When watches were introduced around 1900, they couldn't compete with pocket watches. Why wear a watch on your wrist when you can have a pocket watch that tells the time accurately and can check the time at will? However, during the First World War, the British Army distributed watches to its soldiers so that they could check the time without interfering with holding their weapons. This suddenly became a fashion in Britain, and people showed their support for their soldiers by wearing watches.
Fashion or need, wearable computing can be objectively convenient. That's exactly what we need.
If that makes you curious, then check out the following excerpt from an article introducing wearable computing:
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Laptops and PDAs have already freed people from their computer desks and chairs, and wearable computers will in turn free their hands from keyboards and mice. When flesh-and-blood people wear computers like clothes, "Superman" appears.
Scientist Steven Schwartz believes that the next generation of computers will have extraordinary capabilities, and more importantly, the next generation of computers will not be installed in a separate chassis, as is currently the case, but like clothes on the body, inseparable.
Wearable computers come in many shapes and sizes, some can be attached to a belt, some can be placed in a pocket, some can be carried on the shoulder, and can even be dispersed and hidden in clothing. Its display can be worn on the head like goggles, the lens is made of special materials. It can indicate what the computer is displaying without stalling the present line. It uses bone-sense voice input, eye-control input, glove-type input and other technologies to give operating instructions to the computer. Users can also wear a radio transceiver like a headset on their heads, which not only allows them to hear audio from their brains, but can also be used to send and receive e-mails. Instead of using a keyboard, it uses a touchpad as an input device, and scientists are also developing ring-type input devices and glove-type input devices.
Using such a computer, which is more convenient than a portable computer, would allow you to walk around while connected to the Internet and send and receive e-mail around the world, just as you would at home. Even on the way to work, one hand grasps the car's suspension ring while the other hand operates the computer and prepares the required report, so that one can work and ride in the car at the same time.
These computers are small and compact, and come in all shapes and sizes. But the sparrow is small but complete. Because it can be worn like clothes, so carry and use to be convenient. Now the United States, led by the developed countries, including Japan, are developing such new computers, and companies such as IBM are looking to develop such general-purpose computers that will make people's lives look more elegant.
Wearable computers require a lot of technology, starting with voice input. Because these computers are small, they usually don't use a keyboard and are often used while walking, making it more difficult to use text input. Second, the computer has to be able to recognize human movement (such as gestures) and voice, and understand human instructions, that is, recognition technology. Finally, there is power-saving technology to really make wearable computers mass marketable.
However, the predecessor of wearable computers was not honorable. In the 1960s, gamblers in U.S. casinos put small cameras, walkie-talkies, and other machines on their bodies or in their pockets as a way to get information about their fellow gamblers and win the game.
From a broad perspective, in recent years, people are familiar with the USB flash drive, PDA, MP3 and cell phones are a kind of wearable computer. They realize part of the function of wearable machine, USB flash drive is similar to wearable machine CF machine memory; PDA is a small handheld computer; and MP3 already has a processor and memory; cell phone is also a processing ability to wear a computer.
In some developed countries, wearable machines have been widely used in the handling of dangerous events.
From mainframes, desktops and laptops to handheld computers, scientists are working to bring people and computers closer together.
Key technologies
A wearable computer system is not simply a PC miniaturized and distributed on top of the body; it must study and solve many special key technologies. We call these systems and key technologies "wearable computing technologies".
1. System on Chip architecture design technology
This design technology integrates the hardware of the mainframe computer into a single chip. In this way, the computer can be made very small, and is conducive to reducing power consumption, increasing speed, and, above all, reducing costs and shortening the production cycle. For example, Epson's Cardio chip has the performance of a PC 586 and has already been commercialized.
2. Multi-port, high-performance I/O design technology for tiny computers
The mainframe of a wearable computer is microscopic, but it has to be connected to as many as a dozen external devices. Therefore, it is required that the microcomputer should have a sufficient number of interfaces, and it should have a high I/O processing capacity.
3. Wireless self-organizing network technology
Wearable computer systems to accompany human activities and as a mobile node at any time on the Internet, a number of such nodes will constitute a special network, called self-organizing network. This kind of network does not have a fixed router, the nodes to move in any way and dynamically connected, each node can act as a router, and has the automatic reorganization function can also improve the network's ability to resist destruction. Some people summarize the self-organizing network as "mobile distributed multi-hop wireless network". This type of network has the following characteristics: dynamically changing topology; access node arbitrariness; limited and often changing bandwidth; possible asymmetric connections; terminal restricted operation; distributed control of the network.
4. Embedded operating system technology
Existing microcomputer operating systems can be used for wearable computer systems, but because of the very limited size and storage space of wearable computers, the operating system should be compressed to the extent of "dedicated" as much as possible, and to improve real-time performance. As a result, embedded operating systems are needed, which are often real-time and microkernel-based, and have a strong ability to handle multiple peripherals.
5. Mobile database technology
Wearable computer systems access the Internet and databases on the move, and this type of mobile database management technology will be different from fixed database management. Mobile databases need to meet the following four objectives: availability and scalability; mobility - access on the move or update on the move; serializability - support for serial concurrent transaction execution; convergence - the system can always converge to a consistent level. -the system always converges to a consistent state.
6. Human-computer interaction technology
Wearable computer system is actually both a real-time information processing system, but also a "human-computer combination, human-centered" collection of human-computer relationship is more natural and harmonious. Therefore, human-computer interaction technology is the key technology in the wearable computer system, which should solve the problem of interaction between human and computer, and the ability of human to improve the environment perception through this interaction.
7. Bluetooth-based wireless connection technology
It is conceivable that when as many as a dozen modules are distributed on the human body at the same time, the connection between them will be a very heavy burden and an unreliable factor. And the use of Bluetooth proximity wireless communication, can gradually replace these wires.
8. External device selection and design technology
Wearable computer systems in addition to the host is a large number of external devices, device selection and design is critical. These include input devices, output devices, power supplies and so on. The requirements of these devices are "with high performance indicators: small size, low power consumption; in line with human characteristics, conducive to health; safe and reliable.
Communication without boundaries
Integrated communication refers to the integration of voice, data, audio, video, information and content with specific means of communication to form a more efficient, multi-faceted communication system. This type of communication system needs to be adapted to the complex environment in the field, taking into account the team's communication needs, the need for wireless, and satellite communication capabilities, especially in the case of cellular telephones, urban communication systems, radio stations, etc. do not work, this system is more heroic.
The United States NetworkAnatomy, they design and manufacture this communication solution has been in the military, civil defense, search and rescue, humanitarian activities, border patrols, national security, emergency response and natural disaster handling applications. It provides continuous uninterrupted on-the-go communications and computing power, offering high reliability and redundancy.
NetworkAnatomy's goal is to build world-class integrated communications solutions to help search and rescue lives. However, much of the company's current product concept represents the future of human communications: a highly portable communications terminal that supports a wide range of communication modes, including mobile phones, wireless LANs, satellite communications, GPS positioning, Bluetooth, and more, with strong computing and storage capabilities.
Commander Pack
Wearable military specification backpack.
Complete and integrated communications solution with integrated voice, data, audio and video.
The communication terminal is connected to a tablet PC inside the pack for on-the-go computing needs, enabling the convergence of communication and computing. The tablet is loaded with all the content and management software needed.
Integrated LAN and WAN access links allow data and voice communications on land, in the air and at sea.
99.99999% reliability, configured with solar cells and multiple backup systems.
The kit also comes with survival tools, water, healing supplies and a radio intercom.
CommanderGauntlet
The CommanderGauntlet is a product in development and very much in concept. It's an all inclusive wireless communication solution, with this glove, voice, data, audio, video and text messaging are all taken care of. The glove also has a shiny headlight that makes it look like Superman. This product allows end-to-end wireless communication with other CommanderSeries products. It is waterproof and suitable for harsh field environments.
Man-machine integration of the invincible warrior
The U.S. Department of Defense's "Land Warrior" concept was first formally put forward in 1991, the initial main contractor is Raytheon Systems, subcontractors, including Motorola, Hannibal, Omega, GENTEX and Battelle. Battelle Corporation. The program was initially expected to spend two billion dollars between 2001-2014 to equip 45,000 units with the expectation of combat effectiveness by 2016. In the FY 1996 program, the full system cost was estimated at about $70,000.
The program is designed to create a fighting force that can win 21st-century ground wars by tightly integrating small arms with high-tech equipment.
Based on the latest communications, sensing, computing and materials technologies, Land Warrior will revolutionize the traditional concept of man-portable combat. The program consists of the following subsystems: a weapon subsystem, an integrated helmet subsystem, a computer/radio subsystem, a software subsystem, and a protective clothing and man-portable equipment subsystem.
Weapon Subsystem
The weapon subsystem is the means of implementation to achieve the U.S. Army's goal of prioritizing the first kill, and the weapon subsystem is the means of implementation. The modular weapon subsystem design and manufacturing is based on the M-16/M-4 rifle. The weapon subsystem consists of major power-related optical components such as a ballistic calculator, an electro-optical sight, a camera, and a laser rangefinder/digital compass (LRF/DC).The LRF/DC provides distance and direction information to the soldier. Soldiers are linked to their position from the Global Positioning System (GPS) and have precise target locations when indirect fire and combat identification calls are required. This system will allow the infantry to operate in all types of weather and at night. Together with other components, a soldier can keep himself from being exposed to enemy fire.
Integrated Helmet Subsystem
The Integrated Helmet Assemblage Subsystem (IHAS) utilizes advanced materials that are lighter in weight while providing shell ballistic protection that outperforms current U.S. Army helmets. The complete Integrated Helmet Assembly Subsystem (IHAS) is lighter and more comfortable than existing helmets.The IHAS helmet-mounted computer and sensor displays are the Soldier's interface to other subsystems on the digital battlefield. Through the Helmet Mounted Display, the Soldier is able to view graphical data from the computer, digitized maps, intelligence information, troop locations, and also includes imaging from weapon mounted Thermal Weapon Sights (TWS) and cameras. This new capability allows the Soldier to view and capture a target around a corner and then fire his weapon without exposing himself, showing only his arms and hands to the enemy. By scanning an area with his weapon's thermal imaging sight, the soldier will be able to see the characteristics of the area, including terrain and enemy positions, and will be able to see through deceptive camouflage. A night vision sensor mounted on the weapon subsystem displays an image intensifier to his computer information processor and displays the processed information on a "helmet-mounted display", which will allow the soldier to maneuver and engage targets under the cover of darkness. "The Land Warrior's use of the Helmet Mounted Display will allow the infantryman to summon situational images, send messages, and request fire support, all with a single click of a mouse! "
Computer
Computer/Radio Subsystem
The Infantryman will attach the Computer/Radio Subsystem (CRS) to his backpack's "Load-Support Frame". The upper portion of the pack is the radio unit, while the lower portion includes the computer information processor (CIP) and the Global Positioning System (GPS) module. For man-portable equipment, the computer information processor is integrated into the CRS with the radio unit and GPS locator, combining separate displays, controllers and mounting frames, thus reducing weight and power requirements. The GPS and radio antennas are embedded in the load frame.
Additionally, the Soldier's Chest Attached Finger-Touch Operator is a finger-touch operator attached to the backpack and attached to the Soldier's chest, which acts as a computer mouse, as well as allowing the wearer to change screens, regulate radios, change frequencies, and transmit digital information. Other functions are controlled by several buttons located on the rifle near the trigger finger, which allows the soldier to maintain a firing position.
Software subsystem
The Land Warrior software subsystem directs the soldier's core battlefield functions, display processing, mission equipment and power management. The software subsystem includes tactical and mission-assist modules; maps and tactical overlays; collection and display of video imagery; and also includes a power management module. "The Land Warrior will be ****able on the digital battlefield. The designers set up the system to be updated and technologically improved, and the modular architecture allows for direct insertion/replacement for technology upgrades. The software subsystem allows the soldier to program the system's menus and functions for his own mission requirements and parameter selection.
The man-portable power pack may use a new type of "form-fit" battery, which is comfortable and non-obstructive when worn as part of the soldier's gear; another possibility is to develop a "sleep" mode, which automatically sets the device to "sleep" when not in use. Another possibility is to develop a "sleep" mode that automatically sets the device to a standby state when not in use to preserve battery power.
The man-portable power pack uses two lithium batteries, and the U.S. Army requires a 12-hour power supply, with a 30-hour operating time in the future after using the "sleep" mode. The man-portable power pack uses a rechargeable battery that can be utilized for combat missions using the vehicle's power for part of the mission and as a backup. Use disposable batteries that can be discarded after use.
Protective clothing and man-portable equipment subsystems
The protective clothing and man-portable equipment subsystems consist of a revolutionary backpack frame design built on the use of ingenious "automated instability control technology" for the soldier's natural body movement flexion. The backpack straps utilize quick-release buckles to allow the Soldier to properly and quickly remove the backpack. The necessary cables for the soldier's computer/radio connection are integrated into the frame. The soldier is able to adjust the structure of his pack during activity, adjusting the load distribution from his shoulders to his hips. A simple adjustment, however, it allows the soldier to manage and carry his combat load more efficiently and with less fatigue. New Land Warrior armor, such as helmets, offer improved impact protection by reducing weight. "The Land Warrior body armor includes a modular, upgradeable protective block to protect the soldier from light weapon threats. The suit and man-portable equipment subsystem combines the modular body armor and upgradable block to provide protection from the impact of bullets fired from light weapons.