The 'WatchPad' will be showcased at GITEX Saudi Arabia this year: a prototype of the Linux watch technology being jointly developed by IBM Research and Citizen Watch. The Linux WatchPad on the SBM stand brings to the region the latest technologies still emerging from IBM's labs around the world.
Visitors will be able to see some of the ways the WatchPad could become a "wristwatch-assistant", including voice-enabled Bluetooth and infrared wireless connectivity, which allows the watch to connect to various devices such as notebook computers. The Bluetooth voice channel and vibrator feature allows one to send and receive voice commands with other computers and view e-mail messages and calendar entries. Some of the great features of the Linux watch also include a fingerprint sensor that identifies the watch's owner, as well as an embedded accelerometer that studies arm movement as a potential input method.
IBM Research first demonstrated a prototype of the Linux Watch last year, illustrating the viability of the Linux operating system across all platforms, from large enterprise servers, to medium-sized and small servers, workstations, desktop systems, laptops and the smallest intelligent devices. Citizen Watch is the first company that decided to work with IBM Research to enhance current features and develop new application technologies for the intelligent watch. In an effort to explore new types of information access devices for the pervasive computing era, the two companies plan to collaborate with major universities by sharing the WatchPad technology for joint research in the hope to accelerate progress in developing next generation intelligent devices.
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IBM brings new Linux watch technology to GITEX Saudi Arabia 2003
- Saudi Arabia: Sunday, April 27 - 2003 at 13:12
- PRESS RELEASE
Visitors to the SBM/IBM stand at GITEX this year will see how we could be bringing wireless, intelligent computers into our daily lives.
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Background Information: Citizen/IBM Prototype - WatchPadThe watch contains a high speed, low power 32 bit MPU, 16 megabytes of flash memory, and QVGA liquid crystal display. The watch has both voice-enabled Bluetooth and infrared wireless connectivities. Users interact with the WatchPad through a touch panel, button, and modified winding crown. In addition, accelerometer is embedded to study if arm movement to become a potential input method.
WatchPad specifications:
Hardware
Size: 65mmx 46mm x 16mm
Weight: 43g (without a wrist band)
CPU: High speed, low power 32 bit MPU (18-74 MHz)
Input devices: Touch panel, a winding crown switch, button
Display: 320 x 240 dots, monochrome liquid crystal display
Memory: Low power DRAM 8MB, flash memory 16MB
Interface: Bluetooth wireless technology (v1.1, voice-enabled), IrDA (V1.2), RS232C (via a cradle)
Others: Speaker, microphone, vibrator, fingerprint sensor, accelerator sensor
Power: Li-Ion battery
Cradle: RS232C, AC adapter, and AA batteries
Software
Operating system: Linux kernel version 2.4
GUI: Microwindows
Bluetooth stack: IBM BlueDrekar (L2CAP, SDP, RFCOMM)
About SBM
Based in Jeddah, and with branches in Riyadh, Al-Khobar and Jubail, with over 500 employees and 50 years of experience in the Kingdom, Saudi Business Machines Limited (SBM), has played a leading role in the development of information technology in the Kingdom. SBM continues to power business and government sectors in the Kingdom with innovative products, integrated services and e-business solutions. Partnering with the world's technology leader, IBM, further extends SBM's status, positioning it as the most comprehensive information technology solutions provider in the region.
Posted by Anne-Birte Stensgaard, News EditorSunday, April 27 - 2003 at 13:12 UAE local time (GMT+4)
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This article was updated on Mon Oct 06 2003.
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