CHI 97 Electronic Publications: Workshops
Research Issues in Wearable Computers
Len Bass,
Dan Siewiorek
Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, Pa 15213 USA
+1 412 268 6763
{ljb,dps}@cs.cmu.edu
Steve Mann
E15-389
20 Ames St
Cambridge, Ma 12345 USA
+1 416 946-3387
mann@eecg.toronto.edu
Chris Thompson
GTRI
Georgia Tech University
Atlanta, Ga 30332 USA
+1 404 894 6143
jt34@gatech.edu
Keywords
wearable computers, body worn computers, eyes free operation of computers, hands free operation of computers, user interface paradigms.
© 1997 Copyright on this material is held by the authors.
Introduction
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.
The advent of mobile computing made it possible to carry a personal computing
environment in a briefcase or a pocket. These devices fall short, however, of
allowing an individual to use the power of a computer with no more thought
than they give to using a hammer or other tool. They do not provide the
ability to have a seamless interaction with the computer in the context of
performing other tasks. Wearable computers allow the wearer tetherless
mobility and the freedom to perform other activities while wearing it.
Wearable computers should require little or no infrastructure beyond what is
normally available in the environment. For example, a wireless infrastructure
is now (or soon will be) normally available but physical entities that
identify themselves through electronic means are not.
Areas of interest
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 when one or both participants are wearing a computer
- how is collaboration facilitated or inhibited when one of the participants is wearing a computer
- what user interface paradigms are appropriate for wearable computers
- what are the system aspects of wearable computers
Participation
Participation in the workshop will be based on the submission of a position
paper articulating your views on one of the above areas 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, you are invited to submit a position paper.
Workshop activities
The workshop will be a two day workshop. The first day will be devoted to
presentations. The actual break down into groups will be based on the
submitted position papers.Our planning division is into the four categories
of: input/output devices, applications, user interface paradigms and CSCW and
social ramifications.
The number of presentations will be limited to those that can be given on the
first day. Therefore, not all attendees will be invited to present position
papers.
The second day of the workshop will be devoted to discussing the issues raised
on the first day. The goal of these discussions is to define and clarify these
issues.
Output of workshop
The output of the workshop is going to be a white paper that will be
disseminated widely. It will be published in the SIGCHI Bulletin as well as
other outlets. There is a wearable web page in which we will include the white
paper. The organizers of this workshop are also involved in organizing a
broader conference on wearable computing and the issues raised in the white
paper will be disseminated at that conference.
CHI 97 Electronic Publications: Workshops
