Brain's smart clothing
There is a fundamental difference in the perception people have about their own clothing as compared to an issued uniform. Although people can become quite familiar with their uniforms, whether worn in the military, certain workplaces, or schools, the individuality of personal clothing, and the pleasures associated with its selection and wearing, should be extended to computing. The full power and enjoyment of this synergy between human and machine will be realized only when the computer is owned, operated, and controlled by the wearer, giving rise to truly personal computing. Examples of wearable technology at the extreme opposite to the personal wearable are ID transponders that have been rejected by many employees,and the monitoring devices attached to some criminals.
These devices are owned, operated, and controlled by a remote entity; some have the capability
to provide the wearer with an electrical corrective signal (euphemism for electric shock) when the
wearer does something against the will of the entity that controls the system (e.g., ventures outside a prescribed boundary). This prospect is as Orwellian as pole-top surveillance cameras. I hope we don't see a future in which people (such as employees of a particular company) are required to wear smart clothing so a manager can see or record exactly what any particular employee does at any time. There are more like we choose clothing based on season like winter, autumn. summer and spring season. Smart clothing has the potential to provide a very intimate form of interaction with the wearer, as it exists within the wearer's personal space. As such, there is both the danger it could violate this personal space,and offer the safety and capability to provide the wearer greater control. I do foresee that like the cellular telephone, pager, pocket calculator, notebook computer, pocket organizer, and wristwatch, eventually wearable computer systems will be owned, operated, and controlled by the wearer-much like one's own clothes.