Sorry for my protracted absence, I've been incredibly busy. I've move, and I'm living in Boulder, Co. working for a fairly well known electronics company. Not only do I enjoy the work but it's given me access to resources and connections for developing some of my ideas. As you can imagine, with the move, the new job and the busy new resources available to "nerd out" into the late night, I haven't really found the time to write. This evening though, I'm just having a cup of coffee and a cigar at the local coffeeshop with my laptop which leaves me with a nice space of time in which to write a quick update for the blog.
I've working a lot lately on converting my laptop to a wearable computer system. For awhile I had explored the option of an ARM based embedded linux solution (Specifically, I had bought a Chumby Hacker Board and started writing C code for it... it turned out to be too labor intensive to develop quickly, I hate to say it but Windows/x86 is what I grew up on and I know it inside and out, It'll be faster getting off the ground if I don't have to relearn the OS and platform. So I've stuck to my laptop, which makes my "wearable computer" little more than a combination of peripherals packed up in an easy to carry form-factor.
In its current stage , the 'system' is wearable. It consists of my laptop in a BUILT NY backpack with an attached wrist-wearable keyboard (same model used for the 'xybernaut' line of wearables) as well as a small hand-held trackball, and my new headset which I hacked together from one of those personal media headsets (myVu Crystal) and a cheap webcam, the combination of which makes it possible to do rudimentary Augmented Reality). In order to increase my wireless network range, I hacked some RP-SMA jacks into my laptop's built-in wireless card and attached two large duck-antennas which protrude from the backpack. After wearing this "rig" out on a few occasions I have to say that a more casual, fashionable solution is necessary. I'm working on implementing a setup that involves my leather messenger bag but until ten I'll keep you updated on my experiences using wearable technology on the daily.
As soon as my setup is ready to deploy in it's entirety, I plan on wearing it nearly constantly and I'll be keeping a stream of media to record my experiences. This should make for a very interesting study into the culture an social aspect of transhuman technology. And I will make a more detailed blog post about this project when it's set to begin.
I am still developing my implant, after building a working prototype I consulted with a few experts in the field of body piercing and decided to revise my design. The new one is more involved and more expensive but will pay off when it doesn't reject or breakdown under my skin.
Anyhow, I'll keep you updated, sorry for the long wait.
-NP
