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].

Flintstone Car - Environmental Comfort - Human or Renewable Powered.

For trips of under a block, walking (or limited mobility equivalent) makes sense. For short local trips of a few kilometers bicycling makes sense. Then comes car, bus and mass transit for a few hundred kilometers trip. After that long distance trains, ship and air come into play.

It has been said that daily commutes have a constant at 20-30 minutes (each way).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marchetti's_constant
These above fall into the class of how far can you get in ten to twenty minutes. Multi-mode trips (for a daily traverse from home to work) should have their aggregate be 30 minutes, and each mode thus have some fraction of the whole.

The issue is the elements and comfort. The long distance comutes have environmental control  (heating/cooling, sounds, smooth ride).

The short travel options are generally spartan. Though there are interesting exceptions. The interior of a mall provides a controlled shopping trip environment. Pedestrian tunnels used in northern climates are another example. Even the shade provided by buildings and trees, and humidity from fountains in arid climates provide a similarly controlled environment.

But in the absense of ubiquitous infrastructure, there is wearing a snow suit or a raincoat, or using shade parasols, or sticking to tree lined venues.

The point is that it is NOT really about energy efficiency or exercise or other costs related to energy and dollars, as much as it is about "comfort".

If one takes this a starting point then the conclusions one can get to are unusual... A safe velomobile, can perhaps nicely fill the needs for walking and biking distances.

The Flintstone car is not so crazy - with a canopy, radio, communications, and safety. If the friction and weight could be small enough, yet all the above be in place, and with modest boost in basic "foot and hand powered" efficiency, then it is almost rational.

[Update 140714: Some getting close: But powered.
Elio motors
LIT motors
Tuk Tuks (aka auto rickshaw) ]

Swan's Maple Products.

Recent chance meeting at a conference made me sit down and properly get the links for Swan's Maple Products. http://www.swansmapleproducts.com/aboutus.html

It is a convergence of many things.

"Charlie" is my grandfather and the (half) namesake of my son. The half is because of my wife's grandfather - also a "Charlie".

Recent discussion with colleagues, has run to maple sugaring process. Had almost forgotten the trick of letting the sap freeze overnight, and removing the ice, as a natural pre-processing phase. Have been thinking lately that that freezing may add an artisinal twist to the product/flavour... the flavour I remember as unique in my childhood.  

Along another vein, cannot determine the cause of the strange correlation in "maple" flavor/scent found in Thai iced tea. None of the listed teas and spices seem to account for the maple. But there it is. Might be fenugreek (or related compound)?

Was also recently pointed to newsletters
http://www.themaplenews.com/
http://www.northamericanmaple.org/index.php/en/maple-syrup-digest

And here is some basic stuff
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maple_syrup
http://www.massmaple.org/

Completely puzzled why Google Maps labels Swan's Maple as in Belmont? Map location pin is right but that is Central New Annan.

MBTA - Run More Trains.

MBTA
Run more trains.

One could digress:
- Better (not lesser) service during construction and disruption.
- Improvement of daytime operations before late night (are you listening sponsors?).
- Tooth on-time guarantees.
- Expresses (over holds).
- Address dangerous platform overcrowding at rush hour.
- Out-of-servicing only in sparsely-populated direction.
- All (or most) Green-lines inbound to at least North Station.
- No schedule adjustments at core and terminus stations.

But to get back to the crux...
Run more trains.

Network Enhanced Everything - NEE.

Have discussed "supers" previously - capacitors, batteries, insulation - and in general - materials...
also LEDs, solar photovoltaics and other renewables.

Lately thinking about everything network (and computer) enhanced...
Enhanced - manufacturing, services, handling, inventory, sensing, communications and analytics.
By no means comprehensive, but meant to encompass some popular specifics like
robotics, 3D fabrication, telepresence, IoT and M2M.

Robotics - Economist - Analysis, Logistics.

Feature section on Robotics in Economist March 27, 2014.
Rise of Robots [Ecomomist]
Economist Robotics

Highlights:

Asking for help where a robot is helpless is perhaps feature and not a bug. Drones are not in as much military demand as one might think. Who will provide us our last human kindnesses?

Thoughts:

Opportunity for analytics? Amazon Kiva Union [Forbes]
Kiva

More succinctly analytics for Logistics Automation

For cleaning iRobot Roomba
For snow? Tuvie Roofus

For lawn? Robotic Lawn Mowers

Little mention of trade show robots as a tele-presence application.

Trade Show Robots [Wired]

Great Grandmother's Oatmeal Cookies.

Here is the recipe for:
Great Grandmother's Oatmeal Cookies

2 cups rolled oats
1 cup flour
1 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon soda (baking soda)
1/2 teaspoon salt

Mix all together plus add the following heated together
1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup water
Heat the above two until the shortening melts.

Mix and roll out 1/4" thick.
Cut with a round cutter.
Re-roll, cut, repeat.

She always put icing on top.
Icing:
1 cup brown sugar
1/4 to 1/2 cup milk (probably 1/3).
Mix the above and bring to a boil.
Add icing sugar until the mix thickens.
Add 1/4 teaspoon vanilla.

Albert's notes:
Rolled oats are critical above.
Need a box (1 cup plus?) of icing sugar on hand.
Hmmm. No sign of baking instructions.
Probably something like 325-375F for 30-90 minutes.
(Some heat for enough time until they just start to brown.)
Probably can be taken from a standard cookie recipe?

Transcribed by Albert Putnam from notes by Ethyl Beryl Putnam (ne McCully). Spring 2001. Based on cookies baked by Alma Mae McCully (ne Withrow).