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Re: Size

I second that, software matters, not hardware. Sony or such will come up
with
something a lot quicker and cheaper when there is a killer app.

Yohan
_______________________________________________________________________

 Yohan BAILLOT

 Virtual Reality Laboratory,
 Advanced Information Technology (Code 5580),
 Naval Research Laboratory,
 4555 Overlook Avenue SW,
 Washington, DC  20375-5337

 Email : 
 Work : (202) 404 7801
 Home : (202) 518 3960
 Cell : (703) 732 5679
 Fax  : (202) 767 1122
 Web : http://ait.nrl.navy.mil/vrlab/projects/BARS/BARS.html

_______________________________________________________________________

----- Original Message -----
From: "--friar" <>
To: <>
Cc: <>
Sent: Thursday, January 03, 2002 11:42 AM
Subject: Re: Size

> Zach said:
> >My hang up is - "so what?"
> >I can buy a small laptop almost the same size and same power.  I can make
> >the enclosure smaller, but I have to give up some big features.  What are
we
> >going to use these for?  What application is going to be absolutely
> >necessary that you need it on you at all times?  Email?  That can be done
by
> >cell phone or PDA.  Who are we building this for and what are their
needs?
> >Now, I can answer all of those questions if we had wireless broadband in
> >most of our geographic location, but that seems to be on the back burner.
I
> >can answer all of these questions as well if the voice recognition
software
> >was MUCH better and 70% affective, but that seems to be in a galaxy far,
far
> >away.
> >Are we building in anticipation of what tomorrow brings?  Are we building
> >for knowledge or seeking financial wealth?
> >I guess I have lost sight of why I started doing this and now I build
> >because there is always a better mouse trap to be built.  My problem lies
in
> >the possibility that there are no mice to trap.
> >I'm terribley sorry for my rant, but I'm hoping some may offer answers to
> >some of these questions.
>
> Later, Charles J Knight said:
> >In a very few years, the equivalent of your current wearable will
> >fit in a wristwatch case, and run continuously on a button cell
> >battery, for days or even weeks -- heck, Casio's already got a
> >color digital camera in one, this year!  The limiting factor will not
> >be the machine or even the power source, but the human interface,
> >in a VERY short time.
>
> My personal view after building my initial wearable was very similar to
> yours, Zach.  I too was hit with the "So What?" question.  But I then
> realized that nearly everyone on this list is concentrating on a problem
that
> is, essetially, solved (the hardware), instead of working on the stuff
that
> actually provides these systems with unique, new utility (the software).
>
> The only truely "new" application that I have heard of for a basic
wearable
> (meaning a cpu, an input device, an output device, some ram and some
storage)
> is Brad Rhodes' Rememberance Agent.  Everything else has either required a
> specialized piece of hardware (network card, webcam, gps, what-have-you),
or
> been a recreation of a desktop tool for use with the basic wearable's
input
> and output devices.  Unless we come up with new tools that are MORE useful
> in a wearable environment than they are with a laptop or desktop or
handheld,
> there will never be a reason to use a wearable.  Wearables will simply
> continue to be modified laptops.
>
> What becomes possible with an always-available cpu?
> What becomes possible when the user has constant status information?
>
> Add wireless networking and the answers become even more involved.
>
> --friar
>
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