Smart watches and other gizmos
Why carry a PDA or an MP3 player when you can have the same benefits from the watch you're already wearing? Smart watches are any of a new breed of watches that integrate new technology into the ordinary wrist watch. Here are some interesting developments in watch display and technology.
MP3 watches have a music player inset. These can store up to over 5 hours of music or other data (over 250 MB of storage) and have volume control and all other necessary controls. A USB cable is built in for easy transfer to PC or other device.
The Solunar watch is the only 24-hour quartz movement in the world, taking 24 hours to circle the dial. It integrates the movement of the sun and the moon. It also feature an alarm, a parking alarm and a data interface with information on over 500 world cities.
Smart watches, affiliated with MSN, display all kinds of up-to-the-minute information through a wireless connection to the Internet. Information you receive can include e-mail, text and graphics messaging, destination or local weather, stock prices and the latest headlines. This works on a plan similar to a monthly Internet fee.
Suunto watches incorporate a barometer display, orienteering capabilities, a heart rate monitor, an altimeter and many other displays you would never imagine possible. Some models feature a PC interface so you can store information and save it to your PC later.
A wristwatch television is available from Hammacher-Schlemmer, a novelty company. It lists for less than $200.
These and many other new technologies are available today. Look for traditional Swiss watches to incorporate these technologies into fine watches of the future. Digital cameras and many other new gadgets will soon be common in watches. Who needs James Bond?
