking at doing such things." http://www.zdnet.co.uk/news/1999/2/ns-6653.html

WearCams

• "Real-Time American Sign Language Recognition Using Desk and Wearable Computer Based Video" ftp://whitechapel.media.mit.edu/pub/tech-reports/TR-466-ABSTRACT.html
• http://wearcam.org/
• cyborg http://www-white.media.mit.edu/~steve/netcam.html "Steven Mann ... wear a video camera on his head ... for most of his waking hours."

  
  Date: Wed, 10 Apr 1996 00:00:04 -0400 (EDT)
  From: transhuman@umich.edu
  Sender: transhuman@umich.edu
  Subject: >H Digest
  
  ***************************************************************************
  
  From: "Adam Foust" 
  Subject: >H Cyborg Tech
  
  Transhuman Mailing List
  
  Reading CNN technology news today I came across a really cool news
  story concerning a head mounted webcam experiment by Steve Mann at
  MIT. Check out:
  
    http://www.cnn.com/TECH/9604/08/computer_head/index.html
  
  For all I know, this is old news (I know that mobile web cameras are).
  What is really interesting about Mann's experiment is that he is
  employing what he calls a 'Visual Filtering' to preprocess the images
  that he sees.
  
    http://white.media.mit.edu/~steve/netcam.html
  
  >From Mann's page: [ The visual filter
  
    Sending visual information from my head-mounted cameras to one or more
    remote processors (like some SGI Reality Engines on the Internet) and
    then receiving a processed version of the visual information back at
    my head mounted display, gives rise to what I call the `Visual
    Filter'. While I can't put a Reality Engine in my backpack, I can
    still pipe my visual world through one or more such computers and get
    the same effect. A science fiction writer might envision implanting a
    computer anywhere in the world between the eye and the brain, but this
    is a long way off. Right now I'll live with my bulky communications
    equipment. ]
  
  Mann has some interesting information and observations about cyborgs,
  augmented memory, wearable computers, and related technologies on his
  pages.
  
    http://white.media.mit.edu/~steve/cyborg.html
  
  [ More and more people are carrying cellular phones, either to do
    business, or for self-defense. A cellular phone is one of the greatest
    weapons for self-defense against crime. This is the information age.
  
    A phone should be something we wear, not something we carry. If you're
    being mugged, you don't want to have to ask your assailant if he/she
    minds waiting for a few minutes while you dial 911. ]
  
  Calling to mind some discussions not too long ago on this list about
  "augmentative/gradual uploading" (and practical technology paths to
  uploading) and abilities/skills enhancement, I believe that the sort
  of incremental technology development Mann is doing should be of
  particular interest to transhumanists. Barring a sudden nanotech
  reality overnight rewrite, I believe augmentative reality is going to
  be the primary path to the future.
  
  [ At some point, Mann plans to make his mobile
    multi-media lab much smaller, so that it fits in an eyeglass
    frame that is impervious to bad weather and will not hinder his
    vision at all. "I should be able to play a competitive game of
    volleyball," he says.....
  
    "I'm trying to experiment with the future, some future ideas
    of being able to see better, to remember, create and
    communicate," Mann explains. (CNN article) ]
  
  Mann's ideas are certainly not new or unique, however. The best
  material I have encountered covering the ideas of "Enhanced Reality"
  and cyborgization (in print or electronic) has been from (fellow
  transhumanist and visionary) Alexander Chislenko:
  
    Legacy Systems and Functional Cyborgization of Humans
      http://www.lucifer.com/~sasha/articles/Cyborgs.html
  
    Intelligent Information Filters and Enhanced Reality
      http://www.lucifer.com/~sasha/EnhancedReality.html
  
  Great stuff. What seems to be cool about Steve Mann's work is that
  he is taking some of the first steps toward actually implementing the
  nuts and bolts of augmentative/enhancement technology for humans.
  (It makes me feel somewhat better that it's not just the military that
  is putting time into developing enhancement hardware/software.)
  
  
  [Adam Foust] * afoust@usit.net * http://www.usit.net/public/afoust/
  ***************************************************************************
  

  http://www.usit.net/public/afoust/

displays

(the part you look into/through on a wearable computer) (woefully incomplete)

Obviously it would be annoying to lug around my 22 Kg desktop monitor everywhere, but clever people are thinking up ways to make displays that are physically small and lightweight, while "appearing" to be large and detailed -- either through optics held up to the eye, a beam scanning the retina at the back of the eye, or projection/reflection off the active device onto a convenient wall or other area. (Or is there another way ?)

• http://microoptical.net/

  MicroOptical's viewers are the smallest, lightest head-up displays available today. They accept standard VGA, NTSC, PAL, RS170 and RS232 signals and weigh about 1 ounce. ...

  ... gives the user the impression of a free-floating monitor. This unique optical system is what allows the user to maintain natural vision and awareness of the environment. ...

  many models, including Wireless Bluetooth, monochrome RS232 terminal, full-color VGA (640x480), ...
• http://www.eyetop.net/ glasses that, when you wear them, project an image of a full-size computer screen.
• Microdisplay Report http://www.mdreport.com/
• UK Displays Newsletter http://www.displays.org.uk/newsletter/nl2.htm ``a review of the microdisplays industry''
• $2599.00 MSRP* the Sony Glasstron http://www.ita.sel.sony.com/products/av/glasstron/ But http://www.dynamism.com/glasstron/ sells it for only
  $ 2599.00 Sony PC Glasstron (832x624, 52" simulation, VGA input)
  $ 599.00 Sony NTSC Glasstron (800x225, 52" simulation, NTSC input)
  Hacking the Glasstron for Augmented Reality http://www.cc.gatech.edu/ccg/resources/glasstron/
• http://www.displaytech.com/ tiny full-resolution color displays. (Good for wearables ?)
• Retinal Displays Inc. http://www.virtuality.com/ nice eyephones. See also Virtual Retinal Displays http://www.lucifer.com/exi-lists/extropians/1026.html and the Virtual Retinal Display (VRD) Group http://www.hitl.washington.edu/projects/vrd/
• Virtual Retinal Display (VRD) Group http://slashdot.org/articles/99/04/15/2058223.shtml | http://www.hitl.washington.edu/research/vrd/ "Two prototype systems are currently being demonstrated. The first is a bench mounted unit that displays a full color, VGA (640 by 480) resolution image updated at 60 Hertz. It operates in either an inclusive or see-through mode."
• Microvision, Inc. http://www.mvis.com/ "Virtual Retinal Display (VRD) technology is the key innovation that Microvision has targeted to dominate the personal display category." ``Unlike alternative solutions that project images from a miniaturized screen, Microvision's display uses a single tiny mirror to scan a low-power beam of colored light across the eye, creating the effect of viewing a full-size screen. Because of the device's simplicity and small size, Microvision believes that it can deliver more performance at a lower cost versus competing miniature displays. ''
• "eyephones", "head-mounted consoles" "Anything less than 60 degrees horizontal and about 40 degrees vertical WILL NOT provide full immersion." -- Anonymous Coward http://slashdot.org/articles/99/03/30/1314258.shtml
• http://abcnews.go.com/sections/tech/CuttingEdge/dvdglasses990325.html
• i-glasses http://www.vio.com/
• cy-visor http://www.personaldisplay.com/english/f_whatis.html opaque eyephones (most binocular)
• Head Mounted Displays (HMD) Biocular/Binocular HMD Vendors; Wearable/Monocular HMD Vendors; http://www.isdale.com/jerry/VR/HMD_Vendors_1999.htm

Direct Brain Connection

"direct mind-machine interfaces"

• Mind Uploading Research Group (MURG) Mind Uploading Research Group (MURG) mailing list Date: Wed, 17 Jul 1996 ... List addresses are: ... MURG-request@lists.myofb.org - Put your request in the subject line Possible things are: help, subscribe, unsubscribe, help archive, and so forth. List problems may be directed to me at stevet@myofb.org if there is a problem with the addresses under the "lists.myofb.org" domain. ... Reports of oddness would be appreciated. ...
• "Brain Death and Technological Change: Personal Identity, Neural Prostheses and Uploading" report by James J. Hughes http://www.changesurfer.com/Hlth/BD/Brain.html (check out the photograph of the Neural-Computer Chip Interface )
• The Whole Brain Atlas http://www.med.harvard.edu/AANLIB/home.html
• "An Educator's Guide to the Brain" by Ronald C. Savage, Ed.D. http://www.tbi.org/library/html/educators_guide.html
• Neuroscience http://neuro.med.cornell.edu/VL/
• http://www.discover.com/science_news/gthere.html?article=mindscience.html
• "Controlling Appliances with a Thought Seen Feasible" http://unisci.com/stories/20002/0505004.htm graduate student Jessica Bayliss at the University of Rochester ... professor Dana Ballard ... "such an interface may be very useful in wearable computers", Ballard says.
• The Brain Computer Interface http://www.cs.man.ac.uk/aig/bci/ lots of related links
• work by Gregory T. A. Kovacs http://snf.stanford.edu/Projects/SNF-Projects.html :

  Update: Brainwave Interface

  This is an update to BT! #14 (96/09/17): Control Video Games With Brainwaves

  The Other 90% Technologies has a product is MindDrive, sold at more than 400 computer retail outlets. The device relies on a sensor placed around a computer user's finger. The sensor plugs into a black box containing specialized software, which in turn connects to the back of a personal computer. It uses patented filtering technology to decipher electrical signals given off by human skin and arising from thoughts.

  The MindDrive hardware and software package retails for about $149.95. The 10 initial games and other software products are priced from $24.95 to $39.95, for use only on IBM-compatible machines.

  • http://www.cnet.com/Content/Tv/Stories/Mind/index.html
  • http://www.news.com/News/Item/0,4,688,00.html
  • http://www.news.com/News/Item/0,4,1079,00.html

  -- from Breakthrough! #15
• University of Michigan Center for Neural Communication Technology http://www.engin.umich.edu/facility/cnct/index.html connecting wires directly to the brain.

retina implants

artificial retinas; retina prosthetics

• "The Bionic Leading the Blind" article from Reuters May. 11, 2003 http://www.wired.com/news/medtech/0,1286,58805,00.html/wn_ascii

  A bionic retina ... Dr. Mark Humayun, professor of ophthalmology at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles ...

• the Retinal Implant Project http://rleweb.mit.edu/retina/ and http://optorisc.uni-duisburg.de/Persons/buss/retina/mit-mirror/ [FIXME: retina prosthetics ?]

• Docs outline artificial vision progress

  UPI, Sept. 23, 2002

  Artificial devices that may allow the blind to see could be available for human use within a decade.

  Harvey Fishman, director of ophthalmic tissue engineering at Stanford University School of Medicine, is developing a high-resolution neural chip that connects a signal from a digital camera to individual nerve cells in the retina.

  -- http://www.kurzweilai.net/news/frame.html?main=/news/news_single.html?id%3D1272 [FIXME: retina prosthetics ?] [FIXME: ... braille.html ?]

almost wearable

almost wearable ...

see also

• 3d_design.html#furniture which includes electronics built into chairs.
• laptop.html#small_PCs lists many computers small enough to wear
• robot_links.html#web web-enabled embedded systems: cheap and tiny web servers

related links:

• the Dana http://alphasmart.com/ in-between a laptop and a PDA:
  • $399.99 Dana
  • full-sized keyboard
  • runs Palm-OS applications,
  • ``out'' USB port for printing
  • ``in'' USB port for connecting to a Mac or PC.
  • 560 x 160 pixel black-and-white screen (larger than any other Palm-OS PDA -- ... ``rotate'' icon to display long, skinny lists sideways -- either way, compatible with both right and left handers ...), ``it's far more useable outdoors than the average backlit color notebook display.'' -- http://www.pencomputing.com/palm/Pen47/dana.html which also mentions ``Currently in Dana are multiple alternate keyboard layouts, including DVORAK, and right- and left-hand-only layouts.''
  • 8 MB of memory.
  • How long to its batteries last ? ``up to 25 hours with the backlight on'' (They have another similar device that ``Can run over 700 hours on 3 AA alkaline batteries.'' -- no other laptop I know can do that, and very few PDAs )
  • review: http://www.rpg.net/news+reviews/reviews/rev_7575.html
  • review: http://brighthand.com/article/Dana_Review says ``designed to survive a 4 foot drop'' ``33 MHz Dragonball processor'' . Discussion: http://discussion.brighthand.com/showthread.php?threadid=66062
  • DAV: can I run Forth on the Dana ? ... since it runs PalmOS, and Quartus is a Palm app, it should ...
  • $50 for software designed to turn the Dana into a graphing calculator http://www.infinitysw.com/products/poweronegraph.html [I wonder if it can really replace a HP48 graphing calculator ... I wonder if Quartus Forth can call this package for math graphics ...]

  $200 AlphaSmart ... full-size keyboard, four-line, 40-character screen, IrDA, ``a word-processing information appliance that's thin, durable and lightweight.''

  ordering a Dana:

  • online direct from manufacturer http://alphasmart.com/pricing/hardware/hardware-pricing.html#dana which directly leads to http://alphasmart.com/danastore/
  • AlphaSmart US Resellers http://alphasmart.com/ordering/resellers.html
• AlphaSmart, PDA, Dana, or Laptop? http://www1.alphasmart.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=forum;f=29 forum [FIXME: read]
• http://web.media.mit.edu/~lifton/ has some interesting ideas involving "dense, distributed sensor networks" with dozens of processors. "Vision Wall Systems, Inc."; ~$20 Pushpin Computing module http://web.media.mit.edu/~lifton/Pushpin/c8051f016.html ;
• VeloTrend BikeBrain http://www.velotrend.com/
• Things That Think http://www.media.mit.edu/ttt/ research department of the Media Lab
• tiny ubiquitous technology: TIQIT computers http://www.tiqit.com/ [offline ?] sells commercial versions of The Matchbox PC http://wearables.stanford.edu/hardware.html /* was http://matchbox.stanford.edu/ */ developed at Stanford Wearable Computing Laboratory. Could be a component of a wearable computer.

computers on wheels

computers on wheels -- (safely) using computers while riding a bicycle, driving a car, etc.

• Nomadic Research Labs: Steven K. Roberts http://www.microship.com/ "the pursuit of high-tech nomadness -- a freewheeling lifestyle aboard a computerized recumbent bicycle. ... building its aquatic successor -- the Microship. ... linked via satellite with global information networks."
• http://www.microship.com/bike/winnebiko/ early near-wearable pioneer:

  ...in 1983...

  Combining the passions in my list and abandoning all "rational thought," the obvious solution was to simply equip a recumbent bicycle with ham radio and computer gear, establish a virtual home in the nascent online networks, and travel full-time while writing and consulting for a living.

  ...

  Winnebiko II flickered to life in the summer of 1986. The primary design objective -- being able to type while riding ...

  inspiring.

• Nomadic Computing & Connectivity Resources: http://www.microship.com/technomads/ [FIXME: toread]

unsorted

• http://www2.ioptics.com/ seems like a good information storage idea -- no moving parts, so it's immunne to the jostling of a wearable computer.
• Mobile Computing & Communications http://mobilecomputing.com/
• Road Warrior International, Inc. http://warrior.com/home.html
• LinuxDevices.com - the embedded Linux portal http://www.linuxdevices.com/
• [FIXME:] http://shopping.netscape.com/computers/computers.adp laptop comparisons
• What is electrofuel http://www.electrofuel.com/ ?
• "Email Unplugged -- The Promise of BlackBerry" review by Jesse Berst, Editorial Director http://www.zdnet.com/anchordesk/stories/story/0,10738,2676003,00.html
• http://www.ojster.com/

• From: bcs@localhost.localdomain (Ben Steeves)
  Subject: Re: Happy with grayscale; color is superfluous
  Date: 26 Jan 2001 00:00:00 GMT
  Organization: Excite@Home - The Leader in Broadband http://home.com/faster
  User-Agent: slrn/0.9.6.2 (Linux)
  Reply-To: ben_steeves@yahoo.com
  NNTP-Posting-Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2001 14:08:13 PST
  Newsgroups: alt.comp.sys.palmtops.pilot,comp.sys.palmtops.pilot
  ...
  The best monochrome screen is that of the m100, although some people
  find it too small.  The Visor Platinum is a close second, and the Clie
  a distant third.  The best colour screen is the Visor Prism's; its a
  bit more contrasty than the IIIc's and is 16-bit instead of 8-bit.
  
  Of course, this is just my opinion.
  
  --
  Ben Steeves; -- ben_steeves@yahoo.com -- ICQ: 15105093
  

• Linux USB for Handspring Visor http://milosch.net/visor/ | http://sourceforge.net/projects/usbvisor/
• ``CyberBoy is a PDA, MP3 Player, 640x480 Digital Still Camera, USB Camera, voice recorder and FM tuner all rolled into one unit. Specs: 33MHz ARM7 Processor, 240x320 4 Gray-scale STN Mono LCD, 8MB SDRAM, 8MB Flash ROM, SMC Flash Slot, Serial Port, USB Port, IrDA, Speaker & Microphone.''
• PriceSCAN has a section that lets you compare prices on Head Mounted Displays http://www.pricescan.com/home_electronics.asp
• http://www.ti.com/organizers/ All TI Organizers are Discontinued. (Avigo, etc.)
• http://www.writingonyourpalm.net/ writing, eBooks and handheld computing
• Sharp's new Zaurus SL-5000D Linux/Java PDA developer edition http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=01/11/12/1336257
• Exploring Linux PDA software alternatives http://www.linuxdevices.com/articles/AT3058975992.html
• I hear 3rd hand rumors that the nintendo Gameboy Advance homebrew community is doing interesting things.
• http://www.streetprices.com/Electronics/PDAs/
• RMR Software http://www.rmrsoft.com/ ``Providers of high quality Shareware programs for Palm(TM) OS V3.0; Symbian OS V6.0; Symbian OS V5.0; Psion OS V3.0 ''
• Things DAV wants to do with his PDA:
  • schedule (with audible alarms)
  • todo list (prioritized)
  • quick reference information (my web pages ...)
  • grocery shopping list
  • non-grocery shopping list
  • phone and address list (birthdays integrated with alarm schedule)
  • language translation tools
  • portable electronics workbench (?)
  • dictionary / spell checker
  • GPS: current 4 coordinates
  • map (not necessarily integrated with GPS)

  Maybe it's OK to have several PDAs, as long as information can be easily synced between them.

• http://www.pctechguide.com/25mob3.htm has nice little graphic comparing the various sizes of memory card add-in slots (the slots often are used for other things as well -- ethernet cards, modems, etc.)
• EpocCity News Service http://www.symbcity.com/new/public/ (latest news)
• Linux for the HP Jornada 525 ? http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=02/01/16/2238202;mode=thread HP Jornada 525 ... only $189.00 ... color screen ... there is active development of NetBSD (NetBSD/hpcarm) that runs on Jornada 525 ... NetBSD/hpcarm brings the NetBSD operating system to Intel StrongARM based Windows CE PDA machines. computer_architecture.html#hpcarm ... NetBSD/hpcsh brings the NetBSD operating system to HITACHI Super-H family based Windows CE PDA machines. computer_architecture.html#hpcsh
• PDA's Sturdy Enough for the Rugged Outdoors http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=01/11/08/0823252&mode=thread (surviving drops onto concrete, usable in below-freezing temperatures, ...)
• CNET helps you pick the right handheld http://www.cnet.com/hardware/0-5043347-7-6163347.html?tag=txt http://computers.cnet.com/hardware/0-5043347-7-6163347.html?tag=txt ``if you already know why you want a handheld computer, take a look at our task-specific recommendations.''
• games for the Palm OS http://download.cnet.com/downloads/0,10151,0-10123-106-0-1-0,00.html?tag=txt
• games for Pocket PC http://download.cnet.com/downloads/0,10151,0-10137-106-0-1-0,00.html?tag=txt
• http://www.cnet.com/ has forums where people discuss how much they love / hate their PDAs ...
• Cathy buys a PDA (funny comic) http://www.ucomics.com/cathy/viewca.cfm?uc_full_date=20020108&uc_comic=ca&uc_daction=X ... it takes all week ... The wonderful world of electron-icks. http://www.ucomics.com/cathy/viewca.cfm?uc_full_date=20020127&uc_comic=ca&uc_daction=X
• wince-devel http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wince-devel/ a mailing list about Development and porting of free software for WindowsCE.

  http://www.rainer-keuchel.de/software.html has lots of software written for / ported to WindowsCE, including the Vim text editor, the Kaffe Java VM, the ARMASM Assembler, a profiler, a Prolog interpreter, the ISpell spell checker, a Lisp interpreter, a Perl interpreter, and others.

• the web virtual library on handheld computing http://handheld.teco.edu/
• http://www.man-machine.com/ ``PDA Accessories / Laptop Ruggedization & Enhancement / waterproof PC products''
• $105 Vr3 open source PDA (embedded Linux) http://www.softfield.com/
• The Sharp Zaurus SL-5500 http://myzaurus.com/ Linux(R) and Java(TM) based architecture
• http://www.bargainpda.com/
• http://www.smaller.com/
• DAV: What does it mean when you say ``ARIPOS... is ... an open OS'' ? http://www.brighthand.com/article/CPen_800
• http://www.tealpoint.com/ sells software and acessories for Palm, Visor, and CLIE Handhelds
• What's in Store for Us? September 4, 2001 The Future Me http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,4149,3256,00.asp ???
• What's in Store for Us? September 4, 2001 The Future PC http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,4149,10659,00.asp Nanochips; Photonic Fibers (unlike solid glass optical fibers, photonic fibers are hollow air-filled); Desktop Chip Fab; Roll-Up Displays; Thinking Caps [FIXME: move to future computing] []
• http://www.home.earthlink.net/~rrothsprint/techwear0.htm ???
• [FIXME: read more about] Phillip Torrone http://www.wired.com/news/gizmos/0,1452,44965,00.html | http://www.flashenabled.com/mobile/ tons of electronic gadgets; Macromedia Flash programming; trip to Japan; Aibo; Segway; is considering mass producing a GPS Enabled Hiking Stick;
• What is on Frank's Pocket PC? http://www.pocketpchow2.com/onmyppc.htm [FIXME: check out some of this software for myself]
• Speak Out: Design Your Perfect PDA - User Opinions http://www.visorvillage.com/articles/2002/3/2002-3-1-Speak-Out-Design-uo7.html ... http://www.visorvillage.com/articles/2002/3/2002-3-1-Speak-Out-Design-uo9.html ideas for improving PDAs. ``a mic should be built into every PDA'' (microphone)

  Speak Out: What Do You HATE About Your PDA? - User Opinions http://www.visorvillage.com/articles/2002/3/2002-3-25-Speak-Out-What-uo7.html

• [reviews/tutorial ?] http://www4.pdas.activebuyersguide.com/ claims to have ``PDA/Handheld ... personalized and completely unbiased product recommendations''
• PDA reviews http://www.zdnet.com/special/filters/sc/pda/
• Navigation and the Palm OS http://celia.mehaffey.com/dale/pilotgps.htm and another surprisingly similar page http://www.gpsinformation.org/dale/Palm/phardware.htm | http://www.gpsinformation.org/dale/Palm/pilotgps.htm | http://users.cwnet.com/dalede/palm.htm lots of information on GPS software for PalmOS... some tips on scanning in maps so they show up right on the handheld ... ``Using adapters and cables that are described below you can hook up any gps with a serial port capability directly to the palm.'' [FIXME: machine_vision.html#springboard_gps ]
• http://www.iptel-now.de/PROJECTS/WEARABLE/wearable.html seems to have lots of information on wearable computer components -- input devices, output interfaces, power supply, ... programming resources ...
• http://electronsoup.com/xcom/Wearables/Projects/ lists lots of different people, each with their own kind of wearable computer.
• http://www.pocketaprs.com/ ``a lot of material here about the pocketAPRS program, Palm OS hardware ...'' ham radio ... links to

  http://www.shinemicro.com/ which has DSPs that slide into Handspring Visors; and open source software and tools for it. One application already written: ``Connect the SM2496 to a two-way radio and the Handspring Visor becomes a handheld terminal/TNC/modem that allows the user to exchange data and e-mail over thousands of miles.''

• http://palmtops.about.com/ William Hungerford
• Visor and Springboard pages http://www.fredlet.com/palm/visor/visor.htm ... http://fredlet.com/palm/visor/ ... http://fredlet.com/palm/ links to the top 6 Visor news pages ... a huge list of Springboard modules ... and a few links to information on programming for PalmOS.

  http://fredlet.com/palm/cases/casesfr.htm reviews of a huge number of cases, categorized by which type(s) of handheld it fits.

• ``C-Pen 800: Scanner and PDA in the size of a highlighting pen.'' http://www.brighthand.com/article/CPen_800 ... http://www.cpen.com/ $199.95 initial list price 2000-11-29

  a competing device, a different niche ... http://www.wizcomtech.com/products2/quicktionary2.php3

• UniX with Mobile Computers http://www.mobilix.org/ ``hands-on information about installing and running Linux, BSD, Solaris and other UniXes on laptops, PDAs, cell phones, wearables and other mobile computer devices.''
  • Laptops with FireWire (i.Link, IEEE 1394) working with Linux http://www.mobilix.org/firewire_linux.html
• http://www.fureai.or.jp/~mori-t/e_whatsnew.html and http://www.fureai.or.jp/~mori-t/a0719_iceberg/visor_bb_e.htm minor modification to add LED to pda cradle (looks like it would work on any PDA connected to serial port) [FIXME: read] more complicated modification with simple ``Knight rider'' blinker circuit
• http://www.laptop-laidback.com/ ``for those who wish to use a laptop while completely reclined''
• Science Fiction and Smart Mobs http://slashdot.org/articles/03/02/01/1514206.shtml?tid=95&tid=96 [FIXME: toread]
• Mark Weiser: ubiquitous computing http://www.ubiq.com/hypertext/weiser/weiser.html | mirror http://sandbox.xerox.com/hypertext/weiser/ [FIXME: read]
• "Understanding the Postmodern Cyborg" by Chris Hables Gray http://www.routledge-ny.com/CyborgCitizen/cycitpgs/future.html | mirror http://www.routledge-ny.com/madeinkorea/Cycitpgs/future.html Cyborgology [FIXME: read]

• Wed Jun 04 2003 - submitted by Matthew

  Cornice, ... in Longmont ,Colorado, ... hard drive capable of storing 1.5 GB of data. The mini drive is a mere one inch in diameter, and more importantly it's claimed to cost less than current Flash memory cards or other small hard drives.

  Additional features include a USB interface ... The hard drive ... according to Cornice, can stand a one meter drop onto bare concrete without damage.

  http://www.geek.com/news/geeknews/2003Jun/bpd20030604020256.htm ... http://www.corniceco.com/products/

  One comment mentions ~$65 you get ... 1.5GB, ... 100uA standby (is that accurate ?) [FIXME: should I have a special section just for various storage media ?]

• http://dpreview.com/ Tests on digital cameras ... ???
• "the Xircom REX 6000 MicroPDA is the world's smallest, lightest, full-function MicroPDA. It lets you store thousands of names and addresses, manage your calendar, check your task list, download Web content, and sync with your PC in seconds. " 2 MB memory -- http://www.xircom.com/cda/page/1,1298,1-840-1_1298-1298,00.html ... http://www.rex.net/
• "FreeStyle, the first Cascading Style Sheet editor for the Palm OSTM, is now in beta testing." http://www.palmgear.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=news.shownews&sid=04CC9F2A-49DC-4E5B-8388B99360340C97&resID=22861
• [FIXME: todo: go to http://sourceforge.net/ and search for "palm" ... lots of software here. ... and perhaps uclinux ... http://gutenpalm.sourceforge.net/ using a tiny font ... ... Debuffer is a FORTH-scriptable assembly-level debugger for the Palm. http://sourceforge.net/projects/debuffer/ ... PADict a Kanji/Kana Japanese/English Dictionary for Palm PDAs ... Dragon Character Training is a PalmOS program using stroke recognition to help you learn to read and write Chinese characters. ... http://sourceforge.net/projects/palm-linux/ ... ]
• hiptop http://www.fido.ca/portal/product/handsetdetail.jsp?id=hiptop&lang=en&cat=1 ???
• Laser PC 6 ... competitor to Dana competitor ... portable word processors
  • http://www.microscience.on.ca/CSPCLaser6.htm
  • http://www.largeprintreviews.com/PC6.html (review)
  • Perfect Solutions Software, Inc. http://www.perfectsolutions.com/ sells the Laser PC 6 http://www.perfectsolutions.com/pc6f.asp
• Cambridge Z88 http://www.rakewell.com/z88/z88.shtml 32K bytes RAM internal (Dana competitor ?) http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Pines/5865/z88.html
• Planet Sinclair http://www.nvg.ntnu.no/sinclair/planet/ lots of interesting info about Mr. Sinclair, the computers he designed, other fascinating electronic devices he designed.
• "World’s first disposable paperboard computer" http://gizmo.com.au/public/News/news.asp?articleid=2687
• Thaddeus Computing http://www.thaddeus.com/ "Handheld and Pocket PCs, Used Handhelds.com, & HP DOS Palmtops Central" [FIXME: to read]
• Solar Powered Jacket debuts at the 2004 CES http://www.gizmo.com.au/public/News/news.asp?articleid=2522 We expect solar panels together with the P.A.N. to be incorporated into approximately 30% of all outerwear in the next three to five years. , said Scott Jordan, Chairman and CEO of SCOTTeVEST LLC.
• [wearables] "Wearables in 2005" http://web-ext2.darpa.mil/ETO/Displays/Wear2005/index.html sells the "core body temperature monitoring pill" used by John Glenn and other Shuttle astronauts, and a few other interesting electronics projects.
• pen-sized personal computer system. http://www.snopes.com/photos/advertisements/pcpen.asp
• Meatball: pervasive computing http://www.usemod.com/cgi-bin/mb.pl?PervasiveComputing
• Meatball: carrying gadgets http://www.usemod.com/cgi-bin/mb.pl?CarryingGadgets
• interesting finger-ring interface http://www.media.mit.edu/wearables/lizzy/mit-ideo/Guy2.html [todo: build one]
• Top 20 wearable technologies to make you geekier http://www.gizmowatch.com/entry/top-20-wearable-technologies-to-make-you-geekier/

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