three wearable computers, SF comes true

My recent experiences with my new ipod touch have demonstrated to me how satisfying and convenient it is to have the information and solutions of a wifi computer with me, all the time, in my pocket. But, even with it’s sexy design, hunching over a 3.5 screen ain’t ideal. The information is there, but the need has to overcome the inconvenience of whipping my ipod out and squinting at it. Still, totally cool. But—

There is another way, and it isn’t far off.

Wearable Computer #1—Vernon Vinge describes some extremely cool, wearable, computers in his near-future SF book Rainbow’s End.

In the world he imagines, computers are right in the clothes, activated and driven by a keypad at one’s waist, and, more often, by body motions, shrugs, hand gestures, muscle contractions. If you are really good with your computer, you can appear to be siting still, but be surfing, texting, gaming, etc. But where does the information appear? Not on anything so public as a monitor, but rather, special contact lenses that give the wearer an overlay of information and graphics, as per their request. For example, walking down a grocery aisle, the wearer would see floating boxes of information, ratings, whatever kind of information the viewer wanted about the products in sight. Or, meeting someone could include a quick, private google search. Terms that come up in conversation can be quickly researched for relevant definitions and context. And the games! Think, full color, 3D, graphic overlay that the user walks through and interacts with, linked with other players who are ‘seeing’ the same thing you are. The possibilities are endless.

Rainbow’s End was most interesting to me in its descriptions of life with these wearable computers. Several other interesting ideas, such as a sentient AI, or the mental dangers of JITT (Just In Time Training, such as learning Cantonese, or Neurobiology, in a week), are woven in to a rather clunky plot and so-so characterization. But I found it totally worth the read for the near-future vision.

Wearable Computer #2—World Builder, an amazing video short by Bruce Branit, imagines a holographic computer interface that is both beautiful, and seamlessly integrated into the users natural gestures. The story will also give you goosebumps. Check it out:

Wearable Computer #3—This one is realworld, 2009, an invention by Pattie Maes & Pranav Mistry: a wearable computer that runs off the smartphone so many people already own, a projector, and an image recognition camera. It is clunky, and totally a work in progress, but it is ASTONISHINGLY close to a working version of #1 and #2. I had a total geekgasm watching it. Now you can, too. Observe and let your mind be blown:

This stuff is not far off. My kids will be using them. It’s another instance of SF successfully imagining (and in doing so, perhaps creating?) the future. I mean, if society as we know it doesn’t collapse first. I hope we make it!