motorola HC1 hands free wearable computer

motorola ‘HC1’ hands-free wearable computerimage courtesy motorola

motorola has sent designboom images of their latest hands-free wearable computing device. designed for field services such as telecommunications and aerospace support, the ‘HC1’ can be used for maintenance, repair and training and simulation applications that improve inspection time and accuracy, reduce labor rates and increase safety. military defense forces, special public safety teams and commercial customers can practice simulated events and crisis scenarios and also perform live training with real-time trainer feedback and mission or business-critical guidance – as the headset incorporates an optical micro-display technology platform – providing the user with a view of a 15-inch laptop-size screen. as a follow up on the new technology – which was originally debuted at the 2013 CES, designboom speaks further with the company about the features regarding the new technology.

front view detailimage courtesy motorola

designboom: what is the HC1?

motorola: our HC1 headset computer is a rugged mobile computer with an adjustable optical micro-display that provides a view equivalent to a 15-inch laptop screen. it allows users access to critical documents, videos and photos, with information displayed just below their line of sight. it’s perfect for workers who need big-screen device capability to view highly complex graphical data or schematics in work environments where carrying a laptop or tablet is not feasible, safe or convenient.

 DB: who is the HC1 designed for?

motorola: the HC1 is optimally designed for maintenance, repair and operations. this includes workers in the following industries: field service technicians and installers, industrial or military mechanics (vehicles, electronic systems and machinery), utility repair technicians, telecommunications line workers, manufacturing line workers and engineers, construction managers, field engineers and architects.

detail of the computer screenimage courtesy motorola

DB: what are the advantages/benefits of using the HC1?

motorola: the HC1 gives workers in the field and remote team members to communicate, collaborate and exchange critical information in real-time, with a simple voice command or head gesture. HC1 users are more productive at the point of activity, and work more efficiently and safely.

 DB: what do you use the HC1 to do?

motorola: the HC1 gives workers in the field to access manuals, diagrams, or schematics by voice or head gesturing, send real-time video or images to remote experts, complete inspection reports and document work by voice, view on-site training videos and 3D simulation, and use augmented reality to overlay instructions.

user contextimage courtesy motorola

DB: what technologies make the HC1 so powerful?

motorola: designed with an OMAP3 dual -core processor, the HC1 offers fast and reliable performance. the HC1 is equipped with microsoft windows CE 6.0 professional and WLAN (802.11 b/g), bluetooth 2.1 with EDR, and USB connectivity. it has a full color, SVGA, transmissive TFT (800 x 600) micro-display; full virtual 15-inch monitor positioned below your line of sight, with user configurable for left or right eye dominance.  it also has advanced speech recognition software with noise canceling supporting up to six languages. finally, it’s equipped with integrated 9-axis head-tracking technology with a digital compass, and a 3D graphics accelerator.

infographic demonstrating scenarioimage courtesy motorola