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Wired for wear: IBM researchers demonstrate a wearable ThinkPad prototype

Mobile computer users, take note: could you use a powerful, clip-on computer that utilizes a tiny, headset-mounted display and responds to voice commands?

While this 233MHz hands-free computer isn't quite ready for your holiday shopping list, the prototype IBM Wearable PC -- a ThinkPad 560X shrunk to the footprint of a PalmPilot, complete with 340 MB of storage and 64 MB of EDO RAM -- is powerful enough to run IBM's ViaVoice speech software and light enough to clip to your belt.

Envisioned as an ultra-convenient information tool for maintenance, repair and system installation personnel, the Wearable PC prototype can display wiring diagrams, schematics inventory lists -– even videos. Users will be able to work and call up information on the eye-level display while keeping their hands free –- and leaving instruction books, blueprints, diagrams and other bulky references on the shelf.

Weighing in at only 10.5 ounces, including battery, the palm-sized computer prototype incorporates IBM's new microdrive disk and can also employ a small, hand-held TrackPoint unit for input. There's even an extra slot for another microdrive or flash memory card.

The system includes a microphone for entering commands and a "boom" that holds the computer's small screen a short distance from the user's eye. The screen's optical element presents a magnified image. Currently the image is 320X240 pixels in grayscale, although the display will be boosted to 600X800 pixels with color next year.

"Initially, we think the Wearable PC will find applications in business. I think you'll see people using these at aircraft flight gates, repairing your copier or tuning your car's engine," said Russell Budd, the IBM researcher who leads the virtual display work at IBM Research's lab in Yorktown Heights, New York. "Eventually –- well, who originally thought people would wear radios, tape and compact disk players?"

http://www.ibm.com/news/ls/1998/09/jp_3.phtml
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March 08, 2001 http://press.britishairways.com

Passengers greet the queue busting

British Airways stepped into the future today and became the world’s first airline to trial the Xybernaut “queue buster”, a portable computer check-in device.

British Airways check-in agents based in Terminal 4 donned cyber-style equipment designed to terminate queues by enabling them to rove the terminals to carry out on the spot check-ins.

The technology was only previously used by army engineers in remote locations to view on-line repair manuals.

The computer comprises a keyboard worn on the check-in agents forearm, a head mounted mini display comparable to a 15 inch full-screen and a battery worn on a belt.

The trial is taking place over three days, starting today and has been extremely well received by passengers intrigued by the technology and impressed with the efficiency of the futuristic device.

Commenting on the equipment Helen Wilson, British Airways’ Project Manager for Customer Services said; “ For our customers this technology has a genuine “wow” factor and takes the stress out of the airport experience.

“This is giving hundreds of our customers first hand experience of what we mean by 21st Century Travel”.


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British Airways Offers Flight Data Via Wireless Devices
By Matthew G. Nelson, InformationWeek
Dec 18, 2000 (9:58 AM)

Beginning Monday, checking in and booking a seat on British Airways will be a phone call away. British Airways Executive Club members will be able to use Wireless Application Protocol-enabled mobile phones and personal data assistants to log on to the airlines' Web site. There, they can check-in for flights, look up information on available flights, departures, and arrivals, and even get a graphical display of seats so they can choose their own seat on the plane. The technology comes from IBM. As part of a two-year, $17.5 million deal, the two companies will develop other features that customers can use with mobile phones, kiosks, and interactive television. IBM already is working with other airlines on similar projects, including Delta Air Lines, Japan Air Lines, and Swissair.''
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''British Airways' head of distribution, Kieron Gavan pointed out that, although airlines may be in alliances as far as schedules, passengers and operations are concerned, they are still forming groupings with non-alliance partners in B2B and B2C markets.''

''IBM's Lee Farnum pointed to the rise of pervasive computing incorporating the internet, biometrics, mobile communications and interactive and self-servicesystems
''You are seeing the dawn of the wearable PC and personal area network check-in. You will see hotel express and remote check-in,'' she added.''