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Re: wearables: interfaces, functions...

--- "Brian Empey, P.Eng." <> wrote:
> RE Interface:
> ------------
> I agree with Victor ... we need an interface for
> wearables that is
> designed for wearables.  The output is OK (HMD,
> flat-panel, etc.), but

Wrong Output is a problem for Wearables [1] even HMD. 
The Desktop GUI is based on the fact that Screen
realEstate i dirt cheep.  Unless you think these cheep
HMD when they come out are going to support the Same
resolution as Desktop of that day you're going to have
to use some other UI design.  On Wearables screen
Realestate is expensive. Ether because of Cost like in
HMD or physical Size restraints on Arm
Mounted/Pocket-able displays.   That's why on PalmOS
disabled menu options are not shown and of Desktops
they are grayed out.  These may seem like a minor
thing but minor things add up into major problems.  A
mosquito is a minor thing(Less assume it's not
carrying any deadly diseases)  but go stand along
Arctic Ocean and the huge swarms can drain you to
death.  You keep this bigger is always better attitude
and you're going to end up killing your products by
add little bells and whistles then the tiny coast add
up to the point that your product is no longer
affordable like Ricochet [2] did.  If we really want a
good wearable UI we need to get the the designs of the
key-chain pets UI to help.  How many of you have made
a ease to use UI that 32x32x2 colors and only a
direction pad and 4 buttons.

I really think wearbles should try to take over the
sub $100 PDA/Electric Organizer market for Main
Stream, Then allow the Main stream Wearable market get
the laptop replasment systems from the Industry
Wearable market.  I don't really think we would have
the High End PDAs(And lets face it Desktop replacment
Wearable are Going to be High End)  if it wasn't for
Palm and the like with their Cheap PDAs that started
the PDA market.   

> the inputs are the challenge.

i' routing for something like a Rex. Prev. Select,
Next Thumb buttons and 4 finger buttons, For a basic
intuitive enu navigation and simple data entry. Select
threw the chars then select then the one you want to
enter, or the 2 swith system designed for disabled
type of thing. then have an advance mode when it acts
like a chording keyboard.  May have it selected by an
out of the way switch like on Hold feature of the Rio.
 Now this Chording is not required and the simple
intuitive interface is all most people need to learn
because that a plug in a standured keyboard or sync
with a PC.

For output I think Voice and Tiny 128x64 pixel
LCD(chosen because it's a standured Display size and
fits 21X8 characters, Don't have to worry about HMD
hurts eyes with 24/7 use)

> I've wondered about vocal control of a pointing
> device.
> For example, humming higher or lower to move a
> pointer, etc.
> 
> Does anyone know of applications of human-generated
> audio for computer
> input other than voice command/control/recognition?

Sounds hard to learn, laryngitis waiting to happen.

> RE Powering off devices:
> -----------------------
> That won't be an issue in the future.
> Even though many devices still have rotating media
> today, smart SW can
> shut them down when not in use.
> Displays and audio amps can be SW controlled as well
> (even our 1 watt
> computers can disable Video to drop 1/3 off the
> power draw, and turn off
> the audio amplifiers, USB host power, etc. ... and
> eventually go into
> "sleep mode" at ~ 1% of a watt ... actual figure
> TBD)

With you here.  The Wearable Should be able to pseudo
sleep, just waiting to push information to the user.(
Wait Push Technology is no longer a Buzzword.... :P )

> 
> But as long as people are using X86 CPUs and
> hard-disks you will have to
> shut down devices to get decent battery utilization.

Not true 486s are vary lower, and probley the same can
be said about Pentium 1s by now.  but ya for High
processing, low power, lo cost you have to go for
something else. 

<Snip>

> > > Another question: It occurs to me that wearables
> might be always-on
> > > devices (or at least, that's an option I might
> want). So do we plug
> > > them in overnight to reload their batteries, but

<snip>

> > wirelessly. Anyone know if such technology is
> anywhere near becoming
> > feasible?

Electric cars used  an induction to charge them so
thare was no exposed high voltage.  The problem with
this is it's short range. Thou maybe you could buid it
into a hair or Seat cover so it charges when ever you
sit down at your desk. in to car seat with the
Cigarette charge plugged in.

> > 
> > > Finally, I do NOT want my primary data store to
> be on any network,
I Don't like Storing the Date on the network becouse e
then you need 24/7 Wide-area Networking with means
mega Bucks, The only widely avaliable Wide Area
networks I'm aware of are Satilite and Cell-phone Both
of with have by the byte or Minute Charges that add up
quick, with make a large on going cost, plus the
initial cost of the hard wear thou that might be
offset by CSP(Cellar Serves Provider) subsidizing like
cell-phones.  Thou maybe you can sell 1000's of
Wearable mounth in Denver who knows?

1. I'm using Wearable to mean a Computer that has
exandible software capabiltys and goes from being
passively used(like the PDA or Pager in your pocket
that beeps you when you get a page, your monitored
stocks fall, you apointment is adproching approaching,
Ect.) to actively being used(Write an E-ail, Playing
Asteroids clone, Ect.) in the same amount of affect
and time as it takes to pull the stylus from the PDA
you're holding in your hand.

2. Am I the only one that missed the rebirth of
Ricochet? I don't remember seeing anything about it on
the list.  

=====
|\_/| Dr. Panthera Tigris Altaica
/o o\"We are all crazy here. This is the wearable nut house.
(>_<)The walls are soft but the soldering irons are hot."
 `-'   -- Doug Sutherland 06 Dec 2000

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