Latest Fashion for Automotive Technicians Is Wearable Computers

    WARRENDALE, Pa., Jan. 25 The next time you take your car
for repairs, you may witness the technician speaking to himself.  But don't
worry.  The technician isn't delirious from too much carbon monoxide ... he is
simply talking to his hands-free, wearable computer.

    Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University and Robert Bosch Corporation in
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in collaboration with scientists at Robert Bosch
GmbH in Germany, are unveiling "Speech-Controlled Wearable Computers for
Automotive Shop Workers" (Paper #2001-01-0606) at the Society of Automotive
Engineers (SAE) 2001 World Congress.  The paper will be presented at 2 p.m.,
March 6, Room O3-46, Cobo Center, Detroit, Michigan.

    The team is developing a small, speech-controlled mobile computer that
automotive technicians can wear while inspecting vehicles and making repairs.

    Today, vehicle inspection and maintenance are often conducted using
time-consuming paper forms.  The service technician collects data on paper and
carries it on a clipboard throughout the shop.  When the work is completed,
the technician often must enter the data into a computer for further
processing.

    "Wearable computers offer great advantages for workers in many industries,
including automotive," says Christian Burgy, Carnegie Mellon University.
"These devices eliminate paper-based data collection, saving workers time and
helping to increase the quality of the job performed."

    For example, instead of carrying manuals or approaching a PC to look up
information or order parts, a technician using the wearable computer can
access inspection data and control measurement devices -- all without taking
his hands off the vehicle.  He may also communicate with other technicians on
the floor and in the main office.

    To develop the prototype device, researchers interviewed actual automotive
technicians to evaluate worker needs.  "We did not want to overwhelm them with
technology too complicated to use," says Markus Klausner, Robert Bosch
Corporation.  "The idea is to simplify their jobs.  We believe that these
devices have great potential in many industries and for many applications."

    To date, several prototypes have been developed based on user feedback,
and the researchers are continuing to perfect the hardware and software for
optimal functionality.