MIT/IDEO Team up to Study Wearables

In September of 2009 MIT and IDEO Product Developement looked at how wearable computer technology could be used in two different people’s lives. Subject one was a 19 year old female MIT student and subject two was a 54 year old business man. Both raved about the convienience of being able to look up information and viewing in a small screen close to the eye, whether it be subject one checking email or subject two finding out information about something he is dealing with for his work. Both liked that their wand/pen could record things, whether it be a class lecture or a business meeting. Niether one had anything negative to say about their wearables, they are both comfortable with the interface and the appearance of them. The business man saw the next step as being the computer becoming part of his body. This information seems encouraging because of the great usefullness and enjoyment that the subjects had with their wearables and as subject one said it seems to be enhancing their reality rather than seperating them from it. The wearables seem to be able to provide constant access to information, be adjusted to the users context, respond properly in particular circumstances (like making the businessman aware of his flight announcement when at an airport), and enable users to interact with the virtual realm in a way that supports there experience of reality (like bringing the student information about what is being lectured on in class).