Do you run the Magio under Windows or Linux? If Windows, how do you deal with the limited resolution of the M1? -Thomas Primarily, Windows95. Quick answer: NTEmacs. Long, protracted answer: I can't imagine full time wearable computing without Emacs. The ability to have a single environment for most operations (mail, editing, web browsing, ftp, contact manager, flashcards, etc) is invaluable. I mostly use a 16p font for stationary work and an 18p font for walking. Black text on light gray background. Once the font is changed for one app, it's changed for all (in emacs). Switching between apps is easy, input tricks (completion) are standardized across apps, built in customization through elisp, compiler, etc. I agree the M1 is troubling at first. When I purchased my first one in June 1998, I sold it after a month of sporadic use and looked towards an audio interface. About that same time I commited to NTEmacs on my notebook computer and began the immigration process. Six months later I purchased my second M1 and very gradually I moved towards full time use. The difficulty with the M1 is due to 1. the adjustment to a monocular HMD from a desktop display (monovision, positioning, ergonomics, focus) 2. is dealing with low resolution. 3. is the social factor. 1. Basic HMD adjustment takes -time- 1-2 monoths of frequent use. Experimentation with different mounts. Monovision habituation. 2. Low resolution shock is minimized with Emacs. (for text applications) 3. Pretend that everyone you meet (and everyone around you) is a member of the wear-hard list and what you are doing is nothing new :) Even when the hires HMDs emerge, user interface (both input and output ) will be a challenge. Emacs gives us a wearable operating environment NOW, under GNU liscense and an augmented memory application: Remembrance Agent. The academics (CS people, in particular MITites) often have the advantage of familiarity (if not expertise) with emacs before moving to a wearable - a big advantage IMO. I experimented with different wearables and interfaces at first(palm pilot, pc110, TTS, voice wreck, dos, win3.1) but most of what I am doing now after struggling turns out to be what Thad Starner recommended in the first place. For Monadic Wearable Computing (or dare I, Monadic Somatic Computing) he provides some really solid advice for getting started. <mode="nostradamus">Despite the <experience>promises of manufacturers</experience>, the M1 will be the only reasonably priced, VGA input, low power HMD through the end of this year and a will remain a strong budget contender thereafter.</mode> You can download NTemacs through emacs.org Oh, and Familiarity with NTEmacs should ease the Linux migration.(remembrance agent) whew! Cy Brian Fobes http://extremecomputing.com -- Subcription/unsubscription/info requests: send e-mail with subject of "subscribe", "unsubscribe", or "info" toWear-Hard Mailing List Archive (searchable): http://wearables.blu.org
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