Re: TECH: Wearables a-comin'

From: Adrian Tymes (wingcat@pacbell.net)
Date: Sun Apr 09 2000 - 20:05:10 MDT


EvMick@aol.com wrote:
> In a message dated 4/9/00 7:01:51 PM Central Daylight Time,
> sentience@pobox.com writes:
> > > Microvision's "augmented reality"
> > > displays use a very low power laser
> > > to "paint" a full-color high-resolution
> > > image directly onto the retina of a
> > > user's eye. The end result, according
> > > to the company, is a virtual image of a computer screen that
> > > appears to float several feet in front of you, and doesn't block
> > > your vision.
> >
> > I get the impression that this hardware is currently available and is
> > being sold by Xybernaut, although I'm not quite sure.
>
> Really?
>
> If so then the only roadblock might be price....cause i WANT one....
>
> Imagine a heads up GPS driven map display....with windows for multiple
> cameras(no more blind spots) around my truck...plus...plus.....

Well, price *plus* having to get the software written, though I suspect
it won't be long before the GPS bit is available if it isn't already.

I can think of a few uses myself, but my problem is that, even though
I'm officially a software developer, a significant part of my job is
interacting with people face to face, and the people I work with might
be put off by such a display of technology in the face. If I sawed off
my arms, got metal/chrome replacements, and festooned them with blinking
lights - mainly on the forearms, since I usually wear T-shirts - my
co-workers would notice, but still interact with me normally. But one
of Microvision's systems would measurably impact productivity, unless I
could demonstrate some physical necessity (say, inspecting hardware
circuitry) for them to accept it under - which I can't, since my
"product" is just various types of information.

Does anyone see a workaround for this, save for these systems to become
publically accepted through use by those who can demonstrate this
necessity, then waiting until a typical reaction to my wearing it would
be just, "Oh, he has one too"?



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