In this short article, InformationWeek writes that "two sexy technologies that flamed out five years ago -- wearable computers and artificial reality -- are combined in a new training-development system" for the military. This system, developed by Quantum3D, includes a binocular head-mounted OLED display and head-leg-weapon motion-tracking systems, integrated with a vest-worn tactical visual computer. It runs under Windows XP and is compatible with the 802.11 a/b/g wireless networking standards. It will be used by the infantry to train soldiers, but it looks so complex that I would need intensive training just for using it. Read more.
Here is how InformationWeek describes the system.
Quantum3D Inc., which bills itself as a visual-computing vendor, has announced the availability of the Expedition, a combination wearable computer and artificial-reality gear. The Expedition's target market is developers of so-called immersive training. Their products, in turn, are used to train armed services personnel and emergency-response workers.
Among the components are a binocular head-mounted display and head-leg-weapon motion-tracking system by eMagin, and Quantum3D's Thermite tactical visual computer that's worn on a vest. Together, the components are designed to give the wearer accurate simulations of fabricated situations, including visuals, surround sound, and voice command.
The above illustration shows all the components of the Expedition. (Credit: Quantum3D Inc.) It comes from this datasheet (PDF format, 2 pages, 901 KB), which includes a description of the realtime visual system -- but please keep in mind that it comes from the company which wants to sell the Expedition.
I am fearful that the paper system ... will ruin the state. Its demoralizing effects are already seen and spoken of everywhere ... I therefore protest against receiving any of that trash.
—Andrew Jackson (1767–1845)
The Quantum3D THERMITE Tactical Visual Computer features a man-wearable, light weight, small form factor, superrugged, sealed alloy enclosure with Mil-Spec connectors and conduction cooling that brings the performance and application compatibility of mobile PC workstations to deployed operations in hostile environments. The onboard NVIDIA GeForceFX Go 5200 Mobile GPU with 64 MB of frame buffer memory delivers industry-leading image quality and graphics performance.
The eMagin binocular OLED head mounted display (HMD) technology is used in Expedition’s primary viewing device and provides a 40 degree diagonal field of view and 1.44 megapixels per 24-bit color SVGA microdisplay. With a 200:1 contrast ratio, patented OLED-on-silicon technology to enhance refresh rates, and on-chip signal processing and data buffering, the HMD provides bright, crisp, and flicker-free stereovision capability.
Quantum3D offers slightly more information in this press release, but doesn't provide a price for the Expedition system.
Sources: Jim Nash, InformationWeek, February 16, 2005; Quantum3D website
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The fascinating thing to a dispassionate observer about the structure of life in the Soviet Union is that in their efforts to produce an unknown that we may let its ideologists call Socialism the Communist dictators have produced a brutal approximation of monopoly Capitalism, a system that has all the disadvantages of our own, with none of the palliatives which come to us from surviving competition and from the essential division of economic and political power which has so far made it possible for the humane traditions of the Western world to continue.
—John Dos Passos (1896–1970)
Military Applications
Pervasive Computing
Vision and Visualization
Wearable
Wireless.