Wearable Computing- MIThril
Dong, [email protected]
Department of Computer ScienceUniversity of Georgia
http://webster.cs.uga.edu/~dong/wearable.ppt
ContentsBackgroundIntroduction to MIThril
MIThril overview MIThril projects
Memory Glasses ProjectContext Aware Cell Phone Project
Wild Ideawearable computing products
What’s a Wearable?A person’s computer should be worn.Interactive with the user based on
the context of the situation.Act as an intelligent assistant.
What is MIThril?The next generation research
platform for context aware wearable computing.
Developed by researchers at the MIT Media Lab.
Goal: develop and prototype new techniques of HCI for body-worn applications.
MIThril project overviewVisionHardwareSoftware
The MIThril VisionPeople vs. Users
starts with “people”, not “users”. Support people in their daily lives. Build technology that is: reliable,
comfortable, useful and makes max use of time and user’s attention.
Good HCIContext Awareness
HardwareBody-worn computingsensingnetworking
HardwareComputing Cores
Linux-based single-board computersBSEV, CerfBoard
special purpose wireless bridge light-weight microcontroller-based data-
gathering unitSAK board
MIThril network and body bus connect computing cores to each other,
wireless bridge, and peripherals and sensors. Provide a reliable single-cable power/data
connection between each device on the bodysensors and peripherals
IR Active tag reader, microphone and headphone driver and so on.
SoftwareInclude FPGA code, Linux OS/driver
code UI code, sensing/signal processing machine learning code, and prototype applications.
MIThril photos
The Memory Glasses ProjectGoal:
produce an effective short-term memory aid and reminder system.
Require a minimum of the wearer’s attention
Problem of the Context Blind System: The need for effective logistical and memory aid is on the rise.
The Memory Glasses ProjectSolution:
Provide a proactive, context-aware memory aid.
Applications: substantively Unimpaired Wearers Normal older people Amnesia patients Agnosia Patients Patients with other disorders
The Context Aware Cell Phone Project
Problems: A cell phone depends completely on the
user to manage its state. Solution:
Build a phone that could determine the user’s circumstances or context.
Automatically change the behavior according to the information
The Context Aware Cell Phone ProjectSensors:
GPS receiver Precision three-axis accelerometer IR tag reader Microphone
Wild IdeaSpectral Camera
A camera that can record full spectra across its field of view rather than red, green and blue.
Problems:Creating separate filters for more than a
hundred spectral bins is very painful.
Wild IdeaProjector Project
Problems:Heads-up displays only work for the person wearing
them not a group of people. Solutions:
Mount a steerable laser on the borg, andto paint vector drawing on flat surface.
However… Small steerable lasers aren’t easy to come by.
Wild IdeaLeopold Project
Goal:To determine the wearers hand and feet
positions. Solution:
Connect the wearable to position sensors and accelerometers.
Commercial Wearable Products
MicroOptical CorpVIA Inc. Xybernaut
MicroOptical CorpModel AV-1, qVGA ASCII Viewer
(320x240pixels) Goals:
Integrates a head mounted quarter microdisplay with a compact electronics module for the purpose of displaying character-based information to the user.
Applications:Wearable computers.Desktop computers.
MicroOptical CorpModel CV-1, qVGA Color Video Viewer (320x240
pixels) Goal:
Designed to attach to ordinary eyeglasses and provides a 16-Bit color image of a video screen floating in space in front of the user.
Applications:DVD playerTelevisionInfrared Cameras
ViA Inc. Via || PC
Gives users the full-function power of a laptop in a convenient hands-free format.
Adding peripherals such as a hand-held display, wireless LAN, GPS, cellular phone or a video camera.
1. Power Controls
2. Comfort Flex Point
3. Battery Connector
4. PC Card Slot Access
5. Integrated Heat Sink
6A. Serial Port
6B. USB Port
7. External Power Connector
8. Operator Interface
size: 24.8cm*7.6cm*3.2cm
ViA Inc.VGA Display
A high-resolution, color pen tablet for outdoor use with the ViA II PC.
Applications:surveying, inspection, maintenance and the
military.
Sunlight readable display
Indoor readable display
size: 15.8cm*25.2cm*1.1c
m
XybernautPoma
Gives you instant, seamless access to everything you need—e-mail accounts, attachments, Internet sites and games.
Built for optimum comfort and functionality.
-- CPU -- Head Mounted
Display
-- pointing device
XybernautXyberkids
Provides instant access to computing. Includes a backpack, powerful speakers
and an all-light readable flat panel display.
Flexibility: communication and computing function.
Mobile assistant V ---- (contain ports)
-- Back pack for storage
– Digital Flat Panel Display
Reference Websiteshttp://www.cc.gatech.edu/fac/Thad.Starner/http://www.media.mit.edu/wearables/
index.htmlhttp://www.microopticalcorp.com/http://www.flexipc.com/http://www.xybernaut.com/newxybernaut/
home.htm