Apparatus and method for enhancing face-to face communication

A wearable electronic display unit for displaying graphics and text images and for communicating with other similar wearable displays, comprising:

• a display unit having a visible, graphical display adapted to be worn by a user, the visible display being capable of displaying text and graphical images;
• and
• a short range, substantially unidirectional electronic communication channel having a data transmitting and receiving interface incorporated in the display unit and located in a location on the display unit so that, when the display unit is worn by a wearer, the interface faces in a direction of the substantially unidirectional communication so as to make electronic communication possible with another person who also is wearing a similar display unit, whereby data can be exchanged between respective display units worn by two wearers through the interfaces on the respective display units.

A method of communicating face-to-face, each display unit having a graphical display and two-way electronic communication capability, the display unit of a second wearer being worn on his or her person in a manner visible to a first wearer, comprising:

• passing a first packet of information electronically from the display unit of the first wearer to the display unit of the second wearer, the information including personal information about the first wearer;
• and
• displaying text information on the display unit of the second wearer that is based upon a comparison between the first packet of information and a second packet of information contained within the display unit of the second wearer, the second packet of information including personal information about the second wearer, whereby the displayed text information on the display unit of the second wearer is visible to the first wearer.

A method of communicating face-to-face between wearers of respective electronic display units, each display unit having a text display, two-way electronic communication capability, and the capability of entering information into the display unit manually, the display unit of a second wearer being worn on his or her person in a manner visible to a first wearer, comprising:

• passing electronically a first packet of information, that includes information entered manually into the display unit of the first wearer, from the display unit of the first wearer to the display unit of the second wearer;
• and
• displaying text information on the display unit of the second wearer that includes information based upon the first packet of information in addition to a second packet of information contained within the display unit of the second wearer, whereby the displayed text information on the display unit of the second wearer is visible to the first wearer.

A method of communicating between a text display located in a fixed position and a wearer of an electronic display unit, the display unit having a text display and two-way electronic communication capability, the display unit being worn by the wearer in a manner to be able to communicate electronically with the text display located in a fixed position, comprising:

• passing a first packet of information electronically from the display unit of the wearer to the text display located in a fixed position;
• and
• displaying text information on the text display located in a fixed position that includes information based upon the first packet of information in addition to a second packet of information contained within the text display located in a fixed position, whereby the displayed text information on the text display located in a fixed position is visible to the first wearer.

A method of communicating face-to-face, at gatherings between wearers of respective electronic display units, each display unit having a text display and two-way electronic communication capability, the display unit of a second wearer being worn on his or her person in a manner visible to a first wearer, comprising:

• passing a first packet of information electronically from the display unit of the first wearer to the display unit of the second wearer, the information including personal information about the wearer that includes information relating to personal activities of the first wearer at the gathering;
• and
• displaying text information on the display unit of the second wearer that is based upon the personal activities of the first wearer contained in the first packet of information, and a second packet of information contained within the display unit of the second wearer, the second packet of information including personal information about the second wearer, whereby the displayed text information on the display unit of the second wearer is visible to the first wearer.