Hello Invstd,
Ah, the continuing Poma saga ... ;-)
Yes, I am very disappointed with Xybernaut when it comes to the Poma ... in many ways. First, I feel that it is a failure of the company to exploit - and serve - the channel by refusing to allow the Xybernaut VARs to resell the Poma. I am not even given the opportunity to make a difference with this product! All VARs are not allowed to sell the product. So I have kissed it off ...
Secondly, I am disappointed that in Chicago at Comdex I saw the Poma display (made by Shimadzu) with a connector for the MA V ... and that configuration is still not available.
Anyhow ... enough complaining ... now I'll address your post! ;-)
Here're some excerpts from an article in Scientific American posted by ecma1 on Agora today. Please read this and a following post (also copied/pasted) that I submitted to Agora after some exchanges between members. I'd be very interested in any responses you might have:
I am going to see if the full article is on-line and give it a read!
not so complimentary review of our POMA in Scientific American , August, 2002 issue pages 88-90. Article written by Mark Alpert
Some direct quotes from the article.
I am not surprised at what is written below ... it appears that he is writing of a very personal, first hand experience!
''My disappointment began when I tried to do something useful with the device. I was able to create text files using Microsoft Pocket Word, but I found that writing with the software keyboard is maddeningly laborious. I couldn't deftly maneuver the mouse with my thumb, and I had to put the letters in gigantic font to make them legible.''
Yes! Large amounts of data input with such a device is very difficult. I too have found that using an "on screen" keyboard takes a lot of effort when using a mouse. They are best with a touch screen since the eye-hand coordination to use the "soft" keyboard is fairly simple to perfect.
When using a HMD, I have found that using a touch-pad with gestures, or a small keyboard, is much easier.
The writer states that the POMA can excess the Internet via the standard 802.11b and slipping a LAN card into the device to connect to networks in many airports, hotels and coffee shops.
''But this feature is of dubious value, because in most of these places you're more likely to be sitting with the device than walking. And if you're sitting, it would be a lot easier to surf the Internet with a PDA or a laptop than with the POMA.''
I again agree completely! I could see the wireless being used for very simple vertical application packages, or for some point applications, but not for general purpose computing. Again, this *is* a WinCE "PDA" device ...
One thing that is becoming clear at this point is that there seems to be a distinction of "wearable computer" that Xybernaut is failing to communicate. I do not think of the Poma as a "true" wearable computer ... it is simply a PDA with a new display ...
Mr. Alpert had technical difficulties that even help from the Xybernaut folks didn't help resolve.
''I was amazed to see that the POMA contained no games-not even solitaire, which would be a nice distraction for a bored commuter wearing the device. The people a Xybernaut said I could down-load games to the POMA using a serial input/output card hooked up to a desktop PC. But this was easier said than done. When I tried to connect the POMA to a PC, I was stymied by a series of error messages. After several hours of effort and numerous calls to the technical folks at Xybernaut, I ran out of patience. This failure also made it impossible for me to evaluate the POMA's presentation of video and audio clips, because I couldn't down-load any multimedia files.''
This is a sad state of affairs! As a PDA, it is critical that there is complete, effective, and simple sync software ... it is obvious (although I have never seen it) that the software for the Poma is poorly created.
This even further reinforces that Xybernaut has failed to properly prepare to market and sell this product.
Mr. Alpert's comments on the HMD used by the POMA was the following:
''I also learned that the POMA works best on overcast days. Whenever the sun broke through the clouds, the images on the computer screen paled and the text became unreadable. …….. I tried to stay in the shadows. But after I'd traveled about 10 blocks, I noticed a more intractable problem. A sharp pain was spreading across my forehead. My ocular muscles were feeling the strain of keeping my right eye focused on the screen . The pain became so intense that I finally had to rip the POMA off my head.
As I recall, the Shimadzu display is one that was created with a "non-ecluded" view ... meaning that you can see through the display unless to attach a small "backdrop" that blocks the lens. Because of this, I could see where it would be difficult to see in bright light.
As for the headache, if you are not used to wearing a HMD, then you will have to slowly get acustomed to the experience. I still have to get used to mine when I haven't worn it for days ... and I can't look at it continuously for hours non-stop. An HMD is something that you have to get your eye and brain used to ...
Mr. Alpert considers the price of $1,499,''eye-popping.'' And when he asked Xybernaut how many of them they had sold, ''the answer was depressingly low: just over 20.
I also agree ... it's a very expensive solution ... much too high for my preferences. It's a PDA ... and it has a basic HMD. I can see these being used for certain point applications, but never reaching the masses due to this price point ...
In his last paragraph Mr. Alpert expresses what most people including we investors feel.
''Still, I haven't given up on wearable computers. Voice-recognition software may be the key to improving the devices; it would be a lot easier to compose letters and sonnets on the fly if one could dictate to the machine. Until manufacturers work out the kinks, however, I'm not going to make any more high-tech additions to my wardrobe.''
I'm not sure that I agree with voice recognition ... it's tough to use in crowded places, and you can't talk to your device in a theater or a meeting.
I wish that he would have taken a look at the MA V however ... it's the bigger, bulkier solution, however it provides a much more usable interface and capabilities!
Scott C. Lemon |
