Wearable Transmeta device planned

Hardware specialist Via is working with Transmeta to develop a range of wearable computers based on the low-powered Crusoe processor.

Via president, Ed McConaghay, said the company evaluated other processors but chose Crusoe because of its low power and low heat features, which are ideal for mobile workers.

"The Crusoe's unique ability to use software to adjust voltage and frequency on demand, means that the computer only uses the amount of power needed for maximum efficiency," he said.

The company's next generation wearable computers will incorporate the 700Mhz Crusoe chip and will run Microsoft Windows 2000. The systems will be designed to work with Via's super VGA indoor readable display or indoor/outdoor display. Testing will be completed by the end of the year and general availability is planned for the end of the first quarter of 2001.

The computers are currently being piloted by the US Military Police in Louisiana. Officers are testing for streaming video, face recognition, mapping settings and voice translation.

Via's existing wearable computers are currently used by companies such as Northwest Airlines, Nabisco and General Dynamics.