Tony Havelka wrote: (I'm actually really glad you replied because I've been drooling over some of your company's offerings for several years now...) > 8 hours of continuous use? If so, is it disk or peripheral (wifi) > intensive? Any radio use would obviously reduce the battery life considerably. I'm thinking of 8 hours of actual use, roughly on par with some older PalmPC/WinCE devices. They would go into a low-power mode when idle and come back to life with an alarm or user input. > Also, can you show me an existing laptop with this type of runtime? Fujitsu P-2046 with the optional drive-bay battery and high-capacity main battery. I'm typing this on one now. I'd be willing to go with a lower battery life if charging was easy and the charger(s) easily portable. The MAIV fails this miserably, lacking a hot swap between battery and AC charger. >>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. > > > First off, we are definitely not talking about the average consumer here - > they buy PDA's and laptops. > SVGA at this stage is costly and may be too much resolution for a mobile > platform. A stationary wearable can accommodate 8x6. Using this resolution > in a mobile environment is difficult. There is too much data. IIRC SVGA is 800x600. I can understand the too much data side, but I'm also thinking of relatively stationary uses like document reading and writing and remote desktop manipulation. > As for a head tracker - seems to be a costly option (tack on another $1K) > for something that could be accomplished with a mouse. Definitely more of a pipe dream there. I had ideas of virtual reality in mind. > What about a hand held unit? 6" or 8"? That's what I'm trying to get away from. The FlipstartPC is an interesting concept, but I'm really enamored with the HMD due to it's persistent location and ability for hands-free use. (That is, hands free use of the display while mobile.) > What about a cholesteric display? Lower resolution, slow refresh but draws > no power once it is refreshed. Excellent for text based OS's like Linux. Definitely an interesting concept, and I'm even thinking of them as a kind of transparent overlay for reality augmentation. The technology seems really new and is definitely worth watching. > Why not rely on the command line only? Point and click is not very > efficient in a desktop environment leave alone a wearable/mobile > environment. I agree a CLI only would be more efficient. The problem is that a lack of a GUI would drasticly reduce the market segment who would be interested. Having a choice would make more sense from a marketability perspective. Personally, I'm partial to text input and graphical output with command shortcuts. (Like the KDE application launcher in the task bar.) >>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. > > > Try the WristPC Keyboard. Love it. But the key is affordable. Being impervious to everything is great for those who need it, but at $480 it's way out of my price range for a keyboard. I'd rather spend $20-50 and risk spilling something on it. (Even at $169 the FrogPad is too pricey.) > What about Mesh network compatibility? That's the idea, basically. >>9. Mounted camera option with a photo-based PIM or other memory >>enhancement software. (Perhaps coupled with a GPS?) > > > Should be an add-on product. I don't think a wearable system needs the > continual power draw or the bulk of a camera if it is not used all of the > time. Definitely. A CF slot would take care of this nicely. Two CF slots or internal systems you could turn off would be even better. > Through Bluetooth you should just be able to load up a DUN profile and log > into the net or Headphone profile and talk to your phone. Yup. If your existing phone is bluetooth capable. Having an option to just insert a GMRS SIM card into the wearable's main body would be extra sweet. >>13. USB, CF, and SD card expansion. > > > Size, size, size. While I totally agree with you on ports - the more you > add, the bigger the unit will get. Size isn't /as much/ of an issue to me. I wouldn't mind something that would fill a fanny pack and weigh 5 or 6 pounds as long as it does the job. Its use would replace a cell phone, PDA and laptop, so I wouldn't mind if it wrapped around a little, like an extra large Via II. Plus, as technology improves, the package could be reduced in size. >>14. Bluetooth PAN software (Auto business card or personal info >>exchange, file sharing, etc.) > > Should come with your Bluetooth module. Check out > http://www.tekgear.com/category.cfm?category=Bluetooth for some great > Bluetooth products that already come with this feature. Yup. Couple that with some good PAN applications ant you get the idea I had in mind. I would think an option of a mobile profile (like a tiny HTTP server dishing out info like a business card, optionally with GPS location, photograph, whatever the user wants. This would potentially allow a user to see the relative locations of other users close by who want to be seen as well as to know a little about the other cyborg you're chatting with F2F. > As a vendor, our "holy trinity" is: Quantity, Quality and Price. The > Customer gets to pick 2 and we will pick the last. If you want the PC > listed above (Quality) and wanted one unit (Quantity) we would respond with > a high price due to all of the development costs associated with this unit. > If you want one unit and only wanted to spend in the area of $1,000 to > $1,500 we'd offer you a PocketPC or TechSol Medallion. That's exactly what you want when you do mostly custom packages. My idea was for something a bit more mainstream and mass-produced/marketed. With mass marketing of a product to major computer stores, quantity is taken care of. Quality is what I'm hoping for and price is mostly dictated by what the market will bear. > There is a balance that must occur between customer requirements and market > capabilities. When this balance occurs, a sale is made. Absolutely. What I am hoping to see is a wearable for the masses which is also usable by the current market of specialized needs. Something that has a base that people will want and also be customizable for niche markets: not unlike where the PDA was about 3-4 years ago. > Your listing of the "dream system" is a great way to flesh out what is neat > to have, nice to have, and must have. The next step should be to put a > product beside every one of your features to see what is possible with off > the shelf products. Many of my wishes are available in parts. I think an x86 embedded system would make development relatively easy and provide flexibility for customization. Card readers, disk-on-chip, bluetooth, and Wifi are all out there, as are the display and power technologies. > It proves viability. Then, add up the costs. Over > time the list will change as new products become available and the price > will change - hopefully to a level where the Price:performace ratio is in > line with your expectations. This is exactly where I hope to go with this. I'm hoping someone with the resources can make something the masses can use and would really want in sufficient quantity to keep the prices manageable. -- --------------------------------------------------------------- |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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