Event shows computers that act like a second skin

High tech merged with high fashion yesterday during a two-day exhibition for next-generation computers hosted by the Ministry of Information and Communication. A parade of models opened the event at the COEX convention center in southern Seoul, but instead of wearing the latest in couture designs, they sported the latest in wearable computers. One model wore eyeglasses, which resembled ski goggles, that served as a monitor, and on her wrist was a hard disk drive that had a wireless connection to the eyeglasses. The gadgets presented at the exhibition were not new concepts for industry insiders, but until the exhibition, they had not been fully developed for commercial use. The computers were very small but had functions similar to those of personal digital assistants. Some had MP3 players and digital cameras as well. Users could input information through speech or by pressing buttons that were located on the clothes, which were designed for specific purposes, such as sports. The Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute presented a “human body communication system,” which enables people to use their bodies like telecommunication wires. For instance, in the act of shaking hands, two people could exchange their business cards or basic information about themselves. When this technology is applied to wearable computers, for example, an eyeglasses monitor can connect to a hard drive strapped to one’s wrist without any cables. MicroInfinity presented a three-dimensional input device that reads words that are written in the air with a special pen. The words are then converted into a document format. This device applied technology used to track objects in space, such as airplanes or satellites. A joint team from Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon University and Hoseo University presented a computer system that can respond to sight, sound, taste and touch. For example, upon command, the computer will emit four aromas: lemon, lavender, rose and sugar. “Integrating this system with other programs, one can store scores of different smells and send them as well,” said Kim Jung-do, a professor at Hoseo University. by Park Bang-ju, Wohn Dong-hee