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 an award-winning journalist and holistic nutritionist with a strong interest in personal health, the environment and the power of nature to help us all heal He has authored and published thousands of articles, interviews, consumers guides, and books on topics like health and the environment, and he is well known as the creator of popular downloadable preparedness programs on financial collapse, emergency food storage, wilderness survival and home defense skills. Adams is an independent journalist with strong ethics who does not get paid to write articles about any product or company. In 2010, Adams co-founded NaturalNews.com, a natural health video sharing site that has now grown in popularity. He also launched an online retailer of environmentally-friendly products (BetterLifeGoods.com) and uses a portion of its profits to help fund non-profit endeavors. He's also the founder and CEO of a well known email mail merge software developer whose software, 'Email Marketing Director,' currently runs the NaturalNews email subscriptions. Adams is currently the executive director of the Consumer Wellness Center, a 501(c)3 non-profit, and regularly pursues cycling, nature photography, Capoeira and Pilates. He's also author a large number of health books offered by Truth Publishing and is the creator of numerous reference website including NaturalPedia.com and the free downloadable Honest Food Guide. His websites also include the free reference sites HerbReference.com and HealingFoodReference.com. Adams believes in free speech, free access to nutritional supplements and the innate healing ability of the human body. Known by his callsign, the 'Health Ranger,' Adams posts his missions statements, health statistics and health photos at www.HealthRanger.org
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Friday, August 06, 2004
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