From: diamant@hpfcbig.SDE.HP.COM (John Diamant)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.handhelds
Subject: Re: Armwrist watch with docking station
Date: 14 Apr 92 20:02:52 GMT
Organization: HP SESD, Fort Collins, CO

In comp.sys.handhelds, bobscott@access.digex.com (Bob Scott) writes:

> In article <9204081005.AA41623@menora.weizmann.ac.il> dov@menora.weizmann.ac.il (Dov Grobgeld) writes:
> >This is an idea of mine. Would be interesting to hear comments about it.
> >
> >Imagine a wristwatch with the following capabilities:
> >
> >   1.  Time, date, stopwatch, downtimer (normal stuff)
> >   2.  Address book
> >   3.  Notes (in order to enter e.g. todo stuff and shopping lists.)
> >   4.  Calendar with alarm at predescribed date-time and then shows
> >       a recorded message.
> >
> .....>
> >Another possibility is to equip the watch with a small plug which
> >connects to a larger keyboard (e.g. the size of a credit card
> >calculator.) Again perhaps an IR connection would be possible.


>   It's been done.  Seiko had such a watch in the middle 80's.  It connected
> to your computer's RS-232 port, or data could be entered by from a Hershey bar
> sized keyboard.  I think the signal was coupled inductively.

I think this is two different watch models.  I have one of the units
that works via an RS-232 port, which is a normal wire electrical
connection (model RC-4000).  I also once saw the inductive coupling on
the keyboard version (the size of the keyboard was larger than the
largest size Hershey bars I've seen -- it was about 4"x8"x1" and had
some sort of Basic built into it (the keyboard did, and used the watch
as a display basic -- the watch didn't).  That model didn't beep for
alarms though -- the appointments were only entered as memo data.  This
inductive version is a completely different watch than the RC-4000 and I don't
know the model number.  Is also a pocket version of the RC-4000 (I don't recall
the model number).

>  I saw one at
> an amateur radio swap meet a few months back for $85 (no keyboard, only the
> RS-232 hookup).  I think it also reappeared under the rubric "Wrist Mac"
> a couple of years ago...same watch with some hokey MAC front end program to
> justify the name.

The WristMac is a Seiko RC-4000 watch with Mac software.  It was
originally released with PC download software from Seiko.  The actual
watch is out of production, but ExMachina (in Manhattan) bought up all
the existing inventory and is reselling it with the Mac software.  There
are actually several variations on the watch including plastic case,
silver case, black metal case, and gold case, but I think the silver
case is actually steel and the black metal case is painted steel.  I'd
recommend avoiding the plastic case because it's not waterproof.  By the
way, the price ExMachina charges is $200 for the black metal version
with software (ask them to supply you a PC cable as well as the Mac
cable that comes with it) and you can't pay less and delete the
software.  However, they do significant volume discounts at low volumes
(4 units) so working out a deal with other interested parties can be
beneficial.  I have ExMachina's number if anyone wants to contact them and
can't locate them with directory information.

I use it with my Unix workstation and Datebook (a calander program on my
workstation).

By the way, the RC-4000 doesn't have a stopwatch or timer (or a backlight).
It has 2K of internal memory, allowing up to 80 entries of 24 characters a
piece (presumably 128 bytes are occupied by watch data).  Each entry can
either be a category heading (anywhere from 3 to 12 headings can be
downloaded), an weekly, daily, or scheduled alarm entry (12 character text
plus alarm time), or a 24 character text entry (2 lines of 12 characters
each).  Only uppercase letters, numbers, and some special characters are
allowed.

gagnon@Panda1.UOttawa.CA (Jean-Serge Gagnon) writes:

> How about a radio signal? I mean, it could receive a signal from your PC,
> while your typing in the comands. Of course, it would have to be close, like
> when your typing on the keyboard, maybe a rang of 3-10feet. Your PC would,
> of course have a trasmiter and the proper software, but it would be fabulous.
> Every morning, you turn your PC on and check "things to do", press upload
> to watch, and voila, your watch alarms and whatevers are set. You would
> just need enough memory in the watch to store the day's or week's activities.

> Is it currently possible?

I do almost just that every business day.  The Seiko RC-4000 (aka
PC Datagraph and WristMac) must be plugged in via wires, but it only takes
about 10 seconds to download.  I do it every evening before I leave for
home because sometimes I have alarms in the evening as well.  If I enter
new appointments for the same day in my computer, then I do an extra
download that day.


John Diamant
Software Engineering Systems Division
Hewlett Packard Co.		ARPA Internet: diamant@fc.sde.hp.com
Fort Collins, CO		UUCP:  {hpfcla,hplabs}!hpfclp!diamant

This response does not represent the official position of, or statement
by, the Hewlett-Packard Company.  The above data is provided for informational
purposes only.  It is supplied without warranty of any kind.
From: peer@hpbbrd.bbn.hp.com (Peter Ernst)
Date: Mon, 6 Apr 1992 06:53:22 GMT
Subject: Re: ylisp, freyja 1.3, diet, DC95
Organization: HP Mechanical Design Division