http://wearcomp.org/wearshop.htm

CHI WORKSHOP ON RESEARCH ISSUES IN WEARABLE COMPUTERS

March 23,24, 1997

Atlanta Ga

Organized by: Len Bass, Steve Mann, Dan Siewiorek and Chris Thompson

Wearable computers are becoming more common. A recent workshop on wearable computing in Seattle attracted more than 200 attendees. For the most part, however, wearable computers are being treated as small computers with attempts to provide the same range of input and output devices as on a desktop and to utilize the same applications. We believe, however, that wearable computing is a new paradigm introducing new issues. It is not just mobile desktop computing. The purpose of this workshop is to discuss this position and to identify those research issues that are specific to wearable computers. The goal of the workshop is to produce a white paper identifying research issues in wearable computing and we expect this white paper to be seminal in the oncoming era of wearable computing.

By a wearable computer, we mean a computer that It is a computer that allows the wearer mobility and the freedom to perform other activities while operating it. Examples are computers that a mechanic might wear to have manuals available while performing repairs, computers that a surgeon might wear to provide images while performing an operation or a computer that an individual might wear to save and retrieve data while interacting with other people.

We expect our discussions to include topics such as:

what applications are appropriate for wearable computers
what input modalities are appropriate for these applications
what output devices are necessary to support these applications
what are the software requirements for these applications both at the operating system level and at the application software level
what are the social ramifications of wearing a computer
how is collaboration facilitated or inhibited when one of the participants is wearing a computer

Participation in the workshop will be based on the submission of a three page position paper articulating your views on one of the above issues or on some other relevant issue and will be limited to 30 attendees. If you are currently involved in wearable computing research and are interested in participating in this workshop, send a three page position paper electronically to Len Bass at ljb@sei.cmu.edu by January 15, 1997. Submitters will be notified of their acceptance by Febuary 15.