Why Wearable Tech? How has it evolved and what's in it for you?

Hi everyone,

Good first entry, Leslie!  Glad to see that the "interesting timelines" page mentions eyeglasses, which have had a nice technological progression to the eyeglasses of today, and on to contact lenses.  I'm surprised that it didn't list Hearing Aides, though, which are certainly in the spirit of it's 2nd entry (1665, Robert Hooke calling for augmented senses).

I agree with others that the future of wearable technology is wide open, and limited only by imagination, a few ongoing technical issues (e.g., power, safety), and issues of their human-technology interfaces, and how (in)obtrusive they may or may not be.

My primary interests are in using technology to improve safety (I liked your link in one of your other threads about bicycle helmets), and in moving beyond simply repairing impaired senses (eyeglasses, contacts, hearing aides, etc.) to practical augmented sensory (and perhaps decision-aiding) systems.  My kids are of course most interested in artistic expression through wearables. 

Looking forward to the discussions over the next couple weeks!

--ToddM.

Todd, I love that you are interested in pursuing safety.  I remember sitting in a mock-up of a car for someone testing heads up displays a long time ago.  Now look where we've come!   In fact, these posts are helping me to remember just how much tech has been influencing me, without me even being aware of it.  It's as if I've been hypnotized to love electronics and code, and I'm actually very happy about it.  Anyway, concerning uses with senses, I'm really struck by someone at my hackerspace engaged on a special mission.  His father has an irreversible disease that will eventually leave him without speech and reduced movement.  Sure, there are many devices out there to help people, but often people cannot afford them and their quality of life suffers dramatically.  This young man has already started recording his father's voice to be placed in software (much like Stephen Hawking).  I was able to hear a quote from a Dr. Seuss book in his father's voice and was quite impressed.  He also is working on a wearable headpiece that will allow his father to use eye movement to do mouse clicks on a laptop.  Like I said, these devices already exist, but they are very expensive and not usually covered by insurance.  It just shows how prime DIY is to solve these issues.  I can't even imagine how thankful his family must be and I'm encouraging him to document his work.  The same for you!  I do hope you share projects you are working on, whether it be something for safety or even your children's art/tech designs.  You never know when someone else may find a use for it.

Not wearable, but very much worth mentioning with regards to your previous comment: www.thecontrollerproject.org

I had heard about the Adafruit Prosthetics project, but I did not know about this site.  I will definitely share this with my friend at the hackerspace.  Might be a good place for him to post his project and get further collaboration.  Thanks!

I had heard about the Adafruit Prosthetics project, but I did not know about this site.  I will definitely share this with my friend at the hackerspace.  Might be a good place for him to post his project and get further collaboration.  Thanks!