Smart Watch – Trend in Technology

Shubham Duggal

Bachelor’s of Computer Applications (5th Sem)

Shubham.duggal.0066@gmail.com

                                                   

INTRODUCTION

There's no doubt that wi­th the popularity of devices like Blackberry, Palm Pilot and Treo, the trend in technology is to get more and more "connectivity" into smaller and smaller packages. The next step in this technological evolution is the Smart Watch.

Smart Watches give people access to news, weather, sports, stocks, horoscopes, MSN Instant Messenger, Microsoft Outlook and much more -- all from a wristwatch.

Smart Watches work using a technology Microsoft developed called Smart Personal Object Technology, or SPOT. Microsoft introduced SPOT at Comdex in 2002.

SPOT is a new computing platform designed to bring the power of .NET to everyday objects. SPOT allows for enhanced miniaturization, low power consumption and a low cost solution allowing for accessories such as watches to become more purposeful through the power of software.

              

        

Microsoft announced that the Sma­rt Watch would be the first wide-scale application of SPOT. The technology could potentially be integrated into all kinds of everyday objects, turning things like key chains and refrigerator magnets into sources of useful data. For instance, a portable oven timer might be SPOT-enabled and connected to a service that provides hundreds of recipes.

OBJECTIVES

1.     High Speed Memory Display

Memory Display with memory-in-pixel technology.

Traditional LCDs can display smooth user interfaces, but they're very power hungry.  E-paper displays are very energy efficient, but their slow refresh rates don't allow for animations. So user uses a new 1.28" Sharp Memory Display which combines the best aspects of both technologies: fast animations; high clarity outdoor-readable display; and ultra-low (~20uA) power consumption.

This new memory display also runs at a lower voltage than the last generation, eliminating energy-wasting voltage boosters from our electrical design.

2.     Wireless Charging

Wireless charging on a Qi charging pad.

MicroUSB is used for charging this device. Qi (pronounced 'chee') is a global standard for wireless charging, and is built in the AGENT smartwatch.  Simply set the watch on the included Qi charging pad (or any other Qi charging pad) from time to time to keep the battery topped off.

No wires, no hassle.  The included charging pad is compact and powered by MicroUSB.  Qi charging pad from Energizer, JBL, LG, Nexus, Nokia, or Panasonic also works.

3.     Motion and Light Sensors

User senses motion in three dimensions with an integrated 3-axis accelerometer.  Motion data is available to apps on demand and via time-stamped motion events.  Smartwatch is also used as a pedometer, a sleep tracker or a game controller.

Two integrated light sensors (both broadband and infrared-only) work together to measure ambient light, enabling user to intelligently illuminate the display in dim lighting conditions.  And of course apps can retrieve the current ambient light level anytime.

Fail-safe Recovery Modes

Since AGENT firmware is updated wirelessly, a fail-safe recovery mode is built in the hardware design.  This ensures that firmware updates cannot disable your watch.

This device has a bootable dual-bank flash, which can store two sets of recovery mode software.  If a firmware update is aborted—even while updating the recovery mode software itself—its backup automatically recovers and lets the update to start over again.

And in the rare case if the watch gets into a bad state, the second processor can reset the watch and force it into recovery mode.

4.     Advanced Power Management

7 days of battery life with Bluetooth.  30 days of battery life in watchface-only mode.  This is the minimum standard set for AGENT.

Behind all premium energy-sipping components lies an advanced power management system.  With three separate ultra-efficient power converters and custom power management software, AGENT is optimized to allocate every microwatt of battery power wisely.

And when the watch reaches 10% battery remaining, it automatically switches into watchface-only mode.  This ensures that the watch still provides basic timekeeping functions if you're away from power for a few days. [2]

METHODOLOGY - SPOT

SPOT uses FM broadcasting, like the kind picked up by a radio, to deliver Web-based data to Smart objects. Smart Watches receive more than 200 channels of information that are broadcast on a radio spectrum leased by Microsoft.

Microsoft created the Microsoft Direct Band Network to send data to Smart Watches and other SPOT objects. Direct Band consists of two components: a special chipset in the watch that houses the radio receiver and a nationwide, wide-area network (WAN). The WAN is built on FM-subcarrier technology.

Subcarrier frequencies are usually above the normal frequency range used for audio and are modulated to carry data. For instance, in analogy TV transmissions, a subcarrier frequency is used to carry information about color and other broadcast information. Direct Band transmits Web-based data on subcarrier frequencies using radio protocols designed especially for Smart Watches.

The Direct Band broadcast range covers 100 metropolitan areas in the United States and five major cities in Canada. In order to get this wide coverage, Microsoft partnered with Clear Channel and Infinity Broadcasting. This partnership allows Direct Band to broadcast data over a large, existing FM radio infrastructure rather than having to create its own.

To add Direct Band to an existing station, technicians install a piece of hardware called a broadcast generator. The broadcast generator injects the data stream directly into the FM broadcast that is transmitted to Smart Watches. The data originates from the Direct Band Data Centre in Tukwila, WA. The streams are encrypted and transmitted from MSN through private frame relays, satellites and WAN networks.

MSN Direct is the Web-based component of the Smart Watch system that acts as a user interface for subscribers. The Web site can be used to purchase, activate and administer Smart Watches.

The MSN Direct Web site acts as a user interface for the Smart Watch.

To start a Smart Watch, a user must create a profile using a free .NET account. The activation process and setup includes entering billing information, location and the particular type of Smart Watch the user owns. Once the account is set up, the user can add, delete and modify the channels that are sent to the Smart Watch.

Inside the watch

The watch shown here is the Fossil Abacus. The Fossil Abacus Smart Watch has a rechargeable battery that is charged using a wall charger/watch stand.

                  

Inside the Watch

·         Piezo (piezoelectric ceramic crystal) - This material expands and contracts when electric current is applied. The Piezo crystal in the watch acts as a tiny speakerdriver, allowing the Smart Watch to generate sound.

·         PCB (printed circuit board) - A PCB is usually a multi-layered board made of fibreglass. The surface and sub layers use tiny copper lines to direct electricity to various components on the PCB. Motherboards, SIMMs and credit-card memory are all examples of PCBs. The PCB in the Smart Watch houses the CPU, memory and radio chip.

·         CPU - The Smart Watch is basically a tiny computer with a very specific job, and the CPU is the brains of that computer. The Smart Watch uses an ARM 7 TDMI as its central processor.

·         Memory - Also like a computer, the Smart Watch needs memory to perform its functions. The Smart Watch uses 512 KB of ROM and 384 KB of RAM.

·         Direct Band radio receiver chip - This chip was made specifically for the Smart Watch and is how the MSN Direct service connects to the watch. These chips are the heart of SPOT technology.

·         Battery - The Smart Watch battery is rechargeable. The Fossil Abacus comes with a recharging stand, but other models use an adapter that plugs into the wall. The amount of time you get out of each charge varies greatly and depends on how much "channel surfing" you do (and on the model of Smart Watch you buy). The Abacus can function for up to two days on a single charge.

·         Inductive charging coil - This is used to charge the battery. The coil is attached to the contact surface on the back of the watch. When this surface comes in contact with the charging plate on the watch stand, the Smart Watch battery is charged through induction.[1]

Specifications Used in Smart Watches

·         120MHz ARM Cortex-M4 processor
with secondary AVR co-processor

·         1.28" Memory Display (128 x 128)
with intelligent backlighting

·         Anti-glare glass lens

·         Bluetooth 4.0 BD/EDR + LE

·         3-axis accelerometer

·         Ambient light sensor

·         Vibration motor

·         7 days battery life (typical)
30 days in watch face-only mode

·         Qi wireless charging

·         Water resistant (ATMs: TBD)

·         AGENT OS 1.0
including .NET Micro Framework 4.3

·         RoHS, Pb-free

·         Designed for repair and recycling
including replaceable battery[2]

CONCLUSION

The Smart Watch is a wearable gadget which keeps our hands free and yet allows us to use our smart phones, which might be at home, while we are away. They will provide a new bent in today’s trends in technology.    [3]

REFERENCES

[1]http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/gadgets/clocks-watches/smart-watch.html

[2] http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/secretlabs/agent-the-worlds-smartest-watch

[3]http://www.slideshare.net/jigneshkhunt/smart-watch-562347?from_search=1