Wearable Computing Homework Assignments

The homework assignments are intended to bring students up to speed on using the UMass Wearables.

Homework 1: Donning the Gear - Due 02/11/2002

On the assignment due date, please be prepared to demonstrate:

That you are able to login to one of the wearables (preferably using the twiddler).
That your wearable can report live updates of your favorite stock.
That your wearable can remind you of upcoming appointments.
That you can dictate a sentence to your wearable (using ViaVoice).

Homework 2: Extended Use of a Wearable (Assimilation) - Due 02/25/2002

This homework is designed to get everyone into the wearable frame of mind. The only way to do this is to use the device in many different contexts. The task is the following: wear a machine (and use it) for a total of 20 hours. The rules are as follows:

Start by using a machine for short periods of time (to give yourself a chance to get used to it). Before the end of the assignment, try using the device for a period of 3 hours.
Really use the machine (not just wear it). Try taking notes, reading email, practicing your Twiddler skills, etc.
You are allowed to carry around a standard keyboard, but please give the twiddler a chance (at least 10 of the 20 hours).
Be sensitive to the distractions that the device might cause. Although using a wearable in a classroom or meeting environment is one of the most interesting contexts to do so, it is possible that you might offend or annoy someone. So - please check with your professors or supervisors before doing so.

At the end of your experiment, write a 1.5-2 page evaluation of your experience. Include the following:

How did your usage of the system change through the course of your experiment?
What automatic services did you use? Which did you find to be most useful?
How did the system change what information you collected?
How did it change how you interacted with people (both local and remote)?
What do you see as the immediately important developments in the wearable computer interface?

fagg@cs.umass.edu

Last modified: Mon Jan 28 23:00:54 2002