NPO法人ウェアラブルコンピュータ研究開発機構定例会 (regular meeting of the Wearable Computer Research & Development NPO) held in 東京 (Tokyo, Japan)

In the frame of its regular activities, NPO法人ウェアラブルコンピュータ研究開発機構定例会 (Wearable Computer Research & Development NPO) organised a 4h30 seminar entitled 離陸直前のウェアラブルの諸相 (Various perspectives on wearable computers before takeoff) at 秋葉原ダイビル (Akihabara Daibiru) in 東京 (Tokyo, Japan) on 13 December 2007. It described the state of the art in 2007 and recent Japanese works.

During his talk ウェアラブル離陸直前 (Wearable computers before takeoff), 塚本昌彦 (TSUKAMOTO Masahiko) explained that the general public uses much more pocket computers (e.g. cellular phones, digital cameras, electronic dictionaries, music players) in everyday life and may adopt head-mounted displays as soon as 2008 at home if not in public places. He evoked three critical challenges discussed afterwards by other speakers: system platforms, safety and raw materials (e.g. textiles for smart clothing). As for his research, he still designs smart clothes. As a member of his team, 寺田努 (TERADA Tsutomu) introduced during his talk ウェアラブルのシステム (Wearable systems) an illuminated tree controlled by worn sensors and Wearable Toolkit, a toolkit to create rules for wearables based on sensor data.

During his talk ウェアラブルの安全性 (Safety of wearables), 河合隆史 (KAWAI Takashi) presented in depth investigations on head-mounted displays to understand their physiological and psychological effects on humans. To study fundamentals, his group carried out experiments with young adults in laboratories and outdoors, displaying combinations of stripes, which is standard for vision-related psychological experiments. Penetrating results will require much effort and should involve children and older adults to cover the influences of growth and decline, which is not planned yet.

During his talk ウェアラブルの素材 (Materials for wearables), 脇田玲 (WAKITA Akira) introduced several technologies to create color-changing clothes presented by others at Tokyo Fiber 2007 - Senseware in Paris (France) on 26-28 June 2007 or developed by his group. He then quickly evoked the potential for applications.

Finally two special talks were given: 人間のI/Oを拡張するためのインタフェース技術 (Interface technologies to extend human input/output) and 21 世紀の人類は「i-borg」になる！？：常時装用インタフェースによる脳力強化人間 (21st century humans become i-borg!? Usually worn interfaces that extend human intelligence). 稲見昌彦 (INAMI Masahiko) discussed novel and sometimes artistic input/output paths for human-computer systems, with numerous illustrations from his research, and concluded with a question: "After wearables, will we really get implants?". 福本雅朗 (FUKUMOTO Masaaki) discussed replacements for usual elements of Japanese cellular phones, with a long focus on the detection of typing shocks (using fingers or feet) to replace keyboards with systems such as FingeRing and UbiButton.

The main participants were: 塚本昌彦 (TSUKAMOTO Masahiko) from 神戸大学 (Kobe university), 寺田努 (TERADA Tsutomu) from 神戸大学 (Kobe university), 河合隆史 (KAWAI Takashi) from 早稲田大学 (Waseda university), 脇田玲 (WAKITA Akira) from 慶應義塾大学 (Keio university), 稲見昌彦 (INAMI Masahiko) from 電気通信大学 (The university of electro-communications), and 福本雅朗 (FUKUMOTO Masaaki) from NTTドコモ (NTT Docomo).

HIS seminar #9 - Ubiquitous Computing: location-awareness in ubiquitous computing and human needs in wearable computing, in 東京 (Tokyo, Japan)

Source: Horizons <http://horizons.free.fr/his/eng/seminars/2007-10-04_his-seminar_9.htm>

The 9^th seminar dealt with ubiquitous computing. Mr Hoareau (SOKENDAI, NII) and Dr Duval (NII) presented, respectively, location-awareness in ubiquitous computing and human needs in wearable computing at the 国立情報学研究所 (National Institute of Informatics).

Slides of the presentations:

• Mr HOAREAU Christian: Ubiquitous Computing, Location-Awareness and Query Processing (PDF)
• Dr DUVAL Sébastien: Needs in Wearable Computing: a User-centred Approach (PDF)
  

Date: 04 October 2007 (15:30-17:30)
Location: 国立情報学研究所 (National Institute of Informatics), Tokyo, Japan
Language: English
Registration fees: None
Attendees: 10 persons
Organization: Dr DUVAL Sébastien (国立情報学研究所 (National Institute of Informatics))

脇田研究室 第1回展示会 - 情報の官能 (Wakita laboratory 1st Exhibition - The Senses of Information) held in 東京 (Tokyo, Japan)

Source: <http://horizons.free.fr/seikatsu/eng/events/2007-09_jp-tokyo_wakita-expo.htm>

The first exhibition of textiles and garments by 脇田研究室 (Wakita laboratory), entitled 情報の官能 (The Senses of Information), took place in 東京 (Tokyo, Japan) on 8 and 9 September 2007. It featured binary ("0"s and "1"s)-based compositions, tools and artistic works such as dresses based on the Fabcell technology and on the Wearable Synthesis concept.

Fabcell is a square textile created by 渋谷みどり (SHIBUTANI Midori), woven from flexible non-emissive yarns connected to electronic components, whose color can change depending on the temperature. The color of the exhibited dress (see photo) changed from green to red, controlled by the application of specific voltages to its conductive yarns. This technology can be exploited for fashion, or to provide information such as a wearer's emotional state. The application of strong voltages to quickly change the temperature–and thus color–of the textile poses a significant risk to the wearer and bystanders. Additional problems include a limited resistance to washing and the difficulty to create small cells.

The Wearable Synthesis concept defines clothes and accessories as modules with both input (e.g. temperature sensor) and output (e.g. colored LEDs), which connect to each other to provide a variety of effects. For example, a dress may change its color according to other worn items, or to the presence of an acquaintance nearby. Such a model was presented at the exhibition but did not work when I went by.

The 脇田研究室 (Wakita laboratory) was founded by 脇田玲 (WAKITA Akira) at 慶應義塾大学 (Keio university) in 2004 to investigate the future of information design. It is therefore involved in Internet-related technologies, interactions and fashion.

[See photos]

Ethical implications of continuous life recording

Source: Engineering Ethics Blog <http://engineeringethicsblog.blogspot.com/2007/03/who-needs-digital-life.html>

Inspired by the article "A Digital Life" published in March 2007 by Scientific American, Professor Karl STEPHAN (Texas State University, United States of America) discusses the ethical implications of life recording with ubiquitous systems in his post "Who Needs a Digital Life?".

In his opinion, the ethical issues emerge from dependence and deception. Dependence concerns the user herself: reliance on computer support might reduce her memory as well as her ability to memorize. This dependence is even more dramatic if an outsider alters the data and the user believes that version instead of her own memory. Deception concerns the data: texts, photos and videos representing a whole life pose significant risks if stolen, including identity theft, blackmail, disclosure inducing social harm, etc.

To extend Professor Stephan's analysis, a third ethical problem can be added: permanence, and the associated weight of the past. Fumbles, mistakes, and other embarrassing situations are usually forgotten within days or weeks. Human memory is well done in that way; the ability to forget is a blessing. However machines may keep all data and provide it years later to answer standard queries. Sweeping the event-related data from the hard disk only partly solves the problem because (1) it creates a visible gap in the data flow, and (2) bystanders equipped with the same system may have stored similar data about the event, beyond the reach of the concerned person.

Fashion show dedicated to wearable computers held in 大阪 (Osaka, Japan)

Source: Horizons <http://horizons.free.fr/seikatsu/eng/events/2005-10_jp-osaka_iswc-fashion.htm>

The International Symposium on Wearable Computers (aka ISWC2005), which took place in 大阪 (Osaka, Japan), included a fashion show dedicated to wearable computers. The majority of models were proposed by チームつかもと (Team Tsukamoto). The designs were more aesthetic than functional, but this is bound to change in the coming years. The organization of such a fashion show in 大阪 (Osaka) is quite natural because the famous specialist 塚本昌彦 (TSUKAMOTO Masahiko) formerly belonged to 大阪大学 (Osaka university), and is still nearby at 神戸大学 (Kobe university).

The evening fashion show featured numerous luminous accessories and garments, and presented concepts such as garments on which one can play music... [Read more and see photos]

Predictions for the future of wearable computers in Japan

Source: マイコミジャナール (Mycom journal) <http://journal.mycom.co.jp/articles/2004/10/30/wpcexpo/index.html>

During WPC EXPO 2004, which took place at 東京ビッグサイト (Tokyo big site) from 20 to 23 October 2004, チームつかもと (Team Tsukamoto) discussed the past, present, and future of wearable computing. The most interesting things were the fashion show and the five predictions for the future of wearable computers in Japan:

「予言１」　ウェアラブルデジカメは二年以内に流行する！
Prediction 1: Before the end of 2006, wearable digital cameras will become popular.

「予言２」 ウェアラブルケータイは三年以来に流行する！
Prediction 2: By the end of 2007, wearable phones will become popular.

「予言３」 五年後にはウェアラブル端末を使っていろいろな場所でユビキタス情報を受信するようになる
Prediction 3: After 2009, wearable terminals will allow the reception ubiquitous information in various places.

「予言４」　十年後には子供は外で鬼ごっこゲームをするようになる！
Prediction 4: After 2014, Children will play tag with wearables.

「予言５」　十年後、赤ちゃんもHMDをつけるようになり、親とコミュニケーションをとるようになる！
Prediction 5: After 2014, babies will wear Head Mounted Displays (HMD), thus maintaing contact and enabling communication with parents.

The three first predictions, purely technology-oriented, are likely to materialize on time owing to the technologies and structures available in Japan. However, the concretization of the two last predictions, application-oriented, is more dubious. Leaving aside the issue of acceptance (mainly a cultural issue), the difficulty is to create relatively inexpensive technologies that are highly resistant to children's activities and environment.

[Read the article and see photos]