Wear your MP3, batteries not included
Anthony Fordham
JUNE 17, 2003
BATTERY size and power consumption are two main factors keeping wearable MP3 players and similar technology off store shelves since their announcement early last year.
Despite numerous companies promising clothing with integrated electronic circuitry, MP3 players and mobile phones, the smallest technology available today still runs the risk of ruining the cut of a good suit.
Electronics developer Austria Micro Systems (AMS) blames power sources for the bulky size of devices, noting that standard batteries account for 78 per cent of a package built using the smallest available electronics.
AMS also identifies power consumption as a key area that needs development and says run-time energy estimation chips need to be created to handle power use inside ultra-compact devices.
Without these chips, power economy is left up to software programmers, who must second-guess a device's power profile to create software that puts the lowest possible demand on batteries.
AMS has proposed the creation of a chip called JouleDoc, which will actively monitor the hardware's power performance and adjust parts of the processing cycle accordingly.
System on Chip (SOC) and System in Package (SIP) architecture will also help reduce the size of a device's circuitry and its demand for power.
Integrating a number of processors on to one chip in SOC maintains a device's performance and functionality while dramatically reducing its size.
SIP is a cheaper alternative to SOC, and works by creating all the required chips for a device at once, on a single die. This improves the energy efficiency of a device by reducing the distance electricity has to pass through circuits, reducing resistance and improving battery life.
Despite power problems, a number of companies are poised to unleash wearable technologies, from MP3 players invisibly integrated into clothing and operated by voice command to fully functional PCs light enough to be worn beneath a jacket or jumper.
Infineon Technologies, in Munich, has been developing textiles with integrated microelectronics since early last year, including an integrated MP3 player.
The company is also developing smart garment tags containing circuitry identifying the brand and fabric. This would be most useful to dry-cleaners and large laundries, and help limit brand piracy.
Smart home washing machines could identify clothes, set temperature and spin cycles, and prevent colours from being washed with whites.
Infineon's other projects include a range of fabrics for medical applications, such as unobtrusive biometric sensors, and devices that generate power using human body heat.
Larger wearable technology is already in the field. Xybernaut's range of wearable PCs has been adopted by telecommunications companies and other industries needing high-powered computing in cramped conditions.
The Mobile Assistant V is bulky by MP3 player standards, but is fully Windows-compatible and can be operated by voice commands combined with a head-mounted VGA display or touchscreen flat panels.
Wearable PCs are enjoying success in areas such as warehouses, where users must be away from their desks and need more information than a standard PDA is able to offer.
