April 1997, Volume 14, No. 4 Rockwell's Develops Wearable Computer

Rockwell International's Mobile Information Systems Group (Cedar Rapids, Iowa; http://www.cacd.rockwell.com) has integrated speech recognition into its Trekker 2020, a wearable computer. The Trekker 2020 incorporates speech recognition technology from Speech Systems (Boulder, Colo.; http://www.speechsys.com) to provide hands-free mobility for industrial and professional applications.

The Trekker 2020 is a miniaturized, full-function computer that straps onto the user's waist. A liquid-crystal VGA panel positioned before the user's eye replaces the desktop monitor. The miniaturized monitor lets the user focus on the display while accessing information and look through it when working. A microphone and speaker allow the user to talk and listen to the computer. Applications include maintenance, inspection, manufacturing, and training.

Speech recognition lets the user activate display functions, query databases and enter data hands-free. The user can see information displayed on screen and/or hear it announced through a headset speaker.

Manufacturing sites have begun using speech recognition as a shop floor input device, since workers do not have to stop what they are doing to type in data or write down information that has to be entered into a computer by another worker at a later time. Productivity savings can be realized with an interactive speech interface that builds data verification into an application, translating into fewer errors that make it through the system.