/cap/ - Capsules
The stories and information posted here are artistic works of fiction and falsehood.
Only a fool would take anything posted here as fact.
Only a fool would take anything posted here as fact.
Childhood Wearable Computer
This is an idea I had back in 2012 when I was a freshman in high school. I was chronically online at the time and was really into cyberpunk ideas and aesthetics. I saw Johnny Mnemonic that Summer and it changed my life. I wanted to live in that universe. Note that this was before the use of virtual reality as a household form and the mere idea of virtual reality was a bit further than we imagined. I never turned this idea to reality, but it was still a fun thought that's been in my head for over a decade.
>>CapsulePresser
There were many things that could be accessed at the time. The internet and smart devices were finally becoming the norm, and with that, a vast amount of shitty gadgets came about. Many of these were fads, but some of them had practical uses (military and medical). Due to this, I wanted to put together a wearable computer where I could access my laptop from the comfort of the classroom or grocery store without having to take out my laptop. I will break this down into parts of how I believe this would work.
>>CapsulePresser
Computer
Let's start with the laptop. This is simple. I could just put a laptop in a backback. The only problem I can think of is the computer going into low-power sleep mode when the screen is closed. The simple solution to this is using control panel to fix the issue.
>>CapsulePresser
Battery
Another problem we would come across is battery life. Back in 2012, I would have relied solely on the laptops battery charge. Now we have external batteries. You could put a powerbank in the backpack and extend the life of the laptop by much more. Multiple batteries could prolong the life until you desired.
>>CapsulePresser
Mouse
The next thing would be the mouse. I thought of many ways this could work, including a Nintendo Power Glove type device. I came up with ways I could deconstruct a mouse and use glue and fasteners to put it on a leather glove. In the end, this wasn't practical as the lasers would always need to be on some surface, and the whole point of the wearable computer was to be free from restraints. I then remembered that on our first family laptop, my mom had gotten a silver and blue Fellowes FDM-G60 mouse that used a ball for the thumb and a trigger to click. I'm not sure why we had this mouse or why it was even made, but it was perfect for what I had in mind. It didn't use any lasers and it could be carried and used at any moment needed.
>>CapsulePresser
Keyboard
The keyboard was a bit of a challenge for me in 2012. I was imagining something like a mini keyboard that could be mounted on the arm like a watch. At the time, it seemed that only the U.S. military had access to these and I couldn't find any consumer devices online that matched what I envisioned. In 2024, there are many things that could work, perhaps even better with the use of bluetooth. I recently found a wireless keyboard that is about the size of a phone, that could easily be put on your arm. You could make custom mounts using velcro and straps, or maybe even 3D print a mount. The possibilities are almost endless these days.
>>CapsulePresser
Monitor/Eyewear
The last thing would be the monitor. This also was something that I had no access to and only found on images of U.S. military, and some diy projects on youtube. I had many different ideas for this. One was using goggles with a clear display, similar to the Motorola Krave phone that I also had. Another was taking apart an old VHS tape recorder and using the viewfinder as a screen. I had a tape recorder, but didn't want to destroy it for the project, and had no fucking way to even make this possible. These days, there are many ways to do this. Finding a head mounted display on ebay or other online marketplaces yields many results.
>>CapsulePresser
In 2012, this was just a fun little idea for a 14/15 year old. Unfortunately, as a kid with no money, it was only a dream. As an adult that codes virtual reality spaces as a hobby and has had multiple vr headsets, it would be interesting to revisit this and maybe make it a bit more immersive using haptic feedback utilizing walking or other movements. Only time will tell.
-The Capsule Presser
