Metronaut: a wearable computer with sensing and global communication capabilities

Metronaut is a novel wearable computer which captures information, senses position, provides wide range communications, consumes less than one watt of power, and weighs less than one pound. Metronaut employs a bar code reader for information input and position location, a two-way pager for communications, and an ARM processor for computation. Metronaut´s application is schedule negotiation and guidance instructions for a visitor to the CMU campus. The visitor´s position is determined from reading bar codes at information signs around campus. Modifications to the schedule are negotiated using the two-way pager for communications with the campus computing infrastructure. Metronaut is alternatively powered by a mechanical flywheel converting kinetic energy to electrical energy.