The ultimate kind of mobile computer is one which one would actually wear. The idea of a device worn on the wrist that would serve as a mini-computer has been done in lots of sci-fi TV shows and movies. Now a new report from The New York Times reports, via unnamed sources, that both Apple and Google are working on prototypes for devices that would make the wrist computer one step closer to reality.

The story claims that at Google's research labs, developers are working on peripherals that would be attached to the body or to a person's clothes. The devices would then be connected to the owner's Android-based smartphone. The article doesn't go into details on what kinds of information would be gathered by these wearable devices.

The article also claims that Apple is working in secret on a similar project for wearable devices that would link somehow with an iPhone. One of the ideas that is being prototypes is a curved iPod that would be worn on the wrist. The individual would use a version of the iPhone 4S's Siri voice recognition feature to communicate with the wearable iPod.

The idea of wearing an iPod isn't new as third party companies have created wrist bands that serve as a case to place an iPod Nano media player inside. The story even speculates that in 10 years time, people might own glasses or even contact lenses that would serve as the display.