Xybernaut Wearable PC -- Episode 386

Matt — Fri, 22 Mar 2019 08:24:00 GMT

Current Revision posted to Documents by Matt on 3/22/2019 8:24:00 AM

Xybernaut Wearable PC

element14 presents | AirborneSurfer's VCP Profile | Project Videos

www.youtube.com/watch

The Xybernaut Mobile Assistant was one of the earliest attempts at wearable computers--way back in the 1990s! It was an interesting feat of engineering for the time, but technological limitations, a high price tag, and contemporary interface design conventions stood in the way of mainstream success. Matt ran across one of the later models--the MAIV--that was dead-on-arrival, but wanted to add it to his retro computer collection. So with very little documentation available (The Xybernaut corporation went bust in the early 2000s after several commercial flops and some financial chicanery), he tore it down to see what powered it and set about to rebuild it with modern components. Was the Xybernaut a viable platform in hindsight? Is Minesweeper playable on a 2" head-mounted display? Why didn't arm-mounted keyboards catch on? These and more questions will be answered in this week's element14 Presents!

Supplemental Content:

Bill of Material:

Part	Manufacturer	Quantity	Buy Kit
Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+, Starter Kit	element14	1	Buy Now
D Sub Connector, DB15, 15 Contacts, Plug, Solder, DA, AMPLIMITE HDP-20 Series, Steel Body	AMP - TE CONNECTIVITY	1	Buy Now
D Sub Connector, DB15, 15 Contacts, Receptacle, Solder, DA, D Series, Metal Body	AMPHENOL ICC (FCI)	1	Buy Now
D Sub Backshell, Diecast, Rapid Assembly, Shielded, MHDM Series, DA, 180°, Zinc Body	MH CONNECTORS	1	Buy Now
USB Cable, USB Type A Plug, Micro USB Type B Plug, 152.4 m, 6 ", USB 2.0, Black	STELLAR LABS COMPUTER PLUS	1	Buy Now
1.8 Color TFT LCD display with MicroSD Card Breakout - ST7735R	ADAFRUIT	1	Buy Now
Development Board, AdaFruit Feather, ATmega32u4, Prototyping Area	ADAFRUIT	1	Buy Now
Tactile Switch, B3F Series, Top Actuated, Through Hole, Plunger for Cap, 260 gf, 50mA at 24VDC	OMRON ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS	2	Buy Now
Toggle Switch, On-On, SPDT, Non Illuminated, 1MS1T1B1M1 Series, 5 A, Panel Mount	MULTICOMP	1	Buy Now

Additional Parts:

Product Name
ADAFRUIT Thumb joystick (x1)
Xybernaut MAIV Computer platform (x1)

Attachments:

community.element14.com/.../STL-Files.zip

Tags: thumbstick, windows 98, e14presents_airbornesurfer, maiv, retro computer, tactile switch, xybernaut, raspberry pi, element14 presents, Wearable tech, friday release, xybernaut maiv, headset computer, raspberry pi 3 a+, adafruit, xybernaut wearable, friday_release, retro computing, d subconector, toggle switch, 1990s wearable computer

Episode 386: Xybernaut Wearable PC

Matt — Fri, 11 Mar 2022 09:29:55 GMT

Revision 2 posted to Documents by Matt on 3/11/2022 9:29:55 AM

Xybernaut Wearable PC

element14 presents | AirborneSurfer's VCP Profile | Project Videos

www.youtube.com/watch

Supplemental Content:

Bill of Material:

Part	Manufacturer	Quantity	Buy Kit
Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+, Starter Kit	element14	1	Buy Now
D Sub Connector, DB15, 15 Contacts, Plug, Solder, DA, AMPLIMITE HDP-20 Series, Steel Body	AMP - TE CONNECTIVITY	1	Buy Now
D Sub Connector, DB15, 15 Contacts, Receptacle, Solder, DA, D Series, Metal Body	AMPHENOL ICC (FCI)	1	Buy Now
D Sub Backshell, Diecast, Rapid Assembly, Shielded, MHDM Series, DA, 180°, Zinc Body	MH CONNECTORS	1	Buy Now
USB Cable, USB Type A Plug, Micro USB Type B Plug, 152.4 m, 6 ", USB 2.0, Black	STELLAR LABS COMPUTER PLUS	1	Buy Now
1.8 Color TFT LCD display with MicroSD Card Breakout - ST7735R	ADAFRUIT	1	Buy Now
Development Board, AdaFruit Feather, ATmega32u4, Prototyping Area	ADAFRUIT	1	Buy Now
Tactile Switch, B3F Series, Top Actuated, Through Hole, Plunger for Cap, 260 gf, 50mA at 24VDC	OMRON ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS	2	Buy Now
Toggle Switch, On-On, SPDT, Non Illuminated, 1MS1T1B1M1 Series, 5 A, Panel Mount	MULTICOMP	1	Buy Now

Additional Parts:

Product Name
ADAFRUIT Thumb joystick (x1)
Xybernaut MAIV Computer platform (x1)

Attachments:

community.element14.com/.../STL-Files.zip

Episode 386: Xybernaut Wearable PC

tariq.ahmad — Fri, 12 Apr 2019 13:56:57 GMT

Revision 1 posted to Documents by tariq.ahmad on 4/12/2019 1:56:57 PM

Xybernaut Wearable PC

element14 presents | AirborneSurfer's VCP Profile | Project Videos

www.youtube.com/watch

Supplemental Content:

Bill of Material:

Part	Manufacturer	Quantity	Buy KitBuy Kit
Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+, Starter Kit	element14	1	Buy NowBuy Now
D Sub Connector, DB15, 15 Contacts, Plug, Solder, DA, AMPLIMITE HDP-20 Series, Steel Body	AMP - TE CONNECTIVITY	1	Buy NowBuy Now
D Sub Connector, DB15, 15 Contacts, Receptacle, Solder, DA, D Series, Metal Body	AMPHENOL ICC (FCI)	1	Buy NowBuy Now
D Sub Backshell, Diecast, Rapid Assembly, Shielded, MHDM Series, DA, 180°, Zinc Body	MH CONNECTORS	1	Buy NowBuy Now
USB Cable, USB Type A Plug, Micro USB Type B Plug, 152.4 m, 6 ", USB 2.0, Black	STELLAR LABS COMPUTER PLUS	1	Buy NowBuy Now
1.8 Color TFT LCD display with MicroSD Card Breakout - ST7735R	ADAFRUIT	1	Buy NowBuy Now
Development Board, AdaFruit Feather, ATmega32u4, Prototyping Area	ADAFRUIT	1	Buy NowBuy Now
Tactile Switch, B3F Series, Top Actuated, Through Hole, Plunger for Cap, 260 gf, 50mA at 24VDC	OMRON ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS	2	Buy NowBuy Now
Toggle Switch, On-On, SPDT, Non Illuminated, 1MS1T1B1M1 Series, 5 A, Panel Mount	MULTICOMP	1	Buy NowBuy Now

Additional Parts:

Product Name
ADAFRUIT Thumb joystick (x1)
Xybernaut MAIV Computer platform (x1)

Attachments:

community.element14.com/.../STL-Files.zip