This chapter considers the question of where to place the sensory and display apparatus on the body. Although the final conclusion is that both should be placed, effectively, right within the eye itself, various other possibilities are considered and explained first. In terms of the various desirable properties the apparatus should be: | Intelligent Image Processing. Steve Mann Copyright 2002 John Wiley Sons Inc. ISBNs 0-471-40637-6 Hardback 0-471-22163-5 Electronic 2 WHERE ON THE BODY IS THE BEST PLACE FORA PERSONAL IMAGING SYSTEM This chapter considers the question of where to place the sensory and display apparatus on the body. Although the final conclusion is that both should be placed effectively right within the eye itself various other possibilities are considered and explained first. In terms of the various desirable properties the apparatus should be Covert It must not have an unusual appearance that may cause objections or ostracization owing to the unusual physical appearance. It is known for instance that blind or visually challenged persons are very concerned about their physical appearance notwithstanding their own inability to see their own appearance. Incidentalist Others cannot determine whether or not the apparatus is in use even when it is not entirely covert. For example its operation should not convey an outward intentionality. Natural The apparatus must provide a natural user interface such as may be given by a first-person perspective. Cybernetic It must not require conscious thought or effort to operate. These attributes are desired in range if not in adjustment to that point of the range of operational modes. Thus for example it may be desired that the apparatus be highly visible at times as when using it for a personal safety device to deter crime. Then one may wish it to be very obvious that video is being recorded and transmitted. So ideally in these situations the desired attributes are affordances rather than constraints. For example the apparatus may be ideally covert but with an additional means of making it obvious when desired. Such an additional means may include a display viewable by others or a blinking red light indicating transmission of video data. Thus the system would ideally be operable over a wide range of obviousness levels over a wide range of .
