Xybernaut unveils voice-activated wearable computer

May 30, 2001 —

Wearable computers innovator Xybernaut Corp. on Wednesday rolled out the Mobile Assistant V (MA-V), an upgrade to its MA-4TC transferable computing core wearable system.

Wearable PCs can allow workers such as aircraft maintenance technicians to access needed data files and perform tasks normally requiring a PC or laptop in close quarter environments. Improvements in the MA-V include an integrated programmable DSP (digital signal processor) from Texas Instruments, according to Xybernuat officials.

Like the MA-4TC, the MA-V system in typically worn on a belt holster with a headset-style video display, microphone and ear-piece speaker, and a wrist-mounted mini-keyboard.

The MA-V's DSP technology includes a speech recognition engine that has the potential to allow users to operate the wearable computer "hands free," company officials said.

Thirty percent lighter than the MA-4TC's 900-gram girth, the MA-V offers multiple connection ports including Compact Flash, USB, IEEE 1394 (FireWire), and type II and III PC cards.

The MA-V's 500MHz Intel Corp. Mobile Celeron chip is supported by 128MB of SDRAM (synchronous DRAM), which can be doubled, as well as an expandable 2GB micro drive. Users can choose between Windows 98, Windows 2000, Unix, or Linux operating systems, officials said.

"What you have [with Xybernaut] is a powerful device for business," said Robert Harow, senior vice president of Gerald Klauer Mattison, a telecommunication analyst company based in Manhattan, N.Y.

"With most PDAs, you may be able to bang out an e-mail, but you cannot do an inspection of a power station or check out a remote DSL installation. And with the patents owned by Xybernaut, companies like Palm (Inc.) will not be capable of turning their products into a wearable computer," Harow said.

Available in mid-June, the MA-V starts in price around US$3,995.

InfoWorld.com