Wearable computers: Field-test observations and system design guidelines

Abstract

Since the summer of 1994, a group of partners, led by Boeing and including Carnegie Mellon University, Virtual Vision, and Honeywell have developed or provided significant design input on several generations of wearable computer systems, head-mounted displays (HMDs), and field-tested several application prototypes using these systems. Some of these applications include KC-135 skin inspections at McClellan Air Force Base in Sacramento, California, autopilot troubleshooting for the Boeing 777, and fuel system problem diagnosis and repair for the Boeing 757. This paper reports on preliminary results from a field test of the Boeing 757 application. Although some of the application and user interface design issues are the same as for conventional desktop systems, going from a mouse and keyboard in an office to body-worn devices, displays, and voice input in a wide variety of environments challenges a great many assumptions and conventions that have developed over the last 15 years or so.