Hello, I'm pretty new here and thought I'd say hello and post a wish list that brought me here in the first place. I'm an IT Consultant, Systems and Network Admin currently between jobs (in the Boston Metro North area). I've been interested in wearables for about 5 or 6 years now and about 2 years ago, picked up a Xybernaut MA IV off ebay. From my experience with the MA IV and what I've read on the net over the years, I've developed a bit of a wish list in a wearable. I don't really have the time or hardware knowhow to build my own, but I thoughtthat as a consumer, I might throw out my wish list and hope someone on here might work doe a company making wearables. I can dream of beta testing prototypes, but the truth is, I would buy a new wearable if it was really usable by me and worth the price. Any way, here's the list. 1. Sufficient battery life. 2hrs is not even close to sufficient. Try more like 8hrs MINIMUM. 2. SVGA or better resolution HMD. Perhaps a head tracker to pan a larger desktop. It also needs to be light like the Poma's monacle or something from Micro Optical. I know this is the most expensive feature, but QVGA just won't cut it for the average consumer. 3. X86 compatible processor. I want to be able to choose my OS and install it. Perhps an SBC based system like the DIMM-520 or the 586CORE boards or even the Gumstix board. 4. User Expandable RAM and storage. 5. Options for fully-functional, open OS's. (Such as BSD or Linux variants) with a compiler and a tiny X server. 6. A pointing device that is out of the way, such as a ring-sized trackball. (The rocket pointing device on the MAIV really sucks.) 7. An affordable wrist mounted or thumb-use keyboard. No one wants to learn the twiddler. Really. The Twiddler is fine for die-hard geeks, but not for the masses. 8. Wireless networking (802.11B/G and bluetooth) 9. Mounted camera option with a photo-based PIM or other memory enhancement software. (Perhaps coupled with a GPS?) 10. Voice I/O through an in-ear speaker/mic. Even if it's really basic.(Like simple modulator out and all custom training in) 11. Cell phone expansion capability. (Perhaps a partnership with T-Mobile or Nextel?) 12. Car charger. (It would be especially nice to make the whole unit run on 12v under 500mA...) 13. USB, CF, and SD card expansion. 14. Bluetooth PAN software (Auto business card or personal info exchange, file sharing, etc.) I think this list leaves plenty of room for decent unique products from multiple vendors and I know most of the items already exist: just not in a single product. The keys are usability, affordability, and expandability in that order for me. I would really want something more powerful than a PDA, but not a desktop replacement. I would want a machine that is essentially out of the way but that I could access quickly and efficiently when needed. For anyone interested in marketting info, I am a Systems and Network Administrator finishing up a contract for a small WISP in NH USA. I plan to use a wearable for PIM, personal networking, network troubleshooting, GPS navigation, writing & accessing documentation on the spot, remote sessions with various machines I am responsible for, network monitoring, and yes, perhaps, even a few games. If any company would like to test their product or prototype in the field, I would be more than happy to oblige and send you a full detailed report. I also have much more detailed ideas regarding the PAN software, GPS integration, and how to really make a wearable usable and useful. The most difficult parts are to get a company to actually make something like this and to keep the price down to a level that will make it desirable. It would have to be priced somewhere between a PDA and a typical laptop. I'm guessing between $1000 and $1500 USD. Anyone know of any companies working on such an animal? Brian -- --------------------------------------------------------------- |http://www.hirebrian.net | | Simply the Best IT/MIS Manager | | Self-taught, Fast Learner, and Team Player | | Ready to Start TODAY at Your Company. | --------------------------------------------------------------- -- Subscription/unsubscription/info requests: send e-mail with subject of "subscribe", "unsubscribe", or "info" to
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