HP developing wrist PC for military, finally putting that flexible display to good use
By Joseph L. Flatley 
posted May 20th 2010 4:32PM
posted May 20th 2010 4:32PM
Looks like that flexible plastic display Hewlett-Packard has been talking up since 2008 is finally ready to hit the big time. According to Carl Taussig, director of information surfaces at HP Labs, the company is developing a wrist PC at the behest of the US military. Behind the display, a thin strip of metal-coated plastic (merely 50 microns thick) is printed with transistors for, you know, displaying stuff. The thing will be solar powered and, like the display, the solar panels will also be printed, using a technology called PowerFilm. With any luck a prototype should be ready within a year. Now, can we get a PIP Boy already?
Or just strap on an Evo on your wrist and call it a day.
@mineralrich
i've already seen this on an Army commercial... lol
@mineralrich Hahaha I like your thinking :P
@mineralrich
I guess it isn't really the flexibility that matters but the resistance to take a "beating".
@Joseph
"with transistors for, you know, displaying stuff"
Love your writing style. LOL
@mineralrich im actually in love with the idea of our Military being powered by WebOS
@mineralrich
Captain could you please stop playing tetris?
I can't!
I really like the idea of a display that wraps around your wrist, as it would give you a place to put things you only need to check from time to time letting you do it easily by simply rotating your wrist. I realize android has a sort of this ability with it's multiple home screens, but I would imagine it's not super convenient to be swiping through screens with a weapon in your hand.
@mineralrich
Well it's a good thing women think nerds are hot!
@mineralrich
that much close to having the same stuff that the predators have been using on their arms since 1984. either way, awesome.
oh yeah, make sure u equip them w/ some type of hydrogen bomb
wrong picture, wrong series
Turanga Leela, Futurama
Will it come with WebOS...?
@kapanak
I'd take it over the EVO, that's for sure!
@kapanak Nope... it will be a PIPBoy with its proper V.A.T.S. hehehehe
I'm guessing it'll be rocking webOS.
@LiqwidZero Agreed, this could be part of the reason why HP picked up Palm, for a small versatile mobile operating system.
Will it come with a pair of wrist blade, a mask and a self destructing device?
I see some fap-related problems with this design.
What's the scouter say about that terrorist's power level!?
@Uncontrol
I'm guessing it's OVER 9000!!!
Or is it now an old and stupid joke?
@pavlindrom
If it's over 9000, they blew it.
@pavlindrom
Dragon Ball is never old my friend
Soldier will get to play Crysis before get shot with Bin Laden.
@techlord
I guess you have been as far as to do more like.
I better be able to finally use V.A.T.S.
If it works like other HP products the military is in trouble.
@bdkennedy1
I was thinking the same thing. Just when u need to pull up important, ass saving data the screen goes blank followed moments later by the gpu frying.
RX email.
RX email..
RX email...
RX email....
**Your E-Ink cartridge is only 8/10 full. REPLACE NOW REPLACE NOW woop woop woop dingdingdingding**
Predator aint got shit on this...
Yeah cause the military needs webos multitasking right....right :p
so I assume it has a self destruct mode which has the power of a small nuclear weapon?
@McHoffa
I was thinking the same thing. Of course the one you're referring to looks pretty outdated now.
I can imagine the predator's response: Will the species that has mastered cloaking armor & shoulder mounted lasers please raise their hand.... didn't think so.
Completely off topic, but I just got a message saying I won a ticket to engadget show but work called me in on saturday so I am giving away my ticket. if you want please leave a comment on here.
@spaz4322 Did Lumbergh call you in? =P
@mineralrich
name's not lumbergh but essentially the same thing.
they'll be so busy uninstalling the bloat ware, (HP Smart Terrorist Picture Taker)they'll be overrun
Please, for the love of God, name it a Pipboy 3000.
It's no omni-tool, but it'll do.
@Bandigolo Hmm, that would just require a wide angle 3d display and 3d gesture sensing. Could work.
Omni-gel not included :(
@Eternal Density
That's where they get ya! With the price of Ezo and such, we'll never get anywhere in the Omni-tool market.
better run web-os..
what if a soldier needs to order more amo, while getting gps directions.. You can't expect him to close the app, and reopen it...
(i'm obviously not being serious.)
PIP Boy + VATS + WebOS = WIN
@Doc139115
Scratch webos.... + Android
Seeing that tecnology in future peculiar palm smartphones would be interesting. Kind of the nokia morph concept from decades in the future.
I'm dating myself but does anybody else remember Dick Tracy? " Calling Joe Jitsu".
Like the on in "Chuck", as worn by Scott Bakula's character?
@spamfree
Just was I was thinking, now all we need to do is upload the Intersect into random people's brains and we can call it a day.
good, so now the armed forces can update their twitter status on-the-go.
@ChaskaCF W00T!! I cant W8 to tweet from, my wrist!
You're SPECIAL
@VanNorden Lol.... they will issue a corresponding blue suit with the platoon "number" in the back.... lol....