Carnegie Mellon University

Drew Anderson

John Michael Stivoric

Daniel P Siewiorek

Asim Smailagic

Randall W Casciola

A portable computer system with an ergonomic input device is comprised of a housing having a top surface. A central processing unit is carried in the housing. A heads-up display is provided for displaying information to a user, with certain of the information being selectable by the user. The display is under the control of the central processing unit. A first rotary switch produces a first input signal for identifying the information to be selected. A second input switch produces a second input signal for selecting the identified information. Both the first and second input switches are carried on the top surface of the housing. An input interface receives the first and second input signals and encodes the information therein into an eight bit byte for input to the central processing unit. In one embodiment, the housing may be carried in a case which is worn by the user while the heads-up display is positioned proximate to the user's eye by a headband. The portable computer system can be used to browse hypertext documents, browse World Wide Web pages on the Internet and access interactive electronic technical manuals (IETMs).

Portable computer system with ergonomic input device

A portable computer system with an ergonomic input device is comprised of a housing having a top surface. A central processing unit is carried in the housing. A heads-up display is provided for displaying information to a user, with certain of the information being selectable by the user. The display is under the control of the central processing unit. A first rotary switch produces a first input signal for identifying the information to be selected. A second input switch produces a second input signal for selecting the identified information. Both the first and second input switches are carried on the top surface of the housing. An input interface receives the first and second input signals and encodes the information therein into an eight bit byte for input to the central processing unit. In one embodiment, the housing may be carried in a case which is worn by the user while the heads-up display is positioned proximate to the user's eye by a headband.

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Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America

Drew Anderson