Reading: Social Dimensions of Wearable Computers

Ubiquitous Computing - Networked Computers located everywhere and nowhere
Embedded Computing - Supply actors (human and non-human) with communication and computing capabilities "smart".
Pervasive Computing - Remote control, by yourself or others.

Personal Computer (PC). Shift towards the personal computing paradigm. Small Personal Object Technology (SPOT).
- connectedness and empowerment
- personal space augmented
- wearable computers as personal empowerment

Wearable Computer (WC) - fully functional, self-powered, self-contained computer.

Steve Mann - WC being controlled by the wearer. Not possible with closed/proprietary software.

Conceptual Development - WC gaining more credibility. Minaturisation resulting in more application focus and scope.

Handsfree - military applications. WC aware of context, locations, and surroundings. Being cognizant. Client (local) with processing done on the server-side.

WC evolving from tools to technological companions. An extension of self or a second skin.

Lew & Philips "ICD+" Smart shirt system. Wearable Mother board. Applications.

SOCIAL DIMENSIONS
Q: What is the social impact?
Positives
- memory
- monitoring

Negatives
- loss of autonomy
- reliability
- safety
- security
- control/surveillance

WC - Control and Surveillance
Orwellian - discourages uptake

(Read more about the e-Sniffer mobile tracking service. The same kind of thing could be used in a big-brother way).

Conclusion:
WC are a double edged-sword.
"technological artifacts as (heterogeneous) networks that favour certain social dynamics, certain social patterns of organisation, and modes of experience".

WC should be inclusive and representative of the people using them.