seminar 4 11th April.

Seminar 4 Friday 11^th April.

SOCIAL DIMENSIONS OF WEARABLE COMPUTERS. Anne Viseua.

Unfortunately I couldn't’t stay for the whole seminar as I had a family emergency, but I enjoyed reading this reading. It wasn't ridiculously long and was about a topic that interests me and that I don’t know much about. After reading it I went back and wrote down key ideas that i can understand.

There is a lack of research at an early phase but there are 2 developments: ubiquitous computing and embedded computing.

EVERYWHERE + NO WHERE.

It gives a sense of personal empowerment, but there is a loss of privacy.

Using technology to improve what we already have, enhance our senses in new ways to adapt and advance our environment etc,

It’s a hands-free convenient tool that gives us more information, extending our knowledge.

Discovering new things that help us and improve our lifestyle.

Products range in difficulty and alter depending on their usage and purpose.

REACH PERFECTION.

They create a new level of surveillance, BIG BROTHER.

It has benefits and downfalls. Consumers have personal and varying issues.

Main issues are starting to emerge with research.

Interesting company called SPOT. Endows personal objects with networking and computing abilities. E.g. A smart alarm, responsive and communicative.

Steve Mann is the father of wearable computers.

Instantaneous and constant, proactive, aware and ambitious,

Identity / value / use. Machine almost becomes human. Provides us with new ways of connecting to our bodies and the world. Products such as a keypad that goes on the cuff and speakers in the hood.
They can help us! E.g. injecting a certain drug when needed for diabetes. New possibilities arise and they can help to shape the development of technology.
They can also control us. With surveillance, they can record the wearer’s actions, even thoughts and emotions. A balance between comfort, security and ownership of personal data needs to be found.
They have a silent quality.

How we use them will affect the development, need to please everyone.

Summary: Wearable computing and technology are great. They can develop our senses, adapt to our environment and make us better but they depend on different factors importantly how they are developed and considered and how we treat them. Ultimately they will merge into society to help and assist us without negative impact.