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I've got a soft spot for wearable computing devices. It's one more step towards ubiquitous computing. Wearables come in a few forms, but I'm mostly interested in smart watch style devices. There are a surprising number on the market today, and I'm not even going to count those that aren't user-programmable. I personally have experience with 3 smart watches. The TI eZ430-Chronos, metawatch (also by TI), and the WiMM One. The TI and Metawatch are microcontroller based and you can program them by uploading new firmware. Development is generally done in C or assembly. The chronos has accelerometers and a weird non-wifi, non-bluetooth wireless ability. It also has battery life measured in months or years if the fancy stuff isn't used. It only has a segmented LCD display, so the UI potential is pretty restricted. The metawatch is a little more consumer friendly, as it has bluetooth and a smartphone companion app. Development is in C or assembly, but a good deal of stuff can be done on the phone side and messages pushed to the watch to display. It's still a "developer beta", and the battery life on mine is sometimes atrocious. It often doesn't get through a full day. Other people have had more luck. The metawatch comes in both full digital monochrome and analog-with-tiny-oled-screens. The WiMM one is definitely my favorite of the devices I've personally used. It's android based, has a full-color 160x160 multitouch touchscreen, accelerometer, bluetooth, wifi, and GPS (currently disabled in firmware). I've built a few apps for mine in the couple of weeks I've had it, including new watch faces. One of the really nice features is that when the watch goes to sleep, the screen turns monochrome and transflective. The watch wakes up just long enough to update the screen every minute. This means you don't have to press anything to use it as a watch. The watch face is just there, and up to date. Battery life is heavily dependent on how you use it, but it definitely gets through the day. Other than those, there's also the inPulse, which looks promising. There's moto-actv too, which is another android based thing (and it's even been rooted!), but it's marketed as a fitness accessory rather than general purpose wrist-computer. And of course, the iPod nano which just happens to fit on a watch-band. What do you think? Is there a legitimate place for this sort of device? Where do you see things like this developing in the future? What features would make you even want something like this?
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Jan 9, 2012 22:21
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I don't really see the point with current technology, except for fitness applications. It makes sense to not want to carry a phone with you if you're running, but otherwise my phone can do all that stuff and has basically the bare minimum screen size for comfortable use. I guess it's kind of neat that a watch could display the weather or "now playing" or whatever, but the experience is much better IMO with a phone-sized UI. Now, when voice recognition gets a bit better (Siri is pretty good, but still not really usable without a nice display) and/or we have the technology to do the display on MagicSpecs or whatever, it'd make sense to have a watch-sized computer. But until then we'd still need to interact with the thing and read the information, and so a watch-sized screen or input device isn't going to cut it. Even in the future, though, I think I'd rather have the watch look like a normal watch. I like mechanical analogue watches.
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Jan 9, 2012 23:58
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When such a thing can replace my cellphone and my watch, it will be mature enough for me. WiMM competitor: http://www.imwatch.it/us-en/
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Jan 10, 2012 01:12
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Whatever happened to SixthSense? http://www.pranavmistry.com/projects/sixthsense/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZ-VjUKAsao Imagine if this had been released open source as the creator promised. By now you would have people making rigs with dual depth-sensor cameras and pico projectors attached to a shirt or jacket while the smartphone/tablet/ultrabook running it could fit in a pocket or pouch. I'm currently going to uni hoping to work on stuff like this in the future, specifically making computers more accessible to people through ergonomic accessories and UI's. Still a long way off on that and making do currently with a smartphone on a neck lanyard.
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Jan 10, 2012 17:26
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That sixthsense stuff looks great. I really do think something like that is the way we're headed, but it's got to be a less public visual interface. Something heads-up augmented reality rather than projectors. I mean, what if two people are looking at the same thing? I am quite interested in sense augmentation. I actually started building a microcontroller project to add a sonar sense, but got distracted after getting the proof of concept to work. The current wearables space is not mature, but it is fun. I think what we really need is much lower power requirements. I want solar/kinetic/thermal/nuclear powered always on stuff. So yeah, it's not mature yet, but it can be useful. Just before xmas, I was on vacation and in a casino. There's no way I would have heard my phone notification, and I never seem to feel the vibration when it's in my pocket, but because I was wearing my metawatch, I saw that my girlfriend had IMed me and what she sent without having to dig out my phone. Then, driving to my parents' house, my dad texted me, and I could read it right there on my wrist.
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Jan 10, 2012 21:21
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Looks like you're a few years too late, man. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTe0h53tH24
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Jan 10, 2012 21:54
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Seriously the greatest thread title in the history of IYG.
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Jan 10, 2012 23:00
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Not sure why this isn't posted http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/597507018/pebble-e-paper-watch-for-iphone-and-android
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May 9, 2012 00:48
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So I've had a pre-order for an I'mwatch since August. After a major delay and a redesign from the initial prototype, they were supposed to ship in April. I'm yet to see anything and the pebble's looking a lot more attractive. Still, when I eventually get it I'll post a review. I think the moral of the story so far is don't trust Italian startups.
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May 9, 2012 00:56
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Achmed Jones posted:I don't really see the point with current technology, except for fitness applications. It makes sense to not want to carry a phone with you if you're running, but otherwise my phone can do all that stuff and has basically the bare minimum screen size for comfortable use. I guess it's kind of neat that a watch could display the weather or "now playing" or whatever, but the experience is much better IMO with a phone-sized UI.
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May 9, 2012 13:13
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On the other hand, the Pebble is at $9,871,311 of $100,000; e: they're swearing by September still, actually. Also, heads-up guys: they capped the campaign at 85,000 watches and there's only 1,154 left as of 1:10 PM EST. Here's a tracker for the remaining stock, and it goes down every time I refresh the drat page: http://computingeureka.com/pebble/ So if you want one this year, go go go. Splizwarf fucked around with this message at 18:10 on May 9, 2012 |
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May 9, 2012 15:06
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Splizwarf posted:On the other hand, the Pebble is at $9,871,311 of $100,000; I nabbed one earlier this morning, can't wait till September!
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May 10, 2012 05:01
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Splizwarf posted:On the other hand, the Pebble is at $9,871,311 of $100,000; Got one at $99. Can't wait until it arrives! These guys seem to have their poo poo together. Either this will be an epic launch or an epic flop. I'm betting on a success... Then again kickstarter is nothing more than a fancy pledge with 0 guarantee of receiving an actual product. These guys could disappear in the middle of the night or get hit by a bus and blamo, you get nothing for your pledge...
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May 10, 2012 05:10
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hotsauce posted:Got one at $99. Can't wait until it arrives! These guys seem to have their poo poo together. Either this will be an epic launch or an epic flop. I'm betting on a success...
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May 10, 2012 08:50
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Add me to the list of people who preordered a pebble, September can't come soon enough! Personally, I'm looking forward to seeing what people come up with as far as apps go.
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May 11, 2012 23:33
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Just got an email from the i'mwatch people about the most recent shipping delay. It's a work of mangled English and art. Enjoy:Dodgy Italians posted:Dear Customer, I ordered in August of last year. Now I might have it in September.
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May 17, 2012 09:26
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Coq au Nandos posted:Just got an email from the i'mwatch people about the most recent shipping delay. It's a work of mangled English and art. Enjoy: The possibility of an email like this is why I decided to back out of my Pebble kickstarter pledge at the last minute. The extra $40 or so I might pay when it starts selling at retail is worth my piece of mind now that I'm not going to put $115 on the line for an indeterminate period of time with no full promise of a product.
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May 17, 2012 14:38
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Coq au Nandos posted:Just got an email from the i'mwatch people about the most recent shipping delay. It's a work of mangled English and art. Enjoy: Christ I loving ordered this thing a week ago and I may not get it until September at the earliest, especially seeing that you haven't gotten it yourself and you ordered it nine months ago! It looks to be a good product but these people clearly do not have their poo poo together.
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May 17, 2012 16:49
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The NYTimes has an article on Sony's new watch here: http://gadgetwise.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/16/sony-puts-a-phone-display-on-your-wrist/ It doesn't sound that great, especially considering that apparently the clock even loses its time whenever it's not connected to the watch.
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May 17, 2012 23:24
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Oh nice, an article published yesterday about the watch Sony made two years ago. Maybe it took that long to come over from Europe?
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May 17, 2012 23:42
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Coq au Nandos posted:Just got an email from the i'mwatch people about the most recent shipping delay. It's a work of mangled English and art. Enjoy: I ordered mine from amazon and mine just shipped today.
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May 19, 2012 16:03
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Kirios posted:I ordered mine from amazon and mine just shipped today. Let me know if it actually arrives.
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May 20, 2012 06:43
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30Pjl31cyDY Well, that's one way to keep Glass in the spotlight.
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Sep 13, 2012 19:08
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Vagrancy posted:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30Pjl31cyDY I can't help but imagine that whole thing is Google trying to run a campaign to say "See? They're not nerdy. Girls wear them!"
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Sep 13, 2012 20:06
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And lord knows that the world of high fashion is extremely desirable, accessible, AND affordable to all of the rest of us.
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Sep 13, 2012 20:25
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 http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/597507018/pebble-e-paper-watch-for-iphone-and-android/posts/379469 Looks like Pebbles making its debut at CES.
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Jan 3, 2013 18:14
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Also, an interesting Glass update.
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Jan 3, 2013 18:38
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Pebble livestream starts in 5 minutes: http://new.livestream.com/accounts/2432013/CES2013
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Jan 9, 2013 17:56
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The livestream is a bit of a mess, Engadget have a decent 10-minute walkthrough though. http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/09/pebble-smartwatch-hands-on-video/
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Jan 9, 2013 18:27
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BBC's news site is actually featuring an article on the Pebble on its front page under the Technology section: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-20961434
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Jan 10, 2013 03:38
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Google launched a site with a demo video of Glass and what looks like some screenshots. http://www.google.com/glass/start/ kitten smoothie fucked around with this message at 15:25 on Feb 20, 2013 |
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Feb 20, 2013 15:22
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kitten smoothie posted:Google launched a site with a demo video of Glass and what looks like some screenshots. I would love to know how it's going to be connected. Does it tether off a cell? Does it have its own LTE radio? If so then wouldn't you also need a contract with it? I'm sold pretty hard already, but tell me more google!
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Feb 20, 2013 19:48
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zer0spunk posted:I would love to know how it's going to be connected. Does it tether off a cell? Does it have its own LTE radio? If so then wouldn't you also need a contract with it? Honestly I like technology, but this is something I have always envisaged/dreamed of and to see its going to be here so soon, really is amazing. The potential for this can not be overstated and the functionality potential it offers is staggering. In a way its similar to the mobile phone back in its early day people wouldn't of thought what you could do with them now, and this is the early days for a new form of communication. Yes its going to use existing communication technology to transmit the information but the type of information that it will transmit and receive is truly unparalleled. Simple way to explain one affect this technology will have; Just imagine if you could look around where you sit and immediately be told about the item that was taking up the focus of your field of view. Whether it be whats on your desk, the contents on your book shelf, your food cupboards - all will give you immediate ideas beyond that you yourself are not capable of. This technology is the future, as its potential for productivity gains is massive, never mind how fun it will be to use.
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Feb 20, 2013 21:23
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This whole smartwatch thing is definitely picking up speed, but it's not at the point where I'd buy one yet. The designs so far are pretty meh, the usability is getting there but not quite where I'd like to have it, but I'd almost go for a pebble.
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Feb 21, 2013 15:47
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snorch posted:This whole smartwatch thing is definitely picking up speed, but it's not at the point where I'd buy one yet. The designs so far are pretty meh, the usability is getting there but not quite where I'd like to have it, but I'd almost go for a pebble.
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Feb 21, 2013 17:37
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zer0spunk posted:I would love to know how it's going to be connected. Does it tether off a cell? Does it have its own LTE radio? If so then wouldn't you also need a contract with it? The Verge has your answer quote:The device gets data through Wi-Fi on its own, or it can tether via Bluetooth to an Android device or iPhone and use its 3G or 4G data while out and about. There’s no cellular radio in Glass, but it does have a GPS chip.
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Feb 22, 2013 19:30
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How does Google Glass work for people who already wear glasses for vision correction? I'm guessing you could just stuff some prescription lenses in the GG frame, if it didn't screw up their display system. I'd be less lazy and stuff my contacts in, but that's not an option for a lot of people. Lots of potential though. Ultimately I want a Google Mask that provides a full HUD, so every mundane moment in my life can feel like a video game. Status readouts for everything!
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Feb 23, 2013 01:08
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Spasticthinker posted:How does Google Glass work for people who already wear glasses for vision correction? I'm guessing you could just stuff some prescription lenses in the GG frame, if it didn't screw up their display system. I'd be less lazy and stuff my contacts in, but that's not an option for a lot of people. Excited for when these things aren't like 1000 bucks.
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Feb 23, 2013 06:46
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Call me a curmodgeon, while google glasses is cool and all but I really dont look forward to having am HUD for my actual life and things that I see. Imagine, you're watching a beautiful sunset and soaking it in and getting lost in time, then suddenly "HEY CHECK IT OUT IT'S 6:49 PM LOOKEE THERE THAT'S A COOL SUNSET WANNA LIVESTREAM/TWEET IT? dont forget your doctors appointment tommorow! also mom tried calling you by skype!" *looks at iphone hypocritically to check the time and twitter*
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Feb 23, 2013 09:57
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Al-Saqr posted:Call me a curmodgeon, while google glasses is cool and all but I really dont look forward to having am HUD for my actual life and things that I see. No, the really scary part is that scenario with ads. They gotta monetize it somehow, right? Real life can now have those annoying pop up ads like TV shows do. You're watching the sunset, and 1/4 of your view is suddenly an ad for sunscreen, or a picture of a sunset in some vacation spot and how much better it is than the one you're seeing. Mr Newsman posted:status udpates...everyone...facebook. I guess this is just as scary as the above scenario.
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Feb 23, 2013 18:06
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