The head mounted eye-piece
screen projects as a desktop 17" full VGA color screen
although it is not larger than a thumbnail pic.
The full
capacity computer attaches snugly to the waist. The inputs are
a finger-handled mouse working a keyboard on the screen, a
keyboard built into a mouse or a wrist mounted mini keyboard.
The Compaq/Ipaq PDA has a very sensitive display and home made
connections to the sat phone. This setup is untried
before.
The wearable computing is delicate and need to be protected
from the extreme weathers of the Poles. Both Poles reach
temperatures far beyond the general technology boundaries. The
South Pole is dry as Sahara, the North Pole more humid than
the Amazon rain forests.
The party
will have to protect the technology with their own bodies. At
nights in the sleeping bags, and during the days wearing the
computing in the clothing.
"Last year, some batteries wouldnŽt hold even though we
carried them inside the clothes. The digital camera Lithium
batteries we had to keep warm in the palm of our hands
while skiing, in order to be able to shoot pics when we
needed. As we got closer to the pole, the liquid crystals in
the HMD would have a hard time, but they thawed after a
while in camp. In fact, even the water bottles - tucked deep
within our clothing next to our body - froze after some hours.
The most sensitive tech needed bare skin to keep warm at all.
"
The team will carry Hotronic wiring for added warmth this
year, especially close to the South Pole. Last year, all
expeditions at Antarctica came back with frostnips, mainly on
the feet and the hands. Except for Tina of course, who
skied large parts without gloves entirely (Tina
climbed Everest without gloves in 1999).
- "Something is definitely up with my hands. My feet get
cold just like everyone else's, but my hands are a mystery.
IŽll gladly offer them to medical science if some doctor
needs a chilly study."
The
technology is a another part of the trial. 
connections to the sat phone. This setup is untried
before. 
"Last year, some batteries wouldnŽt hold even though we
carried them inside the clothes. The digital camera Lithium
batteries we had to keep warm in the palm of our hands
while skiing, in order to be able to shoot pics when we
needed. As we got closer to the pole, the liquid crystals in
the HMD would have a hard time, but they thawed after a
while in camp. In fact, even the water bottles - tucked deep
within our clothing next to our body - froze after some hours.
The most sensitive tech needed bare skin to keep warm at all.
"
skied large parts without gloves entirely (Tina
climbed Everest without gloves in 1999).