| IBM clocks in with Linux wrist watch update |
Mar. 23, 2001
By Stephen Shankland; Special to ZDNet News . . .
IBM has created a second-generation Linux wrist watch, this one smaller than the original and sporting a gleaming golden display, but still just as impractical.
IBM is showing the new watch at the CeBit trade show. Though the watch is a technology demonstration and isn't for sale -- its battery lasts only two hours -- it's a lot closer to a commercial product than IBM's bulky first-generation model.
Internet-enabled watches are a popular publicity gimmick, though IBM competitor Hewlett-Packard is working on one in cooperation with Swiss watchmaker Swatch that HP promises will ultimately be an actual product.
The highlight of the updated IBM Linux watch -- besides the novelty of cramming an operating system designed for servers into a computer smaller than an Oreo cookie -- is its bright new OLED (organic light-emitting diode) display.
The display crams an array of 640 by 480 pixels into a watch face just 0.65 inches tall by 0.87 inches wide, said Chandra Narayanaswami, manager of the IBM Research Division's wearable computing program. The pixels are so small that sprinkling them judiciously gives the illusion of the ability to show a range of shades of gray, he said.
Narayanaswami demonstrated a small game and a display of a photo as well as more traditional timekeeping functions for the watch. The watch was two years in development, he added.
The golden yellow pixels against the black background not only are far easier to read than the muddy liquid crystal display of the first watch, but they consume less power, Narayanaswami said.
That's key, given power constraints of a watch. The watch battery lasts about two hours, Narayanaswami said. But improvements in software are making a difference. For example, through tuning Linux, IBM has increased the battery life of the original Linux watch from about 4 hours to 6, he said.
IBM foresees a day when such a watch would have a week's worth of battery power. Like a handheld computer, it could be recharged in a cradle during the night, where it would receive fresh updates such as traffic reports for its owner.
IBM's newer watch has 8MB of standard memory as well as 8MB of Flash memory, which keeps track of data even if the watch battery runs out of juice.
"It's the standard Linux kernel with a few changes," Narayanaswami said. "We have done some power management work."
Using filters and other adjustments, later versions of the OLED display will provide full color, Narayanaswami predicted.
IBM is a major backer of Linux, a clone of Unix that's become popular with most major computing companies. IBM has partnerships with Linux companies Red Hat, SuSE, Caldera Systems and Turbolinux.
Related stories:
(Click here for further information)
|
|
|
7 Advantages of D2D Backup
For decades, tape has been the backup medium of choice. But, now, disk-to-disk (D2D) backup is gaining in favor. Learn why you should make the move in this whitepaper.
4 Legal Reasons to Control Internet Access
The Internet is obviously a valuable resource for many organizations. However, many are exposed to legal liability concerns because they fail to control Internet access. Learn if you're safe in this white paper.
Rapidly Resolve J2EE Application Problems
Whether you are in the process of building J2EE applications or have J2EE applications already running in production, you must ensure that they deliver the expected ROI. Learn how in this white paper.
Load Testing 2.0 for Web 2.0
There are many unknowns in stress testing Web 2.0 applications. Find out how to test the performance of Web 2.0 in this white paper.
Build Better Games Online
For the game infrastructure providers, life is complex. Making money from games has become more complicated. Why? Find out in this white paper.
Building a Virtual Infrastructure from Servers to Storage
This white paper discusses the virtual storage solutions that reduce cost, increase storage utilization, and address the challenges of backing up and restoring Server environments.
Gaining Faster Wireless Connections with WiMAX
Welcome to what is quickly becoming the hyperconnected world where anything that would benefit from being connected to the network will be connected. Learn more in this white paper.
Is Your Desktop a Security Threat?
The new wave of sophisticated crimeware not only targets specific companies, but also targets desktops and laptops as backdoor entryways into those business’ operations and resources. Learn how to stay safe in this white paper.
Increasing SAN Reliability by 100 Percent
Storage area networks (SAN) are a strong part of storage plans. Learn how to increase your reliability and uptime by 100 percent in this case study.
|
|
|
|
Got a HOT tip?
please tell us!
Click here for a profile of each sponsor:
|
Check out the latest Linux powered...
|
 |
|
|
|
Also visit our sister site:
Sign up for LinuxDevices.com's...
news feed
|
|
