Android, Windows soon in wearable gear of US soldiers, tech site says

US soldiers in the near future may be wearing gear running on Google's Android and Microsoft's Windows platforms, a tech site reported.   A design by Raytheon Company developed the wearable hardware to help Army helicopter pilots navigate and locate enemies, tech site CNET reported.   Dubbed "Aviation Warrior," the design includes a portable computer that can fit in a pocket, and a display panel that can be strapped to the wrist.   "(The wearer) can see where the good guys are and where the bad guys are," CNET quoted Todd Lovell, chief engineer for Raytheon's technical services branch, as saying.   Other parts of the system include a helmet with a monocle connected to the cockpit's digital display.   Lovell said the computing device is a quarter-inch thick and about the size of an old-model BlackBerry phone, while the display module has a screen as big as an Android phone.   The device runs on Microsoft's current flagship operating system Windows 7.   He said that while Windows cannot be used for real-time functions like controlling flight or weapons, it is sufficient for situational awareness functions like mapping and radio control.   For now, there is no wireless in the system - the helmet and the portable device are wired, for security purposes.   Despite this, he said they are working on a prospective Android-based network for ground soldiers.   Situational awareness   Raytheon technical services communications director Keith Strubhar said "situational awareness," which the system provides, becomes more important with the military now more inclined toward non-traditional missions that require pilots to leave their aircrafts.   "There's no borders anymore when it comes to what we do, it's not like World War II," Strubhar said.   For the moment, Raytheon has upgraded older planes with a digital center display unit that replaces the analog dials.   The helmet with the display monocle can connect to the center display unit, and lets pilots see information provided by the unit without looking down at the display. — ELR, GMA News