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Rugged Wrist-Wearable Computer for Homeland Defense and First Responders

Integrates GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth/Zigbee, biometric sensor, digital compass and Linux.

Parvus Corporation will preview a new rugged wrist-worn personal computer at MILCOM 2008 in San Diego this week. MILCOM is a military communications event sponsored by the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA) and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).

Designed for harsh field conditions, the Zypad WR1100 is designed to meet MIL-STD-810F environmental and MIL-STD-461E EMI requirements, making it an ideal solution for military, homeland defense, first responder, security, and emergency service field and in-vehicle applications. This x86 compatible rugged wearable computer can be worn comfortably on the user's wrist for hands-free operation.

The WR1100 can be quickly configured to access any remote host system through its integrated wired and/or wireless interfaces using its Linux operating system. The unit integrates a number of innovative features, including 802.11 and Bluetooth/Zigbee interfaces, a GPS receiver, electronic compass, biometric fingerprint sensor, and a tilt-and-dead reckoning system that detects the position of the user's arm and sets the system to standby mode when the arm is hanging down beside the body.

Another major benefit of the WR1100 is its modularity -- the ability to change the functions for the device by merely replacing a module. If the user wishes to switch from a GPS receiver to a GPRS module, for example, this can be done through a simple, plug-and-play, hot swap operation. The battery module can also be easily removed and replaced in the field with hot swapping functionality.

The system incorporates a special fiberglass-reinforced nylon/magnesium alloy case to maximize its durability and minimize weight, along with a large high-resolution touch screen display protected against water and dust ingress. The Zypad's rigid wrist support system allows ergonomic positioning and easy fastening to the arm, even over the user's work clothes, thus ensuring ideal weight distribution and maximum comfort, while the removable computing core allows users to easily insert/remove it from main wrist support at any time.

The Zypad WR1100 is now available from stock, but it may take 12 weeks to deliver, Parvus said in a news release.