This combination of observability and controllability is what gives rise to a pre-programmed punishment algorithm that enslaves the wearer in the feedback loop of an automated process. Part of my goal in creating machines to function as true extensions of the mind and body was based on the existential principle of self-determination and mastery over our own destiny. Whether these machines imprison us in spaces of ever smaller confinement, or whether instead they truly make the world a better place, will be determined, hopefully, by responsible engineers and scientists, with an awareness of many of the underlying issues. Unlike many other fields of research, wearable technology is very personal. This insertion of technology into the prosthetic territory of the individual can be either a violation of personal space, or a true enhancement of personal capability that captures a wonderful aspect of the essence of the human-environment boundary.
Clothing is wearable technology, yet is taken for granted.
On the other extreme is the notion of having everything we need and use be wearable. That being said, there must be a compromise between what we wear and what we rely on the environment to provide. And there will be certain tasks or capabilities better served by wearable technology than environmental technology, and vice-versa. Wearable computing is a term that might at first seem self-explanatory, yet there exists a possibility that it might be of assistance to some to arrive at a definition. Unlike a laptop computer which must be opened up, switched on, and booted up before use.