text: a bag computer is a bag with a display panel , including input / output devices such as a display and graphic user input device , pivotally attached to the exterior of the bag so it may pivot horizontally from a storage position parallel to and adjacent the bag &# 39 ; s front wall to an operating position away from the bag &# 39 ; s front wall where the wearer / operator may view it . the bag computer &# 39 ; s computing unit may be found in the display panel or elsewhere mounted to the bag &# 39 ; s interior or exterior and is electrically connected to the display panel . a manual character input device ( mcid ) such as a keyboard or electronic write pad may also be pivotally attached to the bag front . the bag computer may be seen as a system of components to facility the mobile use of a computer . fig1 , 2 and 3 show how a bag computer is deployed and used . as shown in fig1 the display panel , when pivotally attached to the bag 1 , is stored against the bag front 45 and may be covered with a cover , such as a cover flap 31 or rigid shaped cover . shown in fig2 , when the cover 31 is repositioned , the display panel 22 is exposed for use . here it can be seen that the display panel is in storage position with its front side 3 , including display 11 , and back side approximately parallel to the bag front wall exterior 45 and its back side adjacent to the exterior of the bag front wall . in fig3 , the display panel 22 is pivoted approximately around the junction of the front and top bag walls 23 to an operating position away from the bag front wall 45 with its display 11 properly oriented and in the line of sight of the operator / bag wearer so the display can be viewed and used . the display may have a touch screen for inputting information to the computer . the back side of the display panel may have controls such as one or more touch pads , switched , or buttons , for operating the computer . the bag may have an opening 49 in its top wall to access the bag interior where peripherals or miscellaneous cargo may be stored . fig4 a , frontal view , and fig4 b , profile view , show the bag computer being worn by a manikin 46 . the bag shoulder strap 47 holds the bag computer 2 to the operator so the computer will not fall and he can use two hands for operating the display panel 22 back side 4 controls or operate the manual character input device , in this case a keyboard 29 . the display is in the line of sight 48 of the bag computer wearer . fig5 a shows greater detail on the bag computer . the display panel 22 may be removable from the bag . the bag and display panel may be pivotally joined with complimentary mounting attachments , 58 a and 59 a , on the display panel and bag ( respectively ), also collectively known as “ pivoting computer equipment mounts ” ( pcem ). the pcem allows the display panel to pivot and leaves the back side of the display panel unobstructed so controls located there can be used . the bag mounting attachments may be located at or near the junction 23 of the bag &# 39 ; s front wall 45 and top wall 30 and the display panel mounting attachments may be located at or near the attachment edge of the display panel . the actual character of the pcem may vary although all combinations serve to pivotally attach the display panel to the bag so that the display panel may rest in storage position with its front and back sides approximately parallel to the bag front wall or may be pivoted to an operating position in the line of sight of the operator / wearer for operation . on the back side of the display panel there may be controls which are available for use when the operator holds the display panel while attached to the bag . the back side of the display panel may have prop holder to match and be complimentary to a display panel &# 39 ; s prop bar end and used to support the display panel at one or more angles relative to the bag front wall . the display panel back side may include finger guides around or near specific controls to assist in finding these controls without looking . the bag computer may include a manual character input device ( mcid ) 19 such as a keyboard or electric write pad pivotally attached to the bag &# 39 ; s front wall 45 . because the mcid and bag have different life times and because the operator might want to change the type of mcid used , the mcid and bag may be separated for replacement . as with the display panel , the mcid may be pivotally and removably mounted to the bag using a pivoting computer equipment mount ( pcem ). one or more bag part pcems , also known as bag mounting attachments 59 b , are found on the bag 1 and one or more complimentary mcid part pcems , also known as mcid mounting attachments 58 b , are found on the mcid . the hinge means which allows pivoting may be part of the bag mounting attachment or part of the mcid mounting attachment or part of both . the actual character of the pcem may vary although all combinations serve to pivotally and removably attach the mcid to the bag so that the mcid may be in storage position covering and parallel to the display panel when it is parallel to and adjacent to the bag &# 39 ; s front wall . when the computer is in operating position , the mcid pivots open about 180 degrees so that the operator may input information with his hands . an electrical connection , such as a wire 8 and associated plug , to connect the mcid to the computing unit may lead from the mcid though an opening 50 in the bag front and / or bag mounting attachment to the interior of the bag . the bag may include a cover , also called a primary cover , to protect and conceal the display panel when in storage position parallel and adjacent to the bag front . this primary cover may be a cover flap 31 or may be rigid and / or molded . the mcid and the primary cover may move together when shifting between storage position and operating position and there may by an attachment 68 on the primary cover to match a complimentary attachment on the back side of the mcid and help them move together . shown in fig5 b , an exploded view of the bag with the front wall removed , and in fig5 c , a view of the inside surface of the bag &# 39 ; s front wall , some or all of the bag computer &# 39 ; s computing equipment , such as the computing unit , batteries and communication equipment , may be mounted in a computer equipment mounting area on the exterior or in the interior of the bag 1 where the equipment may be connected electrically with the display panel and / or mcid 19 using , for example , an electrical wire 8 and associated plug ( s ) designed to lead through an opening 50 in the bag associated with the front wall or bag mounting attachment . the computing unit 10 may be removably mounted to a computing unit mounting assembly 52 , such as a footing , pocket or bracket , fixed to the inside surface 51 of the bag &# 39 ; s front 45 . the computing unit may have connections , such as plugs 53 positioned to accept connections from the display panel and / or mcid . the computing unit mounting assembly may have openings 54 to correspond with the electrical connections and facilitate connection . much of the remainder of the bag &# 39 ; s interior may be left unoccupied so it may be used to hold miscellaneous cargo and / or peripherals . alternatively , the bag computer &# 39 ; s computing equipment may be located in the display panel . as shown in fig6 , the mcid 19 may alternatively be attached directly to the bag &# 39 ; s primary cover which pivots on the bag &# 39 ; s 1 front wall 45 to cover the display panel 22 . in this case , the primary cover serves as the pcem for the mcid . in the case shown , the cover flap 31 has one or more attachments 69 , such as holes , bracket , clips or sliding fittings , on its inside surface 71 which match complimentary attachments 70 on the mcid back side or edges . an electrical connection , such as a wire 8 and associated plug , to connect the mcid to the computing unit may lead from the mcid though an opening 50 in the bag front , bag part pcem and / or primary cover to the interior of the bag . as shown in fig7 a ( front side view ), 7 b ( side edge view ), 7 c ( attachment edge view ), 7 d and 7 e , the manual character input device ( mcid ) has an approximately rectangular and panel - like shape . it has a front surface 24 facing up when the input device is pivoted perpendicular to the bag &# 39 ; s front wall , a back surface 25 opposite the front surface , a proximal attachment edge 26 closest to the bag &# 39 ; s front wall when the input device is pivoted perpendicular to the bag &# 39 ; s front wall , a distal edges 27 opposite the attachment edge and two side edges 28 . the input device may have a general use input / output tool , such as an infrared antenna , microphone or camera , located at its distal end or back side so it can be pointed to an external target . these may be positioned and aimed to align with the plane of the mcid front surface and facing away from the bag so that the operator may lift the mcid to aim the camera , microphone or communicator antenna at an external target . communication with the bag computer may be by attachment edge electrical wire or wireless antenna . on the back side of the input device there may be other controls associated with operating the bag computer , camera 73 , external communicator 74 antenna , microphone or other built in input / output tool . input devices with single edge attachments , as with a pcem , may have an attachment 68 on the back side or other surface matching a complimentary attachment on the inside of the primary cover so that they may both move together when shifted from the storage position to operating position . if the manual character input device is a keyboard 29 , it may be ten keys wide . this allows for full size keys for typing while still keeping the keyboard size proportional to the average bag . the keyboard would be the width of the keys “ a ” to “;” on a standard qwerty keyboard . three or four rows may be included . thumb keys 75 substitute for essential keys farther to the right and left on the standard keyboard ( for example , space , return , shift , backspace , tab , change keyboard , camera or external communicator controls , etc ). the result is a keyboard with standard ¾ inch keys and totaling about 8 ″ wide . the key rows may have the standard offset or be inline . alternative key placement or other controls may be programmed with software . to make the keyboard easier to use without looking , tactile guides 76 such as vertical thumb troughs , vertical finger ridges between the keys , depressions and / or outer edge palm ridges , may be included to assure finger position and to help stabilize the keyboard with the hands / palms . the mcid may be an electronic write pad such as a touch pad surface activated with the touch of the fingers or stylus and supported by computer software to interpret and change images written on the touchpad into computer storable characters . the electronic write pad may include a storage place for a stylus . the manual character input device may be electrically connected through the bag and its front wall to the bag &# 39 ; s interior so that it may be removably connected with the computing unit . the electrical connection may be a wire 8 of an appropriate diameter and length ( including any plug ) leading from near the attachment edge of the manual character input device , through the attachment area 12 so that it may passing through an opening in the front wall of the bag and connecting with computer equipment mounted inside the bag . the electrical connection may be positions anywhere on or near the mcid attachment edge to facilitate connection with the computing unit . for example , the electrical connection may be toward the right or left side of the attachment edge so that it may match a plug on the side of the computing unit mounted inside of the bag &# 39 ; s front wall . the bag front wall may have an opening to allow the wire to pass through . the wiring may be designed to pass through two layers of bag mounting attachment flap material and through the front wall to the bag &# 39 ; s interior . the wire may lead through the clamp jaws 21 of a clamp attachment on the manual character input device attachment edge . there may be a gap , channel 20 , notch or other cut out in the manual character input device &# 39 ; s clamp area to allow an electrical connection , for example a wire with plug at the end , to pass from the manual character input device attachment edge , between the clamp jaws , through an opening between two layers of the bag &# 39 ; s mounting attachment flap , through the bag &# 39 ; s front wall and to the interior of the bag to connect with inside mounted computer without pinching the wire in the clamp when it is tightened around the attachment flap . by using a wires and plug that is part of the manual character input device , no wiring need be included in the bag thus simplifying bag construction . instead , the electrical connection with the computing unit may be wireless . in this case the mcid may include batteries and transceiver equipment . the manual character input device may store over the display and it may have alignment structures 77 to align the mcid to the display panel , also on the bag front , to protect the display while in stored position . these structures may be on any edge or the front of the input device and may include walls , ridges or pins on the input device edges , may be wedged so to form a snug fit against the display and may include spacers to keep the keys from being depressed when stored . the structures may be molded into the mcid or attached to it . including the input device , they may form a box - like enclosure open on one side ( the display side ). the alignment structures may also touch the bag &# 39 ; s front wall or display hinge while closed to serve to protect the display from impact . they may be made of a material softer than the display so as to not scratch the display . the alignment structures on the input device sides may include cut outs 78 ( option shown in dotted line ) to allow easier access to the keys by the hands . there may be one or more clips , snaps , hooks or other fasteners to secure the input device to display / computer . as shown in fig8 , the mcid 19 in any of its forms or embodiments may be adjusted in size , shape , alignment 77 structures and mounting characteristics to cover the display 22 on a bag computer using a two panel computer 82 mounted to the computer equipment mounting area on the outside of the bag 1 front 45 in , for example , a pocket , holster 83 or bracket . in this case the mcid and its alignment structures may cover both panels of the two panel computer and may make contact with the bag front . alternatively , as shown in fig9 , the manual character input portion of the device may be missing from the mcid . the remainder becomes a secondary cover 67 with appropriate size , shape and alignment structures 77 to cover and protect the bag computer display panel even if , for example , a touch screen is substituted for a separate character input device . like a standard mcid , the secondary cover has a front side , opposite back side , an attachment edge closest to the bag , distal edge and two side edges . the secondary cover may have an input / output tool such as a camera 73 c , microphone or communicator antenna 74 c , shown in dotted lines , on its distal edge . these face away from the body and receptacle for exterior communication . if a camera , communicator antenna or other electronic equipment is located on the secondary cover , an electrical connection 8 may be provided to connect this equipment to the computing unit in the bag . the secondary cover may be attached to the bag using a pcem with the mcid mounting attachment 58 b on one edge of the secondary cover . alternatively , the secondary cover may be attached to the inside surface bag &# 39 ; s primary cover with matching attachments 70 between the primary cover and the secondary cover . normally , the secondary cover is held in place over the display panel with the primary cover . however , the secondary cover may have its own attachments matching the bag or display panel to hold it in place over the display panel . as shown in fig1 a , 10 b and 10 c , the manual character input device may be subdivided into an input device body 79 and an input device insert 81 . in this way the input device body may act as a secondary cover to reduce weight or , alternatively , contain an input device insert which may include a keyboard fig1 b , an electronic write pad fig1 c or have some other removable / exchangeable manual input device equipment . the input device body 79 is similar to the mcid described above but lacks the input device equipment , such as keys , touch inputs or supporting electronics , which is removable . it is panel - like , has a front surface 24 forming a receptacle 80 to receive an input device insert , an opposite back surface , an attachment edge 26 closest to the bag &# 39 ; s front wall when the input device body is pivoted perpendicular to the bag &# 39 ; s front wall , a distal edges 27 opposite the attachment edge and two side edges . when in operating position , the input device body front side is facing away from the bag &# 39 ; s front wall where any input device insert mounted there is available for use . as with the mcid described above , the input device body may be pivotally attach to the bag using mcid mounting attachments 58 b on or near the input device body attachment edge and complimentary to the bag mounting attachments found on the bag front wall . the input device body may , instead , be attached to the inside surface of the bag &# 39 ; s primary cover . the mcid mounting attachments in this case may be located on the input device body back or edges . the input device body may have attachments 5 , such as clips , magnets or grooves , associated with the receptacle so that the input device insert can be physically held in place . the receptacle may have an electrical connection 9 to match an input device insert . the input device body may further have an electrical connection from the body to the computing unit . this connection may be a wire and plug 8 extending from near the attachment edge or may be wireless . wireless communication may include batteries and transceiver equipment . as with the mcid described above , the input device body may have alignment structures to shape the input device body into a cover to protect the bag &# 39 ; s display panel . the input device body may include an input / output tool , such as a camera , microphone or communicator antenna , on its distal edge and these may have electrical connections through the body and on to the computing unit . the camera 73 a and / or communication 74 a , shown in dotted lines , face away from the body and receptacle for exterior communication . alternatively , if the camera 73 b , microphone and / or communicator antenna 74 b are located on the input device insert , the input device body or the alignment structures on the body may include one or more opening 72 to allow camera , microphone or communicator access to the outside environment . if the input device insert has a separate electrical connection 8 leading to the computing unit , the input device body or its alignment structures may have an opening 84 for that purpose . this may be on or near the attachment edge . input device inserts 81 , are also panel - like and have a front surface 60 adapted to accept manual input from the operator . an input device insert also has an opposite back surface , a proximal edge 61 , a distal edge 62 and two side edges . the insert fits the body with the front surface exposed and the distal edge adjacent to the input device body distal edge . it may have physical attachments 7 to match complimentary attachments on the input device body and allow the insert to be removed . an input device insert may include an input / output tool , such as a camera , microphone or communicator antenna , on its distal edge . the electrical connection between the input device insert and the computing unit in the bag may be by wire 8 directly from the insert through the bag front wall to the computing device . alternatively , the insert electrical connection 6 may first connect to the input device body and continue from there using the body &# 39 ; s electrical connection to the computing unit . the input device insert may include a keyboard fig1 b as described above for a standard mcid . the input device insert may include an electronic write pad fig1 c as described above for a standard mcid . the embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications , variations , and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve an equivalent result , all of which are intended to be embraced within the scope of the appended claims .