Xybernaut Unveils Wearable Computer

By Jeff Michalski
iApplianceWeb
(05/31/01, 02:14:16 PM EDT)

Xybernaut Corporation gears up with its new Mobile Assistant V (MA V), an advanced wearable computer that provides lightweight, hands-free mobile computing. Designed with the combination of Texas Instruments digital signal processor (DSP) and the Intel Mobile Celeron 500 MHz processor, the MA V is produced by IBM Corporation.

It provides processing speed, connectivity, mobility, and power efficiency in a package that is 30 percent smaller and lighter than Xybernaut's earlier models.

The MA V has integrated ports and wireless support, including dedicated FireWire, Type II or III PCMCIA, Compact Flash, and dedicated USB. The hands-free computing solution is easily configured with off-the-shelf products, such as bar-code scanners, global positioning systems (GPS), miniature video cameras, and test equipment.

The MA V is cased in a lightweight, yet highly durable magnesium self-contained chassis and embedded with up to 256 MB SDRAM, a full-duplex stereo built-in sound card, 8 MB SDRAM video memory, and a choice of internal HDD configurations, as well as external higher capacity drives.

The MA V runs Windows, Linux, or Unix operating systems. It can be configured with the latest in display technology, from Xybernaut's all-light readable touch-screen flat-panel displays to its new lightweight, SVGA head-mounted color displays (HMD). The HMDs provide a direct view display with an integrated microphone and earpiece speaker for voice activation and communications.

Accessories include a docking holster, keyboard, pointing device, wireless cards, and wearability accessories customized specifically for the MA V. It will begin shipping in mid-June. Pricing will start at $3,995.