Core77

At least one finalist in MS Next-Gen PC Design Comp is creeping us out

By Rain Noe - February 20, 2008

in Object Culture

That's the Momenta, one of the finalists in Microsoft's Next-Gen PC Design Competition. The idea behind the neck-worn Momenta PC is that it actively records everything in a rolling buffer and, creepily, reads your pulse; once it encounters an increased heart rate, it TiVo's the previous five minutes, so you can later review whatever it was that caused your pulse to go up. The product copy indicates this would typically be some joking moment with friends, but we're picturing it recording us receiving unfortuitous letters from the IRS, frantically stifling a grease fire in the kitchen and having heated telephone arguments with the landlord, who says he can't fix your heater until July.

Also--folks, c'mon! We don't want to wear a computer on our necks! It's bad enough we have to carry one on our backs!

o

Favorite This
Q
4

Comment

Comments

Sin

16 years ago

Z

Z

Reply

The purpose of wearing it on your neck is not only to give a good line to your pulse but also to give it a clean projection. There is not only a camera built in but a projector so that you can bring up your desktop display literally anywhere and then interact with it. It is also not constantly recording, but only in a 5 minute buffer. If you hit the record live button, you would have the option to start the recording anywhere up to 5 minutes before you hit record. What this means is that you wouldn't end up with your video starting "right after" someone did the thing you are trying to record, but instead at the point where you have the build up to the event as well as the event.

Personally, I would hop on this if it were available as it would replace a laptop easily. Also with it's access to wireless devices, you could easily bridge the gap between sitting at your desktop and melding it with your desktop, and then easily get up and carry it with you without having to gather all your devices into a bag and toting that. No more boring waits places... waiting for a bus? Load up a movie and project it on the wall in front of you.

The only question I have would be battery life and how it charges... Mix this with wireless charging and we have ourselves a future...
!Report as spam
Rob Tannen

17 years ago

Z

Z

Reply

Indeed a device around your neck! Who would want to wear that....or a phone in your pocket? or someday even a clock on your wrist?
!Report as spam
blepp

17 years ago

Z

Z

Reply

Yes, and if it runs windows, it will choke you eventually. Or maybe it never comes off, after windows crashed.
!Report as spam
csven

17 years ago

Z

Z

Reply

Didn't I see this in an old Star Trek episode where Kirk is turned into a slave?
!Report as spam