Ergonomics in wearable computer design

Due to the rapid growth and development of virtual reality (VR) applications and their associated hardware, the personal computer (PC) will become a tool of daily-use in the 21st century. By combining PC with VR technology and telecommunications, the stage is set for the creation of a new type of ready-to-wear PC. Although wearable computers are merely concepts, it is now time to begin integrating ergonomics into wearable computer design. The key to design such new products is the inclusion of ergonomics at various stages throughout the design process, beginning at a very early stage. Therefore, this paper describes a wearable computer design through an ergonomic approach to ensure an appropriate interface relationship between the computer and the user. The methodology by which design problems were analyzed and solutions were developed will be described in this paper, as well as some of the engineering features that made the final design possible. Relevance to industry - The application of industrial design and ergonomics to consumer products has been well established. However, their application to high-technology products is less common. This paper has presented a user/tool/task model that is useful for product design purposes. It is our hope that the ergonomics approach and applications summarized in this paper will serve as guidelines in the process of industrial designs.