Nomad

Goals

Primary

• Use as a research vehicle for wear-able UI and HCI
• Use as a research vehicle for augmented prevasive computing
• The wear-able acts as an interface to local pervasive computing resources
• Central loci for personal info and perferences

• Use as my primary computing platform Replacing desktop system
• Integrate with my home, work, and car networks.

Hardware

• Advantech PCM-5822 @ 300MHz w/128MB RAM, IBM TravelStar 40GB disk
  (see Wearable-PCM-5822)
• CyVisor HMD monocle hack - 800x600 @ 16bit
• Twiddler II chording keyboard with mouse
• External USB keyboard/mouse when stationary
• 802.11b wireless networking via PCMCIA
• Garmin GPS-35 (low-voltage model) GPS receiver
• Custom 5/12Vdc power system
• Dual Toshiba PA2485U 10.8v @ 5600mAh laptop batteries in parallel
• Hauppauge USB video capture/tv/radio using USBVision drivers (s-video input, audio input, Television (yes I've watched TV on my wear-able), FM radio)

Software

• Linux operating system (RedHat 8 at the moment)
• Sun Java 1.3/1.4
• Sun Jini
• jAugment
• gpsdrive/gpsd
• Escher's Puppet window manager to replace Rat-Poison, which I had been using.
• MIT RememberanceAgent
• Opera web browser

Change History

Most recent changes list first

04/03/2003 - After doing my taxes and being rewarded with a nice return, I'm looking forward to replacing my dead PCM-5822 with a HP/Compaq TC-1000 (Wearable-TC-1000). I can't wait until the return hits my checking account - hehehe.

02/2003 - On a whim I contacted Advantech to see what they could do with my PCM-5822. To my surprised I found that my board is still in warrentee and I even got a RMA# to ship it back to them.

12/2002 - Nomad is currently dead. The motherboard is emitting a continuous stream of long beeps when powered up. I have tried a new SODIMM module without luck. It's dead Jim. I am totally bummed about this.

08/18/2002 - While I was fixing my broken cable, I found an old electric shaver with a nice vinyl case. I noticed the top would fit nicely around my Cy-Visor display. I placed the plastic cover of the razor inside the cover of the case to strengthen and protect the display and to make the cover crush proof. Works nicely, though I wouldn't call it "covert" *grin*

08/18/2002 - I replaced the cable between the Cy-Visor control box and display for yet a third time. This last cable lasted all of four months. At $75 for a replacement, I'm starting to wonder if the Cy-Visor is something I can afford to use now that I am a student. I love the Cy-Visor's 800x600 color display, but if the cables are going to be this fragile I can't recommend it to anyone as a display for their wear-able. How does the manufacturer expect to stay in business, unless their business is repairing their product after sale.

08/12/2002 - I'm trying an experiment with painting the inside of the HMD with the display black except where the display shows through. This should reduce the amount of light coming in from around the display and help increase readablity.

07/2002 - Spent the month moving into and working on our new home (well, its 80 years old, but its "new" to us) and preparing to start school in the fall. Continued working on jXWM, my experimental Java based X11 window manager.

06/20/2002 - Started work on a new window manager, jXWM (Java eXtensible Window Manage), to serve as a flexible development component for wearable user interface ideas. Switched to using Escher's Puppet window manager to get a feel for how useful a Java based X11 window manager would be and how well the Escher X11 classes work.

06/2002 - Spent the month prep-ing and moving out of our N. California home and moving back to Fargo, North Dakota to return back to school full time.

06/04/2002 - Upgraded to a 40Gb IBM TravelStar? disk drive for more video/audio capture space (not in use yet, but preparing for school this Spring)

05/28/2002 - Upgraded to RedHat? 7.3 to use newer kernel to avoid ptrace security risk.

05/10/2002 - Switched to ratpoison mouseless window manager

04/2002 - Several Changes

• Repackaged wearable to fit into the inside hip pocket of a Scott eVest.
• Built a new custom 5v/12v power board - Includes 5v/12v power buses to power external devices
• Converted Toshiba PA2486U battery charger into a battery case. Easily fits into the other inside hip pocket on the eVest. Power cable runs through lining along the back of the vest. Helps balance weight distribution.

Future Changes

Nomad-Future-Changes not found.

Related

[Nomad1Project@Wearhard?]