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Showing posts with label portable. Show all posts
Showing posts with label portable. Show all posts

Sunday, June 22, 2014

Wearable Computers - Small Form Factor Redux

Was a bit surprised to find the definition of wearable computers so narrow.

The wearable computer I always wanted would have no intrinsic display or I/O. Have commented on these small forms for various purposes before.
http://albertputnam.blogspot.com/2013/11/minimal-portable-pc-usb3-hdmi-110g.html
It would have a battery, lots of compute, memory and storage, and would have IO ports like USB and HDMI. It would not be wireless locally, but would use a PAN (like Ethernet or USB).
Bluetooth would be okay... though it bleeds to WAN if intrinsic. External connect would be WiFi or 4G (again best if not intrinsic but via IO), but a direct Ethernet nearby is optimal. 802.3af Power over Ethernet would be preffered charging, but also via USB. Ideally wearable solar or energy harvesting would be integrated or integrable.

Do not want to be locked to any specific display or data entry method. Want I/O to be whatever is at hand. Maybe UI can be Oculus Rift ? ... for another post? And WAN disconnect to be guaranteed by using/executing a physical/visible/tangible mechanism.

[Update 140707: Interesting offering ECS LIVA . Available Newegg . Small and battery powerable.
Out of Stock Newegg with reviews].

Monday, November 18, 2013

Minimal portable PC – USB3, HDMI, 10G Ethernet, 5V (internal battery), 10G RAM, 100G SSD, Under 1kg, Under 15W.

Had previously sought a minimal PC.
Still looking.

And, okay, will take an integrated display if one is forced into the package. This is almost a reality with the Microsoft Surface and related tablets. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surface_Pro_2
USB3 but sadly no devoted Ethernet... but via USB3 is possible.

CuBox is close but not USB3 (yet?). And not yet well Windows supported. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CuBox

But it is very much within technical reach to meet the specs. Staying rather firm about no WiFi, Bluetooth, nor other wireless. Want the assurance of physically disconnecting those interfaces. See separate blog on WiFi tracking.

Basically run full latest modern OSes with all I/O (except network and video and those “could” be USB3 too – if the OSes could accept the USB3 devices at boot).  To repeat:

- Ethernet (up to Gigabit speeds – maybe 10G)
- USB 3
- HDMI
- 6hr+ battery. No fan.
- Form factor of small brick like book/tablet. Under one kg.
- Power over Ethernet (PoE) 802.3af, or power from a USB outlet.
- 8+G Memory, 100+G SSD, i7 based?