Neurosphere

A longer article on the use of “augmented cognition” for military application.

Conversations with computers are usually pretty one-sided: Users may yell obscenities; cursors continue to blink innocuously. But a collaborative effort between the military and industry may one day replace this one-way, futile discourse with systems that understand the user’s cognitive state and then respond accordingly. The implications of this capability reach beyond ensuring that warfighters are primed to receive critical information. It could prove to be instrumental to inventing ways of designing new systems and improving military training.

http://www.afcea.org/SIGNAL/articles/templates/SIGNAL_Article_Template.asp?articleid=1159&zoneid=188

“Battle every condition imaginable while fully rocking out” – the Neurosphere is going to be Fun.

“The Shield™ Jacket, with an integrated iPod™ system, features a flexible SOFTswitch™ control pad located on the sleeve that’s iPod-compatible*. Simply press a button on your sleeve and the song changes. No need to unzip or expose bare fingers – it’s that easy. The iPod™ itself is stored safely in a specially designed, EVA molded chest pocket. Battle every condition imaginable while fully rocking out with the ballistic Storm-lite® 6.0 fully taped shell’s unbeatable blend of performance and style. The jacket is even machine washable, just be sure to remove the iPod™ interface module.”

http://www.burton.com/gear/products.asp?productID=133

Not as ruggedized as the Land Warrior, but…

OtterBox carries the most rugged waterproof boxes on the market. Otter Box waterproof cases are waterproof up to 100 feet deep – 10 times deeper than our competition!!!

http://www.otterbox.com/

Again, war technology leading the evolution of technology. Unlike Xybernaut, they’re unlikely to go Chapter 11.

“An Army Stryker battalion training for possible deployment to Iraq in 2007 will outfit hundreds of its soldiers with the high-tech “land warrior” ensemble this summer. These soldiers will help determine whether the system is suitable for combat and if the Army should continue to invest in the technology.

The land warrior ensemble includes a communications and navigation computer-radio suite, a helmet-mounted display and a customized rifle. The land warriors are connected to a network, and each can pinpoint the others’ location simply by looking into their displays. They are the dismounted equivalent of the “blue-force tracking” system the Army employs aboard vehicles.”

http://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/issues/2006/May/LandWarrior.htm

http://www.monmouth.army.mil/CRDC/

Another of my favorite companies to watch. Alas, fallen on hard times.

“Mobile Assistant V (MA V) wearable computer boosts on-the-job productivity and quality of service. This powerful, rugged, fully functional, super lightweight wearable computer goes anywhere to achieve the task-at-hand. Xybernaut Software and Services complement the MA V Product Platform and ensure maximum benefit for your organization…A maintenance technician on a pole repairing a line accesses schematics and confirms a work order in real-time to quickly restore phone service to customers.

Xybernaut, involved in a Chapter 11 proceeding before the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, is engaged in an effort to reorganize with the objective of emerging from Chapter 11 as a viable provider of mobile and wearable computing and communications solutions. In pursuing this objective, the company recently negotiated a debtor-in-possession loan of up to $5 million over a one year period, and is seeking to sell its many patents and intellectual properties.”

www.xybernaut.com

An update from a favorite company to watch, global responsibility through commerce.

“Freeplay Energy plc (AIM: FRE), the sustainable energy company that captures, stores and delivers electric power to self-powered devices such as radios, torches and mobile phone chargers, is pleased to announce…a distribution agreement with WP Phones for its FreeCharge™ Mobile Phone Charger (“FreeCharge”) in Africa…”We are delighted with this substantial order from WP Phones. This agreement supports Freeplay’s continued focus on telecommunications opportunities, particularly in Africa where there are in excess of 50 million cell phone users and according to the World Bank, only 22% of people who have access to electricity.”

http://www.freeplayenergy.com/