Re: New to the List (Wear-Hard)

From: "Joel \(Oreo\)" <
>
Date: Mon, 23 Apr 2001 11:05:42 -0700

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Very good points here, I'm sure there are more than a few people on this =
send group who have gone the way of mounting their wearables in their =
cars rather than carry the unit with them (just because of the weight of =
the batteries)  In your case I would most definitely choose the laptop =
option, and perhaps you could take a look at a 4-5inch LCD display to =
mount somehow  to an arm of your chair.   It may seem ludicrous with the =
laptop so close, but rather than having an expensive bulky HMD, you =
could go the path of mounting the LCD somewhere within easy reach.  A =
few modifications, or just buying a touch screen for the lcd and you =
could eliminate the mouse pointer problem.  the keyboard issue is most =
likely the only true worry, however I would look into (depending on your =
dexterity) a two handed design to mount onto either arm, as to emulate =
true typing without taking to much space.  However, the average width of =
a wheelchair's arms is about 1 1/2 - 2 1/2 inches, adding these perifs =
might make it cumbersome to even sit down, or remove oneself from the =
chair.

I would say adding some sort of hinged mechanism to swing these into and =
out of position or perhaps widening the true width of the arms.

Many things come into consideration, if I were designing it, (as I have =
done with my car) I would design everything to be very ergonomic, =
holding onto a twiddler is not very advantageous when you need to =
control your vehicle with the same hand.  90% of the time the control =
stick is set on the side of the individual that they favor (ie right =
handed individual right handed side) the other 10% is when their favored =
side is injured in such a way as not to be able to use.  So i'm assuming =
that the only way for you to control your wheelchair is on your favored =
hand... that will make it difficult to operate a one handed perif like =
the twiddler.  There are other options, Speech Recog, with a fallback =
twiddler (nothing is perfect especially recog.)  you could get an =
erasertip adapter for favored side or for your non favored side =
depending, but in my experience the erasertip adapter is cumbersome and =
unwieldy.   A trackball would be much more useful, (this is all assuming =
you do not choose to use the LCD/Touchpad option.)   =20

Finally, if all else fails, i would look into a Pen-mouse/HMD setup and =
perhaps a twiddler/speech recog (fallback) setup.  But all as Charles =
said earlier is dependant upon your personal dexterity.

-Joel Palmtag

"don't listen to him He's Crazy!"

  ----- Original Message -----=20
  From: Charles J Knight=20
  To: =20
  Cc: =20
  Sent: Wednesday, March 28, 2001 11:30 AM
  Subject: Re: New to the List (Wear-Hard)

  I'm new here, and new to the world of wearables as well.  I'm one of =
those=20
  annoying people with minimal technology knowledge who saw wearable =
computers=20
  on the Discovery Channel and thought: "Hey, that looks neat."  So, I =
started=20
  to research it online, and was inevitably led to this list.  I can =
already=20
  hear a few of you clicking the delete button, but I'll go ahead and =
tell you=20
  a little bit about me before I start asking the undeniably countless, =
and=20
  often dumb, questions I have.  ;-)=20
  =20
  Well, I'd like to take this opportunity to say welcome to the list.  =
You'll find us=20
  a varied, knowledgable, sometimes contentious, always interesting =
group of
  researchers.

  With regard to dumb questions, there's no such thing.  Ask =
away...you'll find
  this list an unbelievable source of information.

  > My name's Jonathan, I'm 25, live in Florida(US), and I occasionally =
do some=20
  > writing, but I'm a student/bum for the most-part.  :-)  I'm also =
wheelchair=20
  >  bound by a degenerative disease called Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, =
which=20
  > makes all my limbs and other muscles very weak, and limits even my =
typing=20
  > ability.=20

  Hey, you may actually have an advantage over some of us.  Batteries =
are
  heavy, and the lighter weight ones are EXPENSIVE.  You've got a =
rolling
  platform on which to mount them -- you don't technically have to =
"wear"
  your wearable!
  =20
  Theoretically, you could mount some car batteries on your wheelchair, =
and
  go for it.  Say...is your wheelchair electric?  Does it have a =
"cigarette lighter"=20
  power port?  Might have some potential there...

  A question -- how's your dexterity?  I'll go ahead and answer one of =
your
  questions -- the Twiddler 2 is a chording keyboard, which means that =
you
  must manipulate a couple of buttons at once, with a couple of =
different
  fingers, to create a "keypress."

  It's somewhat like playing a tiny piano, or a guitar...you must have =
the
  dexterity to do this.

  > are, with some additional.  For instance, a headmounted display is =
cool and=20
  > easy to transport outside and around town, but it's also great for =
someone=20
  > who wants to use a laptop at home and has difficulty positioning =
everything=20
  > so he can see AND remain in a comfortable posture.  =20

  An excellent point -- the HMD market is tiny at this point, and has =
not yet
  reached the size needed for an economy of scale.  Perhaps marketing
  to the differently-abled would be a market segment in which HMD =
production
  could manage to grow.

  > That leads me to my first question: are head-mounted displays =
compatible with=20
  > most standard PC laptops?  In other words, could I use a headmounted =
display=20
  > instead of the laptop's own monitor?  =20
  =20
  It depends on the HMD.  It's kind of like asking if you can connect =
your CRT
  to your laptop -- if it's a VGA monitor, yes, if it's a TV set, =
no...not directly.
  =20
  Some of them take VGA signals, and have a VGA plug on them.

  > I ask about laptops, because I figure I could just carry one in a =
bag behind=20
  > my motorized wheelchair, with the headmounted display and Twiddler =
plugged=20
  > in.  I don't have the technical knowledge to build my own CPU, or =
the=20
  > strength to construct it, so I figured this would make the most =
sense.  If=20
  > this isn't feasible, please let me know.  Suggestions are welcomed.  =
=20

  You have more storage space than we do, because of the wheelchair.  It
  might be easier (and a heck of a lot cheaper) for you to just mount a =
standard
  keyboard to the arm of your wheelchair.  You already know how to type, =
and
  can choose any keyboard you like.

  > 1) Have any of you ever tried the "head mouse"?  (you put a decal on =
your=20
  > glasses and sensors above your standard monitor supposedly track the =
subtle=20
  > movements of your head when you change your focus--they recommend =
this for=20
  > quadriplegics)=20

  Again, how is your dexterity.  Most of the mouse "replacements" have =
various
  shortcomings...if memory serves, the Twiddler2 uses one of those =
"pencil
  eraser" types.

  Given your ability to carry bigger and heavier equipment, I might go =
for a=20
  trackball.  I've recently obtained a Logitech Marble Mouse, which is =
the one
  with the big red optically tracked ball -- it's wonderful for desktop =
use, but
  would be impossible to wear.

  On your setup, however...
  =20
  Alternatively, maybe one of those touchpads -- GlidePoint is one of =
the
  brand names.
  =20
       -- Chuck Knight

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<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Very good points here, I'm sure there =
are more than=20
a few people on this send group who have gone the way of mounting their=20
wearables in their cars rather than carry the unit with them (just =
because of=20
the weight of the batteries)  In your case I would most definitely =
choose=20
the laptop option, and perhaps you could take a look at a 4-5inch LCD =
display to=20
mount somehow  to an arm of your chair.   It may seem =
ludicrous=20
with the laptop so close, but rather than having an expensive bulky HMD, =
you=20
could go the path of mounting the LCD somewhere within easy reach.  =
A few=20
modifications, or just buying a touch screen for the lcd and you could =
eliminate=20
the mouse pointer problem.  the keyboard issue is most likely the =
only true=20
worry, however I would look into (depending on your dexterity) a two =
handed=20
design to mount onto either arm, as to emulate true typing without =
taking to=20
much space.  However, the average width of a wheelchair's arms is =
about 1=20
1/2 - 2 1/2 inches, adding these perifs might make it cumbersome to even =
sit=20
down, or remove oneself from the chair.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>I would say adding some sort of hinged =
mechanism to=20
swing these into and out of position or perhaps widening the true width =
of the=20
arms.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Many things come into consideration, if =
I were=20
designing it, (as I have done with my car) I would design everything to =
be very=20
ergonomic, holding onto a twiddler is not very advantageous when you =
need to=20
control your vehicle with the same hand.  90% of the time the =
control stick=20
is set on the side of the individual that they favor (ie right handed =
individual=20
right handed side) the other 10% is when their favored side is injured =
in such a=20
way as not to be able to use.  So i'm assuming that the only way =
for you to=20
control your wheelchair is on your favored hand... that will make it =
difficult=20
to operate a one handed perif like the twiddler.  There are other =
options,=20
Speech Recog, with a fallback twiddler (nothing is perfect especially=20
recog.)  you could get an erasertip adapter for favored side or for =
your=20
non favored side depending, but in my experience the erasertip adapter =
is=20
cumbersome and unwieldy.   A trackball would be much more =
useful,=20
(this is all assuming you do not choose to use the LCD/Touchpad=20
option.)    </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Finally, if all else fails, i would =
look into a=20
Pen-mouse/HMD setup and perhaps a twiddler/speech recog (fallback) =
setup. =20
But all as Charles said earlier is dependant upon your personal=20
dexterity.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>-Joel Palmtag</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><A=20
href=3D"mailto:"></A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>"don't listen to him He's =
Crazy!"</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE=20
style=3D"BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: =
0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px">
  <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
  <DIV=20
  style=3D"BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: =
black"><B>From:</B>=20
  <A href=3D"mailto:" title=>Charles =
J=20
  Knight</A> </DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A =
href=3D"mailto:"=20
  title=></A> </DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Cc:</B> <A =
href=3D"mailto:"=20
  title=></A> </DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, March 28, 2001 =
11:30=20
  AM</DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: New to the List=20
  (Wear-Hard)</DIV>
  <DIV><BR></DIV>
  <DIV=20
  style=3D"BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 10px; =
PADDING-LEFT: 10px"><FONT=20
  face=3Darial,helvetica><FONT size=3D2>I'm new here, and new to the =
world of=20
  wearables as well.  I'm one of those <BR>annoying people with =
minimal=20
  technology knowledge who saw wearable computers <BR>on the Discovery =
Channel=20
  and thought: "Hey, that looks neat."  So, I started <BR>to =
research it=20
  online, and was inevitably led to this list.  I can already =
<BR>hear a=20
  few of you clicking the delete button, but I'll go ahead and tell you =
<BR>a=20
  little bit about me before I start asking the undeniably countless, =
and=20
  <BR>often dumb, questions I have.  ;-) </FONT></FONT></DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3Darial,helvetica><FONT =
size=3D2></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3Darial,helvetica><FONT size=3D2>Well, I'd like to =
take this=20
  opportunity to say welcome to the list.  You'll find us=20
  </FONT></FONT></DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3Darial,helvetica><FONT size=3D2>a </FONT></FONT><FONT =

  face=3Darial,helvetica><FONT size=3D2>varied, knowledgable, sometimes =
contentious,=20
  always interesting group of</FONT></FONT></DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3Darial,helvetica><FONT =
size=3D2>researchers.</FONT></FONT></DIV>
  <DIV> </DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>With regard to dumb questions, =
there's no such=20
  thing.  Ask away...you'll find</FONT></DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>this list an unbelievable source of=20
  information.</FONT></DIV>
  <DIV> </DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><FONT face=3Darial,helvetica><FONT =
size=3D2>> My=20
  name's Jonathan, I'm 25, live in Florida(US), and I occasionally do =
some=20
  <BR>> writing, but I'm a student/bum for the most-part.  :-) =
 I'm=20
  also wheelchair <BR>>  bound by a degenerative disease =
called=20
  Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, which <BR>> makes all my limbs and =
other=20
  muscles very weak, and limits even my typing <BR>> ability.=20
  <BR></FONT></FONT></DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><FONT face=3Darial,helvetica><FONT =
size=3D2>Hey,=20
  you may actually have an advantage over some of us.  Batteries=20
  are</FONT></FONT></DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>heavy, =
and the lighter=20
  weight ones are EXPENSIVE.  You've got a rolling</FONT></DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>platform =
on which to=20
  mount them -- you don't technically have to "wear"</FONT></DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>your=20
  wearable!</FONT></DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><FONT face=3Darial,helvetica><FONT=20
  size=3D2></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">Theoretically, you could mount some =
car=20
  batteries on your wheelchair, and</DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">go for it.  Say...is your =
wheelchair=20
  electric?  Does it have a "cigarette lighter" </DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">power port?  Might have some =
potential=20
  there...</DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> </DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><FONT face=3Darial,helvetica><FONT =
size=3D2>A=20
  question -- how's your dexterity?  I'll go ahead and answer one =
of=20
  your</FONT></FONT></DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>questions =
-- the=20
  Twiddler 2 is a chording keyboard, which means that you</FONT></DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>must =
manipulate a=20
  couple of buttons at once, with a couple of different</FONT></DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><FONT face=3DArial =
size=3D2>fingers, to create=20
  a "keypress."</FONT></DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> </DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>It's =
somewhat like=20
  playing a tiny piano, or a guitar...you must have the</FONT></DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>dexterity =
to do=20
  this.</FONT></DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><FONT face=3Darial,helvetica><FONT=20
  size=3D2><BR>> are, with some additional.  For instance, a =
headmounted=20
  display is cool and <BR>> easy to transport outside and around =
town, but=20
  it's also great for someone <BR>> who wants to use a laptop at home =
and has=20
  difficulty positioning everything <BR>> so he can see AND remain in =
a=20
  comfortable posture.   <BR></FONT></FONT></DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><FONT face=3Darial,helvetica><FONT =
size=3D2>An=20
  excellent point -- the HMD market is tiny at this point, and has not=20
  yet</FONT></FONT></DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>reached =
the size needed=20
  for an economy of scale.  Perhaps marketing</FONT></DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>to the=20
  differently-abled would be a market segment in which HMD=20
  production</FONT></DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>could =
manage to=20
  grow.</FONT></DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><FONT face=3Darial,helvetica><FONT=20
  size=3D2><BR>> That leads me to my first question: are head-mounted =
displays=20
  compatible with <BR>> most standard PC laptops?  In other =
words, could=20
  I use a headmounted display <BR>> instead of the laptop's own=20
  monitor?   </FONT></FONT></DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><FONT face=3Darial,helvetica><FONT=20
  size=3D2></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><FONT face=3Darial,helvetica><FONT =
size=3D2>It=20
  depends on the HMD.  It's kind of like asking if you can connect =
your=20
  CRT</FONT></FONT></DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><FONT face=3Darial,helvetica><FONT =
size=3D2>to your=20
  laptop -- if it's a VGA monitor, yes, if it's a TV set, no...not=20
  directly.</FONT></FONT></DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><FONT face=3Darial,helvetica><FONT=20
  size=3D2></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><FONT face=3Darial,helvetica><FONT =
size=3D2>Some of=20
  them take VGA signals, and have a VGA plug on them.<BR><BR>> I ask =
about=20
  laptops, because I figure I could just carry one in a bag behind =
<BR>> my=20
  motorized wheelchair, with the headmounted display and Twiddler =
plugged=20
  <BR>> in.  I don't have the technical knowledge to build my =
own CPU,=20
  or the <BR>> strength to construct it, so I figured this would make =
the=20
  most sense.  If <BR>> this isn't feasible, please let me know. =

   Suggestions are welcomed.   <BR></FONT></FONT></DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><FONT face=3Darial,helvetica><FONT =
size=3D2>You=20
  have more storage space than we do, because of the wheelchair. =20
  It</FONT></FONT></DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><FONT face=3Darial,helvetica><FONT =
size=3D2>might=20
  be easier (and a heck of a lot cheaper) for you to just mount a=20
  standard</FONT></FONT></DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><FONT face=3Darial,helvetica><FONT=20
  size=3D2>keyboard to the arm of your wheelchair.  You already =
know how to=20
  type, and</FONT></FONT></DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><FONT face=3DArial><FONT size=3D2>can =
choose any=20
  keyboard you like.</FONT></DIV></FONT>
  <DIV style=3D"MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><BR><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>> =
1) Have any of=20
  you ever tried the "head mouse"?  (you put a decal on your =
<BR>>=20
  glasses and sensors above your standard monitor supposedly track the =
subtle=20
  <BR>> movements of your head when you change your focus--they =
recommend=20
  this for <BR>> quadriplegics) <BR></FONT></DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Again, =
how is your=20
  dexterity.  Most of the mouse "replacements" have =
various</FONT></DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><FONT face=3DArial =
size=3D2>shortcomings...if=20
  memory serves, the Twiddler2 uses one of those "pencil</FONT></DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>eraser"=20
  types.</FONT></DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> </DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Given =
your ability to=20
  carry bigger and heavier equipment, I might go for a </FONT></DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><FONT face=3DArial =
size=3D2>trackball.  I've=20
  recently obtained a Logitech Marble Mouse, which is the =
one</FONT></DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>with the =
big red=20
  optically tracked ball -- it's wonderful for desktop use, =
but</FONT></DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>would be =
impossible to=20
  wear.</FONT></DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> </DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>On your =
setup,=20
  however...</FONT></DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><FONT face=3DArial =
size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><FONT face=3DArial =
size=3D2>Alternatively, maybe=20
  one of those touchpads -- GlidePoint is one of the</FONT></DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>brand=20
  names.</FONT></DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><FONT face=3DArial =
size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><FONT face=3DArial=20
  size=3D2>     -- Chuck=20
Knight</DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></BODY></HTML>

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