A European embedded computing specialist has announced a wrist-worn wearable computer that runs embedded Linux. Eurotech's WWPC ("wrist-worn PC") offers a wealth of standard PC interfaces, along with several innovative wearable-specific features.
The WWPC weighs seven ounces (200 grams) without straps/batteries, Eurotech says.
The WWPC offers several wearable-specific innovations, according to the company, including a patented orientation sensor that can be configured to induce standby when the user's arm drops. Additionally, the device's tilt sensor can be used to detect motionless operator states, while a built-in GPS receiver and "dead reckoning" technology enable the device to serve as a location-transmitting beacon.
The WWPC is based on an unspecified low-power embedded processor. It boots from 32MB of flash, and has 64MB of SDRAM. Storage can be expanded through an SD-card slot supporting cards up to 1GB.
Standard PC interfaces include WiFi, Bluetooth, and fast infrared networking, USB host and device ports, sound, built-in speakers, and a headphone jack. The device has a "daylight-readable" 2.8 x 2.2-inch touchscreen LCD, and also supports human interface devices such as microphones and headsets connected via USB or Bluetooth, the company says.
Additional claimed features include:
- Direct-access keypad
- L1 16-channel GPS receiver with active helix antenna
- IrDa (up to 4Mbps)
- Bluetooth v1.1 (up to 721 Kbps)
- LAN 802.11b (up to 11Mbps) with "hardware coexistence handshake"
- Specific internal antennas
- Supports "different configurable audio/video user interfaces"
- Supports Linux or Windows CE
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© 2010 Michael Thompson
