ABSTRACT
This chapter introduces the joint fields of wearable computers and augmented reality, both of which represent the theme of this book-a discussion of information technologies that allow user’s to access information anywhere and at any time. In many ways, the design of wearable computers and augmented reality systems has been motivated by two primary goals. The first is driven by the need for people to access information, especially as they move around the environment; the second is motivated by the need for people to better manage information. Until just recently, if a user needed to access computational resources, the user had to go to where the computer resources were located, typically a desktop PC or a mainframe computer. Once the user left the terminal, the flow of information stopped. Now networked wearable computers along with other digital devices allow the user to access information at any time, and at any location. However, the ability to access large amounts of information may not always be beneficial-too
much information presented too fast may result in information overload. For this reason, the issue of information management is also important. In this regard, wearable computers and augmented reality systems along with software acting as an intelligent agent can act as a filter between the user and the information. Intelligent agents will allow only the relevant information for a given situation to be projected on a head-mounted display, a hand-held computer, or an auditory display.
