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Toshiba's Wristwatch PDA

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the get-your-lust-on dept.

pdawerks says "Toshiba has previewed what it calls a Wristwatch PDA, which it considers to be very popular in future. According to MobileMag and BBC News, the device will provide the functionality of a high-end PDA in a comparatively small and handy form factor. It features a wide hi-definition display, integrated Wi-Fi and Bluetooth wireless networking and is perfectly suited for videophone conferences. The concept also sports voice recognition, which allows you to simply talk to your Wristwatch PDA."

12 of 140 comments (clear)

  1. My question is this by revolvement · · Score: 5, Interesting

    When is enough, enough?(When it comes to size factor) With PDAs, how small can you have them until they're no longer functionable?

  2. Contradiction? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Anyobody else thinks "small and handy form factor." and "a wide hi-definition display" contradict each other? What use is a high resolution display if it's so small?

  3. Point of diminishing returns? by Zathras26 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Smaller and lighter is usually a good thing with mobile devices, but doesn't there come a point when you've gone too far? In particular, with a wristwatch PDA, I'd be concerned that the screen is too small to be useful -- even on a regular-size PDA, I sometimes feel "cramped".

  4. But, but, but... by Blahbbs · · Score: 5, Insightful

    But, It's HUGE! No one wants a monstrosity like that on their wrist.

    1. Re:But, but, but... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      I think this product would sell more if they marketed it as a form of reliable birth control.

  5. ironic by tobes · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I don't wear my watch anymore since I find it more discrete to just keep a cell phone/pda in my pocket and whip it out when I need to know what time it is.

    I think the watch form factor was just fine when time was the only portable function. Once you start adding other features it really pays to have more interface options.

    1. Re:ironic by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      When I reach in my pocket and whip it out you know what time it is...

    2. Re:ironic by Ugmo · · Score: 4, Interesting

      I don't wear my watch anymore since I find it more discrete to just keep a cell phone/pda in my pocket and whip it out when I need to know what time it is.

      I really think that a good form factor for a PDA or some kind of electronic device is the old Pocket Watch on a chain.

      Make the case out of some light weight metal or gold at the high end and have a mall screen in one end of the clamshell and a key pad at the other. With bluetooth you could also have a headset seperate from the PDA/phone. The pcoket chain could double as an antenna and the phob (the hunk of metal at the end of the chain that stays in your pocket) could be the battery/power supply.

      I wish some jewerly designer/watch company would team up with a PDA/Cell Phone company and make one.

  6. And the expected lifespan is... by heironymouscoward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    About two days, before you smash your wrist into desk or corner as you're walking, and little pieces of LCD dribble down your arm.

    "No, the screen is not warrantied against accidental damage."

    And the device is not suit-compatible. Great for t-shirts, lousy with long sleeves.

    Needs more work.

    --
    Ceci n'est pas une signature
  7. Doubles as a wrist brace by chia_monkey · · Score: 4, Funny

    Did you see how big that thing was? I don't expect it to be tiny, but it doesn't look like you'd be able to move your wrist at all with that thing. It stretches from your wrist to your elbow! Soon we'll see all the skaters wearing it as wrist protection.

    --

    "He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lampposts...for support rather than illumination." - Andrew Lang
  8. God, No! by dnaboy · · Score: 4, Informative
    I, personally have had a love hate affair with PDAs for years. The thing that finally broke me was a BlackBerry. I lived and died by that thing, but what made me realize I had problems was when I couldn't use it, such as in airplanes and, still to this day, often hospitals (where I spend a decent amount of time for work). I would find myself, perhaps not so covertly huddled up in a window seat trying to time when we'd be above chicago to try to get signal (which I'm absolutely serious does work, if only long enough to get a message in or out between dropping connections).

    I was an addict.

    Anyway, long story short, went cold turkey. Cancelled my service, gave the blackberry to a friend, and have gone au natural for the last couple years. I'm finally happy and unbound from the tethers of wireless email (ironic, eh...).

    The thought of something hanging on my wrist to give me email, web, and IM anywhere anytime scares the crap out of me.

    Never in a million years!

    OK- I'm done...

  9. All is revealed... by Stopmotioncleaverman · · Score: 5, Funny

    So THAT'S what Leela had on her wrist all the way through Futurama...:)