Computers started out so big that you could barely fit them in a room, let alone bring them out to the job site. It took decades, but engineers eventually managed to condense them down into devices so small they can fit into your pocket. Now, thanks to a partnership between Motorola Solutions and Kopin Corporation, there’s a computer that you can wear. And although there is a certain “nerd factor,” as NetworkWorld’s Craig Mathias so astutely points out, the Golden-i computer will certainly prove handy in the field.

Equipped with a tiny screen that simulates a 15-inch display, voice-recognition technology and motion sensor that translates to cursor control, theĀ  hands-free headset allows project developers, field service techs and other contract professionals to view architectural drawings, 3-D renderings, specifications, schedules and other information without having to lift a finger. Though the Golden-i computer has applications from the medical to law enforcement to manufacturing industries, its uses in field service are some of the most obvious. At $2,500 each, the handsets are likely out of the price range of most service organizations, but the marriage of hands-free and mobile will have interesting implications for service.

The computer was designed to replace PCs, rugged laptops and industrial handheld computer for use in fields where the wearer needs his or her hands to work. Instead of at their fingertips, the store of information is now available at the sound of their voice.

The company claims the display system provides users with “a normal PC experience,” simulating a 15-inch display that appears 18 inches from the user’s eye. When worn, the display sits below the user’s normal line of sight and can be raised when not in use. It can be used with glasses, safety goggles, hard hats and helmets and is capable of streaming video, accessing the internet and syncing up with other Bluetooth devices.

Check out this video to see how the Golden-i works:

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ABOUT Sara Suddes

San Francisco-based contributor Sara Suddes writes frequently about small business, the economy and technology.