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TechHead

 Computing on the go.
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(-1) 		  [vote for,
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Computers are becoming so indispensable these days that I figure this one is only a matter of time.

The vendor handed over the unit, with a knowing smile. She knew something about this computer that I didn't, it seemed.

I slipped the lightweight helmet onto my head, adjusted the microphone to bring it nearer my mouth, cleared my throat and said "Start", softly. Nothing. "Start." Nothing. "START." A series of diagnostic messages flickered across the wall in front of me. I was in! The wireless connection to their internet server came online, at the same time.

Within five minutes I had mastered the rudiments of voice control of the unit; I was able to open and close programs and restore and minimise applications. It was getting used to my voice.

The best part was the display mode. If I turned my head towards a suitable surface and said, "Display", the high intensity projection unit in the helmet threw the display onto the surface I was facing. A monitor could now be as simple as a blank sheet of paper! IR sampling of the surface, for smoothness and angle meant that the display was continually adjusting to appear to be a standard 1600 x 1200 format. The automatic keystone adjustment mode was very quick, very slick, indeed.

When I didn't want the display on the nearest wall, which was when I wanted to save battery time, then I simply reverted to HUD monocle mode and the display showed up on the visor; one eye or both, on voice command.

I had opted for the keyglove unit, as well. It allowed silent input, rather than talking to oneself on public transport. This ingenious device is a series of pressure sensitive pads on the backs of the gloves: Alpha on the left, numerical and mathematic on the right. Watching a proficient user is like watching a sleight-of-hand magician. Wireless antennae (for the input devices) built into the wrists.

The pointing device was a work of art... You simply rubbed the tip of your index finger around on the pad of your thumb. Took some getting used to, but sublime, once you got the hang of it.

I loved it. I bought it. Now, about that battery recharge interval... How do I get the new 168 hour battery pack on a pre-release test? The current battery vest is light, but could be better.

—UnaBubba, Aug 02 2003

Formely Pixid http://www.websterb...m/products/wbp.html
Remarkable whiteboard photo product with great keystone correction. l use it almost everyday. True it's not for projection correction, rather, the reverse but it shows that the algorithms are out there and being applied to everyday useful things. [bristolz, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 05 2004]

For [UB}. My Wife? -Pegs? - Hello Dave! http://www.lofg.com...y%20some%20pegs.mp3
Scary Papa Lazarou. [gnomethang, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 05 2004]

one interpretation of TechHead http://www.geocitie...hnnie/techhead.html
sketch by [FarmerJohn, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 05 2004]

[link]






       Holy dooley! I Aussie salute you for a ripper thingo. Good oil. Good onya.
—FarmerJohn, Aug 02 2003
   

       The pointing device *is* a work of art. +
—thumbwax, Aug 02 2003
   

       + For now, but I am still hanging out for Iain.M.Banks' neural lace.
—gnomethang, Aug 02 2003
   

       I deliberately avoided any hint of hooking it into human neural networks. I just don't think that is likely to happen.
—UnaBubba, Aug 02 2003
   

       Yes, yes, and yes. The future is coming. +
—k_sra, Aug 02 2003
   

       True enough, it was a SciFi thing (Excession being the primary source), which is why you get the bun *in the meantime*.
—gnomethang, Aug 02 2003
   

       It also crossed my mind to allow the user to 'tap' the 'screen' and have the unit calculate the XYZ, or just XY, co-ordinates and activate command sequences much like a mouse click does now. In the end I figured that sort of thing would be death by detail. You could go on forever.   

       The scary part is that I finished writing this and my wife pointed out that part of it is similar to scenes from Minority Report. I hadn't considered that.
—UnaBubba, Aug 02 2003
   

       Nice. The region detection and automatic keystone correction is a reality today with products like Pixid and others in the research divisions of certain companies.
—bristolz, Aug 02 2003
   

       <off topic>[bris] We bought a set of whiteboard pens and erasers that connect directly to the PC and produce the image as you draw/write (in colour) or erase. A calibrated wossname in the top left of the board tells the software what device is being used in which x/y/ coordinate.
Simply save as a picture format of choice.</ot>
—gnomethang, Aug 02 2003
   

       Yeah, we gave upon those as being horribly unreliable and the pen holders were big and clumsy, too. the photo solution is amazingly effective.
—bristolz, Aug 02 2003
   

       Shakes... gyroscopes.   

       The point of this exercise was to draw together a lot of associated technologies into a neat, little package. I'm familiar with the concepts you've outlined, but I've never seen nor heard of an attempt to pull it all together.   

       I was thinking of a magician named Steve Elve. His hands never leave his arms... apparently?   

       No, it's not halfbaked, but it would be a bloody nice device.
—UnaBubba, Aug 02 2003
   

       Posting stuff like this only makes me want one. +
—sartep, Aug 02 2003
   

       I read "Snow Crash" less than a year ago and enjoyed it very much, but I can now remember almost nothing about it. Just me, I guess?   

       [UB]: Your wife made the point I was going to make.
—snarfyguy, Aug 02 2003
   

       My wife?
—UnaBubba, Aug 03 2003
   

       The Minority Report thing.   

       Ahh! I guess it's similar, however I see this device as being wholly portable. That one needed a dedicated room (much like computers 20 years ago), and a fixed screen. This one could be used on the tray table on an aircraft, for instance.
—UnaBubba, Aug 04 2003
   

       Yeah, I wasn't going to say it was the same, just that it reminded me of it.
—snarfyguy, Aug 04 2003
   

       Thanks, [FJ]. I'm not sure about that blue skin.
—UnaBubba, Aug 04 2003
   

       [SDG] Whoops.
—FarmerJohn, Aug 05 2003
   

       OK, let's make that the pad of the thumb. It's possibly a regional difference? I've always understood it to mean the bit of which law enforcement agencies like to collect black and white studies.   

       [Mr Burns], make it methane fuel cells then corner the market on baked beans.
—UnaBubba, Aug 05 2003
   

       This existing branch of research is called "wearable computing". It's been around for more than 15 years. In reality, what you describe is a very awkward system; gloves and a helmet, in particular, are stupid ideas buoyed mostly by their depiction in science-fiction.
—jutta, Jul 30 2004
   

       It has always worried me about voiced activated automation that if you ever inadvertently said a curse word like "shit" you don't know what sort of a mess you might end up in.
—tasman, Jul 30 2004
   
      
[annotate]
   


 

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