WearComp

(a.k.a. Personal Cybernetics, Personal Technologies, Eudaemonic Computing, Humanistic Computing, Existential Computing)

Unlike other wearable devices (wristwatches, regular eyeglasses, wearable radios, etc.), a WearComp is as reconfigurable as the familiar desktop or mainframe computer. Unlike other computers (including laptops and PDAs), a WearComp is inextricably intertwined with its wearer - WearComp's "always ready" characteristic leads to a new form of synergy between human and computer.

Wearable computing will now be formally defined in terms of its three basic modes of operation and its six fundamental attributes.

Operational modes of wearable computing

• 
  Fig. 1a
  Constancy: The computer runs continuously, and is always ready to interact with the user. Unlike a hand-held device, laptop computer, or PDA, it does not need to be opened up and turned on prior to use. The signal flow from human to computer, and computer to human, depicted in Fig 1a, runs continuously to provide a constant user interface.
• Fig. 1b
  Augmentation: Traditional computing paradigms are based on the notion that computing is the primary task. Wearable computing, however, is based on the notion that computing is NOT the primary task. The assumption of wearable computing is that the user will be doing something else at the same time as doing the computing. Thus the computer should serve to augment the intellect, or augment the senses. The signal flow between human and computer is depicted in Fig 1b.
• Fig. 1c
  Mediation: Unlike hand held devices, laptop computers, and PDAs, the wearable computer can encapsulate us (Fig. 1c). It doesn't necessarily need to completely enclose us, but the concept allows for a greater degree of encapsulation than traditional portable computers. There are two aspects to this encapsulation:
  • Solitude: It can function as an information filter, and allow us to block out material we might not wish to experience, whether it be offensive advertising, or simply a desire to replace existing media with different media. In less severe manifestations, it may simply allow us to alter our perception of reality in a very mild sort of way.
  • Privacy: Mediation allows us to block or modify information leaving our encapsulated space. In the same way that ordinary clothing prevents others from seeing our naked bodies, the wearable computer may, for example, serve as an intermediary for interacting with untrusted systems, such as third party digital anonymous cash "cyberwallets". In the same way that some martial artists, especially kendoka, wear a long robe that comes right down to the ground, in order to hide the placement of their feet from their oponent, wearable computing can also be used to clothe our otherwise transparent movements in cyberspace. Although other technologies, like desktop computers, can help us protect our privacy with programs like Pretty Good Privacy (PGP), the Achilles' heel of these systems is the space between us and them. It is generally far easier for an attacker to compromise the link between us and the computer (perhaps through a so-called trojan horse or other planted virus) than it is to compromise the link between our computer and other computers. Thus wearable computing can be used to create a new level of personal privacy because it can be made much more personal; if it is always worn, except perhaps during showering, it is less likely to fall prey to covert attacks upon the hardware itself. Moreover, the close synergy between the human and computers makes it harder to attack directly, e.g. as one might peek over a person's shoulder while they are typing, or hide a video camera in the ceiling above their keyboard. Furthermore, the wearable computer can take the form of undergarments that are encapsulated in an outer covering or outerwear of fine conductive fabric to protect from an attacker looking at radio frequency emissions. The actual communications between the wearer and other computers (and thus other people) can be done by way of outer garments, which contain conformal antennas, or the like, and convey an encrypted bitstream.
  Fig. 1d
  Because of its ability to encapsulate us, e.g. in embodiments of wearable computing that are actually articles of clothing in direct contact with our flesh, WearComp may also be able to make measurements of various physiological quantities. Thus the signal flow depicted in Fig 1a is also enhanced by the encapsulation as depicted in Fig 1c. To make this signal flow more explicit, Fig 1c has been redrawn: in Fig 1d, the computer and human are depicted as two separate entities within an optional protective shell, which may be removed or partially removed if a mixture of augmented and mediated interaction is desired.

Fig. 2

While individual embodiments of wearable computing may use some mixture of these concepts, the signal path depicted in Fig 2 provides a general framework for comparison and study of these systems. The signal paths typically each, in fact, include multiple signals, hence multiple parallel signal paths are depicted in this figure to make this plurality of signals explicit.

The Six Attributes (Signal Paths) of Wearable Computing

1. Unmonopolizing of the user's attention: it does not cut you off from the outside world like a virtual reality game or the like. You can attend to other matters while using the apparatus. It is built with the assumption that computing will be a secondary activity, rather than a primary focus of attention. In fact, ideally, it will provide enhanced sensory capabilities. It may, however, mediate (augment, alter, or deliberately diminish) the sensory capabilities.
2. Unrestrictive to the user: it is ambulatory, mobile, roving; "you can do other things while using it". E.g. you can type while jogging, etc.
3. Observable by the user: it can get your attention continuously if you want it to; within reasonable limits (e.g. that you might not see the screen while you blink or look away momentarily) the output medium is constantly perceptible by the wearer.
4. Controllable by the user:
   • Responsive: you can grab control of it at any time you wish. Even in automated processes you can manually override to break open and enter the control loop at any time (e.g. a big HALT button, for use when an application mindlessly opens all 50 documents that were highlighted when you accidently pressed Enter, would make a computer more controllable).
   • Infinitely-often-controllable: the constancy of user interface results from almost-always observability and infinitely-often controllability in the sense that there is always a potential for manual override which need not be always exercised.
5. Attentive to the environment: it is environmentally aware, multimodal, multisensory. (this ultimately increases the user's situational awareness).
6. Communicative to others: it can be used as a communications medium when you want it to.
   • Expressive: it allows the wearer to be expressive through the medium, whether as a direct communications medium to others, or as means of assisting the production of expressive media (artistic or otherwise).

• Constant: always on, running, and ready. May have "sleep modes" but is never "dead" (unlike a laptop computer, which must be opened up, switched on, and booted up before use).
• Personal: human and computer are inextricably intertwined.
  • Prosthetic: you can adapt to it so that it acts as a true extension of mind and body; after time you forget that you are wearing it.
  • Assertive: resists, if you wish, prohibition or requests by others for removal. This is in contrast to a laptop, in briefcase or bag, that could be separated from you by the "please leave all bags and briefcases at the counter" policy of a department store, library, or similar establishment.
  • Private: others can't observe or control it unless you let them. Others can't determine system status unless you want them to, e.g. the clerk at the refund counter in a department store where photography is prohibited can't tell whether or not you are transmitting wireless video to a spouse for remote advice, in contrast to camcorder technology where it is obvious you are taking a picture when you hold the camcorder up to your eye.

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