Wearable computers
The term Wearable Computer has been described in several ways. For example, according to the MIT wearable computing lab, a wearable computer is a computer that should be worn much as ìeyeglasses or clothingî, and interact with the user based on the context of the situation. With features like heads-up displays, unobtrusive input devices, and personnel wireless local area networks, the wearable computer can act as an intelligent assistant. NASA use the term Body Wearable Computer (BWC) which is a battery powered computer system worn on the userís body. The unit is designed for mobile and predominantly hands-free operations, often incorporating head displays and speech input.
The main supplier in the field of wearable computers is the Xybernaut corporation. The limitation on such systems is their cost of around £2000 per person. The leading manufacture until 2002 was Sony. Who very suddenly dropped all development of such devices due to a flood of potential claims from damaged eyesight.