Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Technology Stocks : XYBR - Xybernaut -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Wolff who wrote (4285)	7/12/2000 8:39:37 AM
From: Wolff	Respond to of 6847

IBM's wearable PC may debut early next year From... June 30, 2000 Web posted at: 11:20 a.m. EDT (1520 GMT) by George A. Chidi Jr. NEW YORK (IDG) -- IBM's wearable PC could be ready for the market as early as the beginning of next year, although the company needs to work further at refining and testing the design, an IBM engineer said here Wednesday. More effort is needed to shrink and test the technology, according to Russell Budd, an engineer on the IBM project. "We need to know what the customer wants, and build it in," he said here at PC Expo. Most of the people who tried on the wearable PC at the show Wednesday seemed enthusiastic about it. The device has a high gee-whiz factor, something IBM highlights in company commercials featuring a young man sitting alone in a park full of pigeons, screaming stock orders into the wearable PC's headset. MESSAGE BOARD Hardware innovation The system links a head display harness to a wide, black shoulder sash with the computer processing hardware. The display device is a toothbrush-sized bar extending from the headgear like a monocle on one side of the wearer's face. It projects the image of a computer screen in front of the user's eye. The wearer can control the computer using voice commands or a mouse built like a pilot's hand-grip with the buttons mounted like triggers. MORE COMPUTING INTELLIGENCE IDG.net home page Make your PC work better with these tips ITWorld.com E-BusinessWorld TechInformer: The Thinking Internaut's Guide to the Tech Industry Reviews & in-depth info at IDG.net How-to and advice from IDG.net Download free PC software from PCWorld.com Questions about computers? Let IDG.net's editors help you Product reviews and computing news from IDG.net Search IDG.net in 12 languages News Radio Fusion audio primers Computerworld Minute The ghostly image of a Windows operating system desktop doesn't interfere significantly with a wearer's field of vision, but seeing the screen, no matter which way you turn your head, can be a little disorienting, said Darwen Perez, a computer programmer from New York, who tried out the PC at the show. "It's something you could get used to, though," he added. Field testing for the wearable computer started with airplane manufacturers and ship inspectors -- workers who need access to detailed information and their hands free at the same time, said Istvan Lovas, an optical engineer for IBM. "When the field guys were inspecting ships for damage, crawling into tight spaces, they couldn't carry a (traditional) computer with them," he said. IBM's wearable computer uses standard computer processing chips and can run Microsoft's Windows 98 operating system. The shoulder sash with the computer's processor and memory weighs about a pound or two. Although the device is comparatively light, it's still big and bulky enough to qualify as a major fashion accessory -- a fact that deterred at least one user. "I'm an older lady. I don't like to carry things," said Eva Simonyi, an exhibitor at PC Expo who tried out the wearable PC. "If I can put it in my pocket, then I'll use it."

To: Wolff who wrote (4285)	7/12/2000 8:57:43 AM
From: Stan V.	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 6847

Thanks for posting these article clips. They really illustrate the value of XYBR's IP which, I am sure, is the reason for the preliminary institutional interest. The move of PALM, Nokia, Sprint, and others toward joining wireless communications and computing is fantastic news for the future. XYBR won't need to be a box maker with the low margins that entails. For the highly competitive consumer applications they can leave it to the ones who do it best and collect royalties. XYBR continues to target commercial applications which have much higher margin potential and need specialize software development to create a complete solution. A reflection of IBM's EON strategy. I have noticed press lately regarding PALM's push to license their software in an attempt to get the higher margins and create a handheld standard. Seems they recognize the increasing competition cutting into their box margins. I have recently purchased a Handspring Visor (with PALM OS) and it is quite functional. It was half the price of PALM's comparable product. But even with all of the modules and planned modules, it doesn't even come close to covering my real needs. The Casio with Windows CE 3 doesn't do it either. I'll just have to wait for the MA V next year complete with wireless communication and full PC capability.