30 PERVASIVE computing US Government Work Not Protected by US Copyright W E A R A B L E C O M P U T I N G The Evolution of Army Wearable Computers W earable computers will soon become a reality on the battle- field for frontline troops, under the US Army’s Land Warrior program. Here, we trace the evolution of Army wearable computers, from the ini- tial concept and first prototype, through downsiz- ing and improvements, to future product directions. We focus on two major programs central to the Army’s development of wearable computers: the Soldier Integrated Protective Ensemble (SIPE) and the Land Warrior system. As the Land Warrior program nears fruition, the Army continues to advance the state of the art for wearable battlefield computers. Early beginnings: The Soldier’s Computer The history of Army wearable computers has its roots in 1989 with James Schoening, a research ana- lyst working at the US Army Communications Elec- tronics Command (CECOM), Research Develop- ment and Engineering Center (RDEC). (See the “Glossary” sidebar for terms used in this article.) Schoening envisioned a small wearable computer, integrated with a wireless link and helmet-mounted display (HMD), that could help individual soldiers on the frontline. Working with Matt Zieniewicz, Schoening transformed his idea into a system archi- tecture with targeted technologies, such as wireless data transmission, image capture, integrated Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers, and menu- driven software. In 1990, Schoening and Zieniewicz teamed up with John Flatt, Sal Barone, and Almon Gillette to demonstrate an early surrogate system, the Soldier’ Computer, at the Army Material Command’s first trade show in Aberdeen, Maryland (see Figure 1). The Soldier’s Computer employed an Agilis brick- type 386-based computer with an integrated packet radio system, which soldiers could load into their backpacks. The system was relatively lightweight for the time, at approximately 10 pounds. It also included software for creating reports and display- ing battlefield situation maps. In addition, a serial interface to an external GPS receiver let soldiers see their position on a map. The map was displayed on a ruggedized (metal case) he met-mounted quasi-VGA (720 × 280) display (Reflection Technologies’ Private Eye display). It used a vibrating mirror and red LEDs to compose a virtual 14-inch monochromatic (red-on-black) dis- play. Soldiers used a trackball for input and could enter and transmit simple reports to other units. The system was a resounding success in demon- strations to senior Army leaders and congressional staff members. The next iteration of the Soldier’s Computer shifte from a proprietary brick design to an open sys- tem–bus wearable design. The Natick Soldier Center in Massachusetts incorporated this concept as a key component of its SIPE Advanced-Technology In 1989, the US Army envisioned a small wearable computer to assist soldiers with battlefield tasks. The concept has since grown from preliminary prototypes and a demonstration Soldier’s Computer into the current Land Warrior program and proposals for future systems. Matthew J. Zieniewicz, Douglas C. Johnson, Douglas C. Wong, and John D. Flatt Research, Development, and Engineering Center, US Army Communications Electronic Command