Our wearable computer provides many advantages for helping a user to perform tasks. For example, the display allows the user to work while looking at text, drawings, and video. The earphone allows the user to hear explanatory audio narration while looking at information on the display or at the task environment. The microphone, voice recognition software, and our applications allow the user to control the computer via voice so the user's hands are free for other tasks. The combination of batteries, computer, wireless network, and head-mounted display allow the user to be mobile, getting information when and where the user needs it.
Origami is a hands-on, slightly complex task which is unfamiliar to most people.
The goal of our system was to allow users to learn to fold a simple jumping frog. Figure 3 shows the main menu of our origami performance support system. To understand the fold described by the step, the user can examine the drawing for as long as desired and have the instructions replayed. The wearable computer allows the user to look at the drawings or videos, and listen to the auditory instructions, while folding the paper. This initial study compared participant performance in three simple tasks while using one of the following two learning systems.