[Wear-Hard] My Own Wearable! <$900

[Friar]

I'm looking forward to the OpenPandora.org project finally getting
near launch.  This system uses an OMAP3 ARM processor for
high performance and long battery life (10 hours listed), has
at least one USB Host, Bluetooth, Wifi, two SDHC card slots
(+ internal flash), and SVideo/composite output cables.
It is even smaller than current Netbooks for only $349.
I believe a few of the pre-order units are still available.

Add the already mentioned:

   Spy Gear monocle
   or a MyVu Crystal "StarTrek" style visor
   or the soon-to-be Vuzix.com Wrap920AV sunglasses(W00t!)

And some form of Bluetooth or USB input device (Wiimote maybe?)
and you have a complete all-day Linux-based wearable starting 
at around $450.  Tether in a bluetooth cellphone w/data-plan for
3G everywhere for a few bucks more.

It REALLY makes me sad that HandyKey's USB Twiddler is gone....
I can't believe the hardest part of a "Good Enough" wearable build
today is finding a decent portable input device.

We've been waiting SO long for good/cheap HMD's and CPU boxen,
only to have all the portable input devices that were ahead of
their time die.  Weird.

--Friar


--- On Thu, 5/7/09, Bear Naff <laughinghard at gmail.com> wrote:

> From: Bear Naff <laughinghard at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [Wear-Hard] My Own Wearable! <$900
> To: "Wearable Hardware Discussion List" <wear-hard at haven.org>
> Date: Thursday, May 7, 2009, 5:59 PM
> Joy2chord does seem like a terrific project.  Please message
> the list again
> with a review of the display when you get it.
> 
> Now, as far as cheapie wearable that use netbooks as a
> processing core, does
> anyone have a reasonable suggestion for interfacing the Spy
> Gear monocles to
> one?  I have been hoping to find some sort of multi-OS USB
> dongle with
> composite out, but haven't seen anything like that on
> the market yet.  Aside
> from some relatively bulky VGA/Composite adapters, I
> haven't seen any other
> way to get video from a netbook onto one of those cheap and
> versatile
> displays.
> 
> On Wed, May 6, 2009 at 7:26 PM, tetsu yatsu
> <tetsuharu at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> > If you're like me, and the major thing holding you
> back from a wearable is
> > the kernel hacking or PIC programming required to make
> a chording keyboard,
> > I found this project by this guy Nathanael Anderson
> called joy2chord.
> >
> > For under $900 I got:
> >
> > Eee PC 1000HE  - $380 after tax
> > - supposedly 9.5 hrs of battery life, not sure how
> much without driving
> > display.
> > - 1.6 GHz Intel Atom processor, 1Gb of memory (waiting
> on 2G upgrade),
> > 160GB harddisk
> > - usb host (of course), tiny size - definitely fits in
> a backpack. I plan
> > on making a metal-rod box to protect it.
> > - VGA output, 802.11 b/g/n, 10/100 ethernet,
> linux-friendly hardware
> > - stereo microphone jack
> > - and a nice screen if you ever decide to sit down and
> use it
> > - (& over-screen webcam, noise canceling
> microphones, though less relevant)
> > - 9" x 7" x 1.4"
> >
> >
> > Headplay PCS 'visor' display: (haven't
> received yet)   - $461 after tax
> > - 800x600 'native' display, can apparently do
> up to 1280x720 (but that
> > might just be the HD display)
> > - VGA input, separately powered, ~5 hrs of battery
> > - Stereoscopic support with video cards that can
> produce the VGA DDC line
> > flicker
> > - low-quality headphones not embedded into headset
> >
> > Chording Keyer: joy2chord  
> (joy2chord.sourceforge.net)
> > - an old playstation2/USB converter I bought years ago
> > - old playstation 2 controller
> > - modprobe'd: joydev, uinput
> > - downloaded & compiled
> > - runs in User-Space, so no aging kernel hacks from 6
> years ago!!
> >
> >
> > I really just wanted to bring joy2chord to
> peoples' attention. It's what
> > completed my wearable for use. Can't wait for my
> Headplay to come in :).
> >
> > If anyone hangs out on IRC, I'd enjoy some
> comradery while I get used to my
> > augmentatron.
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Wear-Hard mailing list
> > Wear-Hard at haven.org
> > http://www.haven.org/mailman/listinfo/wear-hard
> >
> >
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