Wearable computers are finally coming out of the computer science lab and into the mainstream commercial and industrial world even if they are not quite yet a fashion item. You might classify anything from a Palm Pilot to a fully-loaded digital watch as a wearable computer, but this particular brand of personal mobile device is typically very different from the conventional handheld computer. Despite being small enough to wear, the Xybernaut Mobile Assistant IV TC is no slouch when it comes to processing power, memory or storage. It includes an Intel Pentium III 400 MHz processor, room for up to 192Mb of SDRam memory, and up to 32Gb of internal hard drive storage.
Price varies depending on specification.
But Xybernaut is not alone in this market. And this wearable computer will do battle in arenas other than just the high-tech marketplace. According to Henry Girolamo, program manager of the US Army Natick Soldier Center, in Natick, Massachusetts, wearable computers can be an important part of the modern soldier's arsenal. ViA says companies such as Northwest Airlines, Nabisco and General Dynamics in customer service, distribution center, inspection and maintenance applications are also using its wearable computers. The company says its next generation of wearable computers will incorporate a 700MHz Crusoe microprocessor and will run Windows 2000.