Wearable Computer Technologyfor Ground Forces

Prof. David BernsteinJames Madison University

Computer Science Departmentbernstdh@jmu.edu

Motivation

• Individual Soldiers Have Limited: Information Resources (maps, compass, GPS) Connectivity (voice radio)

• Individual Soldiers Need Better: Perception Memory Decision Making Tools Connectivity

History: DARPA “Wearables in 2005” Conference

• Held in 1996

• Representatives from Industry and Military

• Tried to Predict what was Possible

• How Did They Do? OK on hardware performance

Not very well on anything else

What is a Wearable Computer?

• Ten Years Ago: A processing unit, input device, and output device that

can be worn like clothing

• Today: The answer is less clear

Wearable Computers?

Generic Uses of Wearable Computers

• Information Collection

• Information Transmission

• Information Processing

Uses of Wearable Computers by Ground Forces

• Information Collection Health/Wellness Environmental Conditions

• Information Transmission Information Management Augmented Reality Translation

• Information Processing Navigation Targeting

Use by Ground Forces: Health/Wellness

GA Tech Wearable MotherboardSensatex Smart Shirt

HealthWear Armband

Use by Ground Forces: Environmental Conditions

iButton Temperature andHumidity Loggers

GPS Receiver forTerrain Logging

ChemicalSensor

Use by Ground Forces: Information Management

Intelligent interruption to improve limited memory

Attention management to improve focus

Cued Memory Retrieval (Remembrance Agents) Improves situational awareness

Sensory switching to increase throughput

Use by Ground Forces: Augmented Reality

Wilson Hall

CS/ISAT Building

Bernstein’s Office

Task: Identify BuildingsTask: Highlight Destination Temp: 82°

Use by Ground Forces: Augmented Reality (cont.)

• Contextual Awareness Activity Recognition Location Recognition Sound Recognition and Classification

• Human Computer Interaction Context-Aware Notification

Use by Ground Forces: Translation

Use by Ground Forces:Navigation

Distance Remaining: 16kmETA: 16:34

Use by Ground Forces: Targeting

*

Target AcquiredContacting Targeting Officer

Combat Issues

• Power Reduced Consumption Improved Storage Energy Harvesting

• Hardening Devices Textiles

• Input Training Speech Recognition Chord Keyboards Gestures

Upcoming Events

Eighth IEEE International Symposium on Wearable ComputersOctober 31 - November 3, 2004

Arlington, VA