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Technical nomads (Technomads) are folks who live and compute while on the go. Technomads range from the café-inhabiting variety to those who have boats and wheeled vehicles outfitted with computers and communications gear. Technomads are by nature visionary, by necessity jury-riggers (nobody makes the bizarre custom fittings upon which we depend so we have to make it ourselves), and by social needs inhabitants of the Internet. Our main avenue of socializing is the Technomad Discussion List.

The Wearables crowd are Technomads who eschew any computing device (and power source) that can't be worn on the body. They are far ahead of the industry, and pulling the state of the art along behind them. Lively discussions of generating power from tapping body heat, eye-glass-mounted monitors, and hat-mounted solar cells abound on the Wearables Discussion List. Thad Starner at the MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) Media Lab is a prolific contributor, as is his mentor, Marvin Minsky, the father of Artificial Intelligence. Adam Oranchak described it well:

A wearable computer is more likely to fulfill its potential as the ultimate mnemonic device, enhancing the wearers ability to recall, the longer it is worn. Not only must a wearable computer have a sufficient power supply and adequate computing power but it must also function as an expression of the wearer's identity to be used in the visual dialog engaged with society. Fashion and technology must be integrated with Wearable Information Technology.

Wearables are also interested in related technology; how they can take it with them when they're out and about.

ECIFFO

In the summertime of 1996 I was interviewed for a Japanese magazine by five reporters and two photographers because of my well-known penchant (fetish?) for portable computing.

ECIFFO - p. 1

ECIFFO - p. 2

ECIFFO - p. 3

ECIFFO - p. 4

ECIFFO - p. 5

ECIFFO - p. 6

ECIFFO - The Interview

Five reporters and two photographers and I filled up a section of The People's Café. Had you been walking by, on Haight Street, here's what you would have seen.

Rev. Mark Grant in Asia

The Rev. Mark Grant reports back to the Technomad mailing list when he's on the road. This is his report from Bangkok, Singapore, Taipei, and Hong Kong. I keep it because it reflects those early days when a net connection was a novelty when travelling.

Technomad dealings with sub-normals

It's not easy being a geek. There are too many people out there who have the authority to say no without any of the ability to say yes. Sigh. Here's another adventure from the edge of credulity.

The First Group-Wide Microship Project Meeting

The first group-wide Microship Project meeting happened on 2 March 1996. Here's the story in words and pictures.

The Microship Group Meeting Follow-Up

Steve was touched by the gathering. Here's his comments and some photos of magazine covers relating to Steve's adventures.

The Microship Group Meeting Invitation

Here's the invitation to the gathering; email sent out by Steve Roberts.