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Seven-Ounce Linux 'Wrist PC'

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on Tue Mar 14, 2006 05:14 PM
from the sweet-now-can-I-get-it-implanted dept.
Portables Hardware
An anonymous reader writes "A European research and development firm has announced a seven-ounce, wrist-worn wearable computer with a 2.2 x 2.8-inch color touchscreen. Eurotech's WWPC (wrist-worn PC) runs Linux or Windows, offers a wealth of standard PC interfaces (WLAN, Bluetooth, IrDA, USB, SD-card, etc), and has patented technology that puts the device to sleep when the user drops their arm. It can detect motionless user states, and serve as a location-transmitting beacon, thanks to a built-in GPS receiver and 'dead reckoning' technology. The company also claims six hours of battery life under 'fully operational' conditions."
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  • Cool Beans (Score:5, Funny)

    by ackthpt (218170) * on Tuesday March 14 2006, @05:15PM (#14919700) Homepage Journal

    It targets emergency rescue, security, healthcare, maintenance, logistics, and "many other" applications.

    Many other==geeking which may be further qualified as: Listening to you MP3s, watching videos, playing games, wandering around various cons talking to it and having it respond "by your command", "I can't do that, Dave", "danger, Will Robinson", or actually trying to impress the heck out of that jerk executive with his Ferrari laptop that he's not such hot stuff anymore. Alas, ...

    Availability

    Eurotech describes the WWPC as a "user-centric, ubiquitous computing" concept, suggesting that the device is not yet available in product form. The company did not respond to availability enquires by publication time.

  • But wait, there's more ! (Score:5, Informative)

    by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday March 14 2006, @05:15PM (#14919702)

    A European research and development firm has announced a seven-ounce, wrist-worn wearable computer concept with the possibility of a 2.2 x 2.8-inch color touchscreen. Eurotech's WWPC (wrist-worn PC) would run Linux or Windows, offer a wealth of standard PC interfaces (WLAN, Bluetooth, IrDA, USB, SD-card, etc), and has patented technology that could put the device to sleep when the user drops their arm. It would be able to detect motionless user states, and serve as a location-transmitting beacon, thanks to a built-in GPS receiver and 'dead reckoning' technology. The company also claims six hours of battery life under 'fully operational' conditions."

    there we go, fixed that summary for you

    FTA:
    Eurotech describes the WWPC as a "user-centric, ubiquitous computing" concept, suggesting that the device is not yet available in product form. The company did not respond to availability enquires by publication time.


    so stick this on the Duke Nukem wish list

    • That's what we need, for the geeken to build up their biceps - if you know what I mean! ;-)

    • Not vaporware (Score:5, Informative)

      by apharov (598871) on Tuesday March 14 2006, @05:52PM (#14920029)
      Having worked part-time at Eurotech I've seen a working version of this device and it seemed to have all the external features claimed in the article. It was running Linux and I used it with the touchscreen. It also had an USB connector and a memory card slot.

      I was not working on the device so I do have any exact information about the project or its status. However, it is definately not vaporware as in Duke Nukem Forever, but rather a working physical device.


      Disclaimer: all views and observations are mine and not representative of Eurotech.

  • Hmmm... (Score:5, Funny)

    by croddy (659025) on Tuesday March 14 2006, @05:16PM (#14919708)
    Hmmm... This thing i wear on my wrist says they're not poisonous!
  • Defnite ban from using in flights, & @workplaces.
  • I think this could go far... but I suppose that is my opinion.

    I actually had a thought of a miniature wrist-type PC with bluetooth. Transmit between your watch and a "full" system and be able to share documents, etc. That'd be neat. :-)

    • Re:Neat! (Score:4, Interesting)

      by jacksonj04 (800021) <nick@tn-uk.net> on Tuesday March 14 2006, @05:40PM (#14919932) Homepage
      I want a watch with Bluetooth which syncs my appointments and automatically sets alarms. I always have my watch, I don't always have my PDA.

      • I want a watch with Bluetooth which syncs my appointments and automatically sets alarms.

        That seems like a pain in the ass. If the alarm goes off for the time your appointment is set to, what good is it? You're already late unless you already got there on time. If your watch sounds an alarm before your appointment to allow you travel time, then you've got another problem because not all appointments require the same amount of travel time (i.e. meeting a friend across town vs. going to a meeting just one floo

    • My dream for a long time has been a dumb-terminal bluetooth watch - Normally it acts as a watch, but when your bluetooth enabled mp3 player/laptop/phone connect, it acts as a dumb display/controller for them.

      I can but dream.
  • From the article:
    "It...has flexible left- or right-handed straps"

    That, or add-in another $500 for image stabilisation. Pencils down.

  • From the Article (Score:5, Funny)

    by Orrin Bloquy (898571) on Tuesday March 14 2006, @05:18PM (#14919732) Journal
    "Through reuse of the popular Faraday Flashlight mechanism, as long as you keep surfing porn, the battery remains charged."

  • Looks, well... (Score:5, Funny)

    by DancesWithBlowTorch (809750) on Tuesday March 14 2006, @05:19PM (#14919735)
    Who would ever wear such a thing? It looks ridiculous. Completely style-free. The girls would laugh at you.

    Oh wait...

  • Hmmm...motion detection? (Score:5, Funny)

    by maillemaker (924053) on Tuesday March 14 2006, @05:19PM (#14919738)
    ...it can detect motionless user states...

    But can it detect fap-fap-fap-fap-fap motion?

    Perhaps it will usher in a new era of pr0n?

    Steve

  • Watch that supports wifi? (Score:5, Funny)

    by farker haiku (883529) on Tuesday March 14 2006, @05:20PM (#14919753) Journal


    According to its website, Eurotech's corporate strategy is to "define and penetrate new and emerging markets."

    I didn't realize that my neighbor's WEP encrypted access point qualified as an emerging market, but hey.

  • Featured on "What not to wear..." (Score:3, Funny)

    by rainman_bc (735332) on Tuesday March 14 2006, @05:22PM (#14919764)
    Stuff to wear to guarantee you'll not get laid if going to a bar.

    This must be something that tops that list haha...

  • This device does not look comfortable at all - from the artist's rendition it wraps around at least 1/3 of the forearm and half the length from the wrist to the elbow.

    I would imagine it feels similar to wearing a cast...or maybe an arm-mounted chastity belt.

  • Why always on the back of the wrist? (Score:5, Insightful)

    by PFI_Optix (936301) on Tuesday March 14 2006, @05:25PM (#14919806) Journal
    Reference picture [linuxdevices.com]

    I don't understand why they always insist on designing wearable computers like this to work from the back of the wrist the same way a wristwatch is worn. It would be far more ergonomic to turn your hand palm-up, and it would have the added benefit of giving the screen a measure of protection as it wouldn't be sticking out from your arm.

    This is a very cool device, though. I'd buy one if I had the money and could see a practical use for it.

    • I don't understand why they always insist on designing wearable computers like this to work from the back of the wrist the same way a wristwatch is worn.

      That's interesting. For me, the best place would be strapped to my penis.

      You can pee and check email, it'll make it look bigger ( and square), and it's the best place for viewing porn!

    • The picture you've linked does not have the wearable on the back or the wrist. It has it on the side of the wrist in such a way that you would not need to turn your arm at all for it to be used. The protruding portion of the device would point directly at your side.

      I'm sure that end users are not their target market. This could be a useful form factor for industrial handheld computers. It will be too bulky and ugly for people to wear in everyday use, unless they start making this thing like a sandbenders:

      "

    • This is a very cool device, though. I'd buy one if I had the money and could see a practical use for it.

      Those two observations are the death knell of most any product.

      Anything you can't justify actually paying the money for and whose actual purpose is cloudy is doomed to failure.

  • Touch Screen? (Score:2, Funny)

    by Anonymous Coward
    So with a 2" touch screen, and roughly .5 sq inch finger tip, that gives me 16 touch recognition points on the screen? :-)
    • So with a 2" touch screen, and roughly .5 sq inch finger tip, that gives me 16 touch recognition points on the screen? :-)

      Dufus, that's why it comes with the toothpick.
  • "puts the device to sleep when the user drops their arm."
    Hmmmm, will it detect if the user raises his arms to defend himself from people who are trying to steel his lunch money?

  • why Why WhY WHY WHY... (Score:3, Insightful)

    by spagetti_code (773137) on Tuesday March 14 2006, @05:33PM (#14919871)
    802.11b

    Chips are readily available for g and that support WPA. Really - imagine walking around the city wearing one a wireless device that is trivially crackable - you are just asking for trouble.

    At least with a g chip that supports WPA, you can downgrade to WEP if you *really* want to run around with your pants down.

    • At least with a g chip that supports WPA, you can downgrade to WEP

      At last! A serious post unrelated to porn jokes, I think!

      if you *really* want to run around with your pants down.

      Alas. No such luck.

    • 802.11b has nothing to do with WPA (Score:5, Interesting)

      by Vellmont (569020) on Tuesday March 14 2006, @06:48PM (#14920489)
      They are two seperate issues. There's absolutely no reason you can't do WPA or even the full 802.11i with a 802.11b only chipset. The reason you don't see a lot of vendor support for WPA on old 802.11b chipsets is simply because vendors are lazy and don't want to backport the WPA support to older, largely abandoned chipsets.

  • Come in... (Score:4, Funny)

    by Finnegar (918643) on Tuesday March 14 2006, @05:33PM (#14919875)
    ...Detective Tracy!

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Dicktracy.jpg [wikipedia.org]

    We're living in the future of the '30s...

  • Futurama cosplayers rejoice.. (Score:5, Funny)

    by -Neko- (67564) on Tuesday March 14 2006, @05:33PM (#14919878) Homepage
    Now you can have the best Leela costume ever!

  • wow, this is awesome (Score:4, Funny)

    by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday March 14 2006, @05:38PM (#14919917)
    I had no idea I could just draw shit in 3DSMax, make up things it might do and get it posted on Slashdot like it's some kind of actual product.

    I'm goin' home and drawing up my new hovercar. It may have top speeds of up to 300mph, and will be able to run on hydrogen, propane or the laughter of children.

  • Pr0n usage? (Score:5, Funny)

    by Jtheletter (686279) on Tuesday March 14 2006, @05:43PM (#14919952)
    Having this thing attached to your wrist is gonna make it really hard to look at the screen while you're... oh wait, I can just put it on my other arm. Nevermind.

  • Patented? (Score:3, Insightful)

    by ozbird (127571) on Tuesday March 14 2006, @05:48PM (#14919993)
    ... and has patented technology that puts the device to sleep when the user drops their arm.

    In other words, a mercury switch.

  • missing required features (Score:3, Funny)

    by Tumbleweed (3706) * on Tuesday March 14 2006, @06:13PM (#14920209) Homepage
    If I'm going to wear something that big and geeky on my wrist (I don't even wear a watch anymore, since the advent of the cellphone), it'd better have two features I'm used to wrist cuffs having from tv shows:

    1) make me invisible (Galactica 1980)
    2) deflect bullets (Wonder Woman)
  • Judging from the picture in the article, even the T-1000 likes this new gadget. He can keep all of his "detailed files" on the wearable PC, allowing him to be "a more efficient killer."

  • More than just a computer (Score:3, Funny)

    by davidc (91400) <.ude.klas.imcc. .ta. .cdivad.> on Tuesday March 14 2006, @06:30PM (#14920347)
    I may not speak for everyone, but I certainly would not entertain wearing something on my wrist that weighs nearly half a pound...

    Still, one could always use it as an exercise aid, or as a substitute for 'brass knuckles'

  • Like my iPaq, but cooler and more expensive :-) (Score:5, Informative)

    by wertarbyte (811674) on Tuesday March 14 2006, @06:38PM (#14920407) Homepage
    If this photo [linuxdevices.com] is correct (looks a little bit strange), the device runs GPE [handhelds.org], a pretty nice handheld [datenbruch.de] interface used by several linux handheld derivates [handhelds.org] and based on GTK+. Since GPE uses a real XServer, porting applications is quite easy (you can even run them remote), as opposed to OPIE [handhelds.org], which uses the framebuffer directly. Nokia's maemo platform [maemo.org] has many similarities to GPE, I hope that both projects profit from each other.

  • Why does it have to be wearable? (Score:3, Insightful)

    by Zakabog (603757) <john@jm a u g . com> on Tuesday March 14 2006, @07:23PM (#14920706)
    Why does it have to be wearable? I'd much rather have a PDA that doesn't attach to me wrist, fits nicely inside of it's case, which also fits nicely inside my pocket. When I want to use it, I take it out of my pocket and flip the case open. If I'm on a crowded subway, it's much less likely to get scratched or damaged, plus no one will see it and think "That guy has money, I should go mug him." I really can't see any practical use for a wearable PDA, at least if it wasn't so hideous I'd understand.

  • Predator (Score:3, Funny)

    by pete-classic (75983) <hutnick@gmail.com> on Tuesday March 14 2006, @07:43PM (#14920822) Homepage Journal
    Yes, but does it include a self-destruct device that can destroy enough rainforest to cover 300 city blocks?

    -Peter

  • Is anyone else irritated by ... (Score:3, Interesting)

    by Mostly a lurker (634878) on Tuesday March 14 2006, @09:21PM (#14921295)
    ... mobile product descriptions that talk about weight without the heaviest components. TFA states The WWPC weighs seven ounces (200 grams) without straps/batteries, Eurotech says. I will bet the batteries are the heaviest component, Seven ounce total weight for a device I carry around on my wrist might be bearable. However, I will bet the total weight is over 15 ounces and I could only imagine wearing that if I was a muscle builder.
    • Note- EMBEDDED LINUX or WINDOWS CE. These are operating systems designed to work in minimum memory. For instance, unlike Microsoft Word 2003, Pocket Word 2002 is perfectly capable of editing a document IN PLACE on the virutal disk without making a second copy in memory, and executing entirely out of ROM, thus using almost no Program Memory at all.
        • Actually, just about any embedded, ROM-based OS, with ROM-based applications, is by definition more secure than a disk based OS for trival use. No matter what, you can always hard reset and be back to start in about 60 seconds. And with my Wince machine, I back it up daily onto a CF card, with three days worth of backups in my pocket at all times. Even if I'm running off of a solar panel on a three week camping trip, I can be back up and running in under 5 minutes. Try doing that with any desktop OS.

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