The construction industry is acknowledged to be heavily dependent on information flow and communications. Electronic communication from one office to another is relatively straightforward with today's technology. However, when one of the parties wishing to communicate is based out on the construction site, problems of remoteness and insufficient infrastructure can limit the effectiveness of their communications. The emergence of wearable computers offers a potential method of improving this situation, particularly when a visual link is provided by a mobile video transmission system.This paper outlines the subject of wearable computers, and describes the use of a mobile video camera in a construction application setting. The system has been used on a live construction project at Brindleyplace in Birmingham. Brindleyplace is currently one of the largest commercial construction projects in Europe.The system is described in detail, followed by some critical comments made by the users of the system. The paper also draws on issues such as possible applications and potential benefits to be gained in the long term. Technology and design issues of the system are also discussed.
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