IRVINE, CA 12 March 1998 - IEEE P802.11 Working Group announced today the formation of a study group to identify a project for standardization of a LAN for wireless communications for Wearable computing devices. This study will examine the requirements for Wireless Personal Area Networking (WPAN) of PCs, peripherals, and consumer electronic devices to communicate and interoperate with one another.

Wearable Computers are defined as unobtrusive computing devices, networking devices, software and peripherals - which are worn or carried by individuals - that will enhance their ability to perform productive work as well as provide entertainment.

The Study Group is soliciting industry input on market requirements and technical solutions for a wireless personal area network (WPAN) with 0 to 10 meter range, data rates of less than 1Mbit/s, low power consumption, small size less than 0.5 cubic inches and low cost relative to target device.

To participate in the upcoming meeting, 8 - 9 April 1998 in Cambridge, MA, USA, contact: Dick Braley (information above), Bob Heile (Phone: +1-617-873-4835, E-mail: bheile@bbn.com), or Ian Gifford (Phone: +1-978-442-4650, E-mail: giffordi@macom.com).

For more information about the recently published IEEE P802.11 Working Group WLAN standard or any of the other IEEE standards call +1-800-678-IEEE (4333); outside of the USA and Canada: call +1-908-981-1393. See also the Web page at http://grouper.ieee.org/groups/802/

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IEEE P802.11 Working Group is a standards working group on wireless local area networks currently with projects considering higher data rates at 2.4GHz and 5GHz. The P802.11 Working Group is part of the IEEE 802 LMSC (LAN MAN Standards Committee) responsible for Ethernet, Token Ring, Wireless and Bridging Standards. The IEEE 802 LMSC is sponsored by the IEEE Computer Society and submits standards through the IEEE Standards Association.

The IEEE Computer Society is the oldest and largest association of computer professionals in the world. It offers its 100,000 members comprehensive program of publications, meetings, and technical and educational activities, encouraging an active exchange of information, ideas, and innovation. The society is the world's leading publisher of technical material in the computing field. No other professional or commercial organization comes close to matching the Computer Society in terms of the quality, quantity, or diversity of its publications. Headquartered in Washington, DC, the society serves its members from offices in Los Alamitos, California, USA; Tokyo, Japan; and Brussels, Belgium. The society is the largest technical society within the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE).