> limiting? Is a combination of audio and a visual non-head-mounted
> display a realistic idea? I'm envisioning something like a palm
A wrist mounted display is entirely feasible, and even practical for
some applications. Depending on how big a display you use, it could
look like an oversized watch, or like that gizmo on Leela's arm on
"Futurama."
Someone cobbled together a wearable that mounted on the wrists,
from the two halves of a palmtop computer. Keyboard on one wrist,
display on the other...looked like it would work pretty well that way.
I believe the picture was on http://wearables.blu.org in the hardwear
section.
> I'm reluctant to try a HMD in my first try at a wearable partly due
> to price, and partly due to the geek-factor: I'm anti-social enough
> as it is - I can't afford to scare people away with some sort of
> borg-like contraption ;)
The price argument, I understand. Commercial HMDs are
EXPENSIVE! The "appearance" arguement, I don't. Are you
anti-social (i.e. you don't like interacting with other people) or
just somewhat solitary (i.e. a wallflower) in nature?
A lot of it has to do with self-image -- if you're comfortable with
yourself and your appearance, you will draw less attention to
yourself in public, in general, and people will be more accepting.
It's not like you'll be walking around in a clown costume with a
fluorescent purple mohawk.
(but there will *always* be someone who will *tell* you to your
face, about how weird you are)
I'm sure some people thought that walkmen looked weird when
they first came out, too...they came around.
People couldn't understand me, when I used to carry my TRS-80
model 100 laptop around, in the early days of computers. Back
then it wasn't cool to even *use* a computer, let alone tote one
along. I've been called weird (and various other descriptive terms)
more times than I can count. I can only imagine what it will be like
when I finally build my wearable, and wear it in public.
Believe me, you get over it...
-- Chuck Knight
P.S. You ever watch "Earth, Final Conflict?" Remember Augur's
display glasses? There is no technological reason these could not
be built, today, with existing technology -- it's just a matter of doing
it. Well, that, and being able to afford the components. :-)
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