Wearable PCs Offer Function, Not Fashion

Fashion Faux Pas

Still, why is IBM following Xybernaut in looking for customers exclusively in the institutional and corporate markets? Why not trot out wearable PCs for the masses at the next Consumer Electronics Show?

Knaach says that the units are still expensive; but that's only part of the reason. "Wearing a computer isn't a socially acceptable thing," he says, explaining, "You look like a soldier wearing half a helmet--like a techno-geek." People tend to react poorly because, he says, "You really look kind of Borg-ish. That forces it [the devices] into environments where people either don't care what they look like or have it as a condition of employment." However, Knaach thinks that private individuals will begin to rely on wearable PCs over the next three or four years.

"Merging technologies will move wearable PCs to more people. Where today people might carry a cell phone, pager, PDA, and a laptop computer, as they merge, people will want to carry one item instead four," Knaach says.

And where function leaves off, fashion can take over in moving wearable computers into the broad market. "At some point," Knaach predicts, "It will end up like the first Walkman. The first time you saw one it was strange, but then they became cool."