Wearable contextual computing

I am on day 4 of using the hu.ma.ne AI pin - yes I know there have been a lot of reviews already (I've avoided reading them) and a lot of debate in general about the new category of AI powered personal devices (Rabbit, Tab, etc.). Let me start out by saying that I am a fan of anyone who passionately pursues new ideas, I expect new products to have multiple iterations before discovering the right answer in a new category and so I congratulate the amazing engineers at Humane who have worked so hard to bring their amazing vision to life in this version 1 device. I am proud to be a recipient of one of the first of these devices (yes I spent my own money purchasing it) and excited to be exploring this new product category. So here are my early impressions and thoughts about what this says about the future of wearable computing --

First impressions are important and I congratulate the team on a great "unboxing" experience. The packaging was elegant, on brand, and entirely recyclable while completely protecting the contents. The illustrated getting started guide was just enough to make me feel confident that I could easily start using the device with little to no instructions. An online onboarding process ahead of time also worked seamlessly so that when I received the device it was already configured with my settings (pass code to unlock, etc.)

The device is as elegant as the inspirational Ted talk suggested (worth watching founder Imran Chaudhri talk about the Disappearing Computer). It was easy to clip onto my shirt and off I went for my morning run. I have experimented with a number of the capabilities and enjoyed how it has functioned (a few notes below) including making a call, taking photos, asking for it to "look" at something and provide an explanation, translation, web look up, etc. For a version 1 device it works great, with all of the expectations that someone should bring to a first release -- expectations which I appreciate have become pretty high given the current state of personal electronics!

Think back to 2007 when Apple introduced the first iPhone -- what if you were handed one today? Do you remember how slow, clunky, and limited that version 1 product was? Remember there were no apps, not even a programming environment to create apps at first! And Internet connectivity was SLOW over the mobile telephony data networks of that time. And yet that first iPhone inspired an entire category of touchscreen mobile computing devices that has now dominated not just telephony but redefined computing and the Internet for most of the planet.

Wearable contextual computing is the next big leap and while the first Humane AI pin also has its version 1 limitations, in using it over the past few days I can see a light ahead in which we redefine computing again. I'll be intrigued to see how Humane continues to update their product and also how other companies begin to innovate in this new category but a few general observations about what will likely define the new platform for computation:

• Voice will become the dominant way we communicate with computation that is increasingly embedded in the environment around us - I am not saying it will replace mice, keyboard, screens. Lots of times we'll need to navigate complex software, or be working in an environment where we want privacy, or use a screen for something else (watching a video). But lots of times we need to be hands free, or have situations in which it is faster and easier to talk rather than type. Also language translation is going to be an important increasing use case and making the mechanism for translation as low friction as possible will be important. Wearable devices will also enable a variety of ad hoc environmental capabilities powered by AI and sensing --
• AI as a constant presence in the interface aiding in actions and comprehension of information and serving as an intelligent assistant that is enhancing our lives will become normal - proactively predicting needs, providing context, automating email and calendar interactions, coaching in exercise, other health issues, or social interactions
• Sensing - visual and audio - combined with the constant AI presence is going to make it easier for us to navigate and understand things in our physical surroundings as well as become an adjunct to our own (often faulty!) memories. Ultimately we will rely on our always on intelligent assistant to proactively advise us of relevant things in our environment as well as being available to recall and interpret what has happened in the past.

I certainly have my list of things that I look forward to seeing get better in the next release of the Humane AI pin - battery life, user interface, reducing lag in responses, additional service connections (Spotify please!)... but don't let the negative reviews dissuade you from giving this innovative device a trial, especially if you are, like I am, interested in exploring the future of personal computing devices and the contribution that wearable and contextual can have to this evolution. You won't learn by sitting on the sidelines, you need to jump in and play!