Futuristic head-mounted PC launching in 2010
Golden-i James Bond-esque gadget
A head-mounted device for remote smartphone and PC control using a virtual display and voice or gesture recognition will be launched next year, microdisplay firm Kopin has announced.
Kopin's Golden-i wearable PC should be out next year
Kopin first unveiled its concept Golden-i unit earlier this year, but has since confirmed that customer field trials of working models will start in December this year.
If successful, Kopin claimed that a more refined version will be available to buy during 2010.
John Fan, President of Kopin, said: “After Golden-i establishes a Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or cellular link through a host device, users see their PC desktop screen on a 15in virtual display, offering hands-free access to PC applications, data files and services”.
Users control Golden-i through voice commands or with physical gestures
Golden-i – which sounds very James Bondish, not least because of the name - features a Texas Instruments OMAP3530 processor and runs on Windows Embedded CE 6.0.
Apparently capable of streaming 720 x 480p video at up to 30fps, gesture recognition provides one way of controlling the headset. However, Kopin said that noise cancellation technology has been integrated to ensure that spoken user commands are accurately interpreted by Golden-i.
In one example of Golden-i’s use, Kopin said the unit would enable users to zoom into an image and – using head movements - look around and see the rest of the image still under magnification.
Since Golden-i is a head-mounted unit there’s little hope of it featuring, say, a 500GB SSD. But the firm claimed that the gadget’s Wi-Fi connectivity could be used for Cloud-based data storage.
A Micro SD card slot inside the headset allows for limited on-board data storage, Kopin added.
Typical use should see Golden-i last for over eight hours
The entire 85g headset is powered by one 1200 mA/hr Li-ion battery, which Kopin claimed supports over eight hours of “typical use”.
Kopin is currently displaying Golden-i at the Embedded Systems Conference in Boston, North America. A potential price hasn’t been released. ®
COMMENTS
Handheld Version Better?
Sounds like you are all overly sensitive about wearing the item on or around your head and the form factor. Would you consider or comment about same technology packaged in a smaller handheld version? Checkout: www.myWiPC.com Now will you complain from the other side it is not hands free!
Smaller handheld version better?
Sounds like you are all overly sensitive about wearing the item on or around your head and the form factor. Would you consider or comment about same technology packaged in a smaller handheld version? Checkout: www.myWiPC.com Now will you complain from the other side it is not hands free!
IBM
Didn't IBM have a prototype wearable computer with a very similar headset about 10 years ago? A single eye piece designed to transmit the equivalent of a 15" screen into your eyeball.
What next, VR headsets? Bring back the 90s!
The resolution is getting there.
And the resolution on my eyes are going south about as fast.
Give it another 50 years and they can fit my dead body with one.
(Zombies with wearables; who said there were no new ideas in SF?)
Golden-i designed for Industrial Applications
First Industrial applications for hands-free computing and communications
Later Pro-sumer versions - sleeker, smaller, more stylish design in development now for i-Phone, Blackberry, N-95 users that also interface frequently with PCs, Servers, etc and are highly mobile. Golden-i can control up to 7 other devices, like you control applications on your PC desktop.
Golden-i may use Windows CE 6.0, but with natural voice it can control your company servers, you PC where ever it is sitting. Linked on to a PC, desktop or even aCRAY Computer with 4G wireless interface, Golden-i puts the full power and capabilities of these larger machines completely under the users control - while highly mobile !
By the way, Golden-i's 6-Axix solid state position sensor monitors real-time velocity and acceleration, so if your driving a vehicle once you pass say 3-5 MPH, the high resolution shuts down. The moment you slow down or stop the vehicle the full high resolution display automatically comes back. When your moving rapidly in a vehicle, Golden-i provides an enlarged simple to glance at one line text, with substantiall enhanced audio interface.
You can ask Golden-i questions and Golden-i can respond with audio speech of it's own. Smartest ,easiest to use GPS interface, Internet browsing, etc. you have ever used when your mobile or otherwise.
Golden-i is very - very light. None industrial use versions will 60 % smaller in volume.
Interesting comments - seems like reading initial comments about the practicality of the first automobiles, Bell's telephone or airplanes.
Attend a major conference where Golden-is are being demonstrated and try one out. Several thousand people already have - several thousand individuals have been very pleased . . .
