Bearable Computing

The detailed definition of bearable computing relies on semantics. People talk about wearable computing as devices that are worn on or in garments or accessories. That category typically doesn’t include implants. By contrast, bearable computing may include implants and embedded devices as well as wearable ones.

Bearable computing devices have many applications. They can help to supplement or replace the body's natural senses, such as sight or sound. They can help with occupational or personal multitasking, as in the case of Bluetooth, which enables hands-free communications. Many applications of bearable computing involve chips or implants that a user doesn’t have to maintain over time or manipulate physically. Instead, these smart devices could provide real-time information on their own.

Another main practical application of bearable computing is in providing actionable information about the human body. The now common smart watches that are worn to collect vitals like heart rate and blood pressure are good examples of this. Certain kinds of implants also collect real-time information about vital signs.

While bearable computing devices can be used to simulate human senses, they can also be used to enhance them in many different ways. New classes of devices known as augmented reality devices can add additional visuals to a human field of vision, either as layers, or as a virtual field of vision. These types of technologies, evident in devices like Google Glass, can help to provide people with more information about their surroundings, or alternately, can use technologies like image processing to help them develop more information about what they are seeing.