When I think of the evolution of
computers from monstrous contraptions consisting of numerous thermo ionic valves and noisy
relays to their present miniature form that can lie unnoticed in a small corner of my pocket, I feel no less fascinated than the feeling I had when I first learnt about evolution of life from its early single celled form to the highly intelligent and complex bloke that many of us are today. Early
computers were only watchable from a safe distance. Then they became workable, usable, desk-able, affordable, then portable, then loose-able (how many cell phones and/or palmtops you have lost so far?) and now wearable. Thankfully, for all I know, they are not eatable as yet, even though they claim to have something as crunchy as a chip inside them.
Now, if you are wondering why on earth one should wear a computer of all things, the reasons are many. Present and future generation
scientists and engineers have a game plan of making computers as pervasive and ubiquitous as God Almighty and by agreeing to wear a computer in your body, you not only help them in realizing their dream, but you are also guaranteed many benefits and services irrespective of where you are or what you are doing. And when that list of benefits includes even saving your life in certain situations such as an emergency medical condition, you got to sit up and take notice of what is going on.
A research group at MIT Media Lab is busy developing computers that are wearable. Equipped with tiny, sophisticated sensors, these computers can not only monitor numerous parameters that can decide whether you are exactly in pink of health or not, they can also monitor the pattern of your social interactions, and thereby tell you or your doctor the state of your psychological health. This technology has been named MIThril, which is also the name of a precious metal used to make armor that would protect its wearer from evil in J. R. R. Tolkien’s Middle Earth Stories.
The software system embedded in MIThril can organize the data about your physical and mental health conditions into a personalized medical record that can be transmitted to medical service providers which will ensure best diagnosis and treatment for you whenever it is necessary.
While you may not see computer scientists turning overnight into fashion designers or your fellow traveler typing frantically onto her skirt to check her e-mail, your friendly personal computer is soon going to make an attempt to thrill you more and more by getting more and more personal. Welcome to the brave new world of Wearable Computers.