Seven-Ounce Linux 'Wrist PC'

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."

All features tell me one thing..

[mayhemt]

Defnite ban from using in flights, & @workplaces.

Neat!

[corychristison]

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. :-)

Why always on the back of the wrist?

[PFI_Optix]

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.

Re:Cool Beans

[PFI_Optix]

The application I'd like to see it in is IT. With wifi, that thing could replace the tech's laptop and greatly reduce their load.

why Why WhY WHY WHY...

[spagetti_code]

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.

Re:A computer can function on 7 ounces???

[Marxist Hacker 42]

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.

Patented?

[ozbird]

... and has patented technology that puts the device to sleep when the user drops their arm.

In other words, a mercury switch.

Why does it have to be wearable?

[Zakabog]

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.

Re:Why always on the back of the wrist?

[gstoddart]

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.