NASA is developing new technology known as the wearable augmentable reality prototype, or WARP. It's a wearable personal computer very similar to the concept I have described in the report called The Ten Most Important Emerging Technologies For Humanity. These augmented reality wearable computers would overlay audio and video signals onto the natural surrounding environment, allowing a person to see, hear or otherwise observe characters, events, animations, notes, or other data in a way that appears to be part of the natural surrounding
environment.
This technology is being described as a cognitive prosthesis, in much the way that a pair of eyeglasses is an ocular prosthesis. In other words, this technology enhances the cognitive potential of the human brain. It brings computers closer to the human and narrows the chasm between human intention and computing power.
Even though this research is currently being conducted for NASA, I believe that wearable augmented reality prototype technology has widespread implications for education and training. As I describe in my emerging technologies whitepaper, the same technology could be quite effectively used to enhance the educational potential in public schools, universities, and continuing education classes.
For example, imagine actually experiencing a piece of history by walking through it and seeing the animated characters of historical figures standing in the room near you, rather than merely reading about history from a textbook. Imagine walking through the anatomy of a human being as if it were a giant human and you were a microscopic observer. With augmented reality, all of this is possible.
Augmented reality stands in contrast to artificial intelligence, which is of course a name given to a study of science that attempts to create thinking machines. Augmented reality, in contrast, makes no attempt to create thinking machines, but instead seeks to enhance the cognitive ability of human beings and bring computing power closer to humans through computer-human interface technology.
About the author: Mike Adams is a natural health author and award-winning journalist with a mission to teach personal and planetary health to the public He has authored more than 1,800 articles and dozens of reports, guides and interviews on natural health topics, reaching millions of readers with information that is saving lives and improving personal health around the world. Adams is a trusted, independent journalist who receives no money or promotional fees whatsoever to write about other companies' products. In 2010, Adams created NaturalNews.TV, a natural living video sharing site featuring thousands of user videos on foods, fitness, green living and more. He also founded an environmentally-friendly online retailer called BetterLifeGoods.com that uses retail profits to help support consumer advocacy programs. He's also a noted technology pioneer and founded a software company in 1993 that developed the HTML email newsletter software currently powering the NaturalNews subscriptions. Adams also serves as the executive director of the Consumer Wellness Center, a non-profit consumer protection group, and pursues hobbies such as martial arts, Capoeira, nature macrophotography and organic gardening. He's also author of numerous health books published by Truth Publishing and is the creator of several consumer-oriented grassroots campaigns, including the Spam. Don't Buy It! campaign, and the free downloadable Honest Food Guide. He also created the free reference sites HerbReference.com and HealingFoodReference.com. Adams believes in free speech, free access to nutritional supplements and the ending of corporate control over medicines, genes and seeds.
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Friday, August 06, 2004
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