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After seeing the movie "Terminator 2" in 1989, Thad Starner decided he wanted a wearable computer. He thought the ability to overlay computer graphics and text on the real world as one interacts with the real world was really powerful. In 1993, he came up with his first useable system and has been wearing his computer ever since.
What began as a short-term experiment became a life-long project and a driving force in his computer researchm how to build computer applications that make the user smarter and more efficient in completing day-to-day tasks.
Starner envisions wearable computers and their applications progressing to the point where everyone has a virtual personal assistant. The computer would remind the user of appointments, automatically schedule meetings, and open relevant notes and documents as the user talks about different topics. Starner's research group, the Contextual Computing Group, focuses on projects to develop applications and interfaces for the computer to be aware of what the user is doing and to assist the user as appropriate.
Over the years, Starner's wearable's hard disk, computer display, battery power, wireless access and other features have changed as the technology has improved. He sees wearable computers becoming more common in the future and points to the popularity of MP3 music players and "computerized" cell phones as examples of recent commercial successes. Starner predicts that MP3 players will continue to grow in functionality and may eventually merge into a general-purpose device worn on the body. | 