Monday, March 10, 2003

Frog Design and Motorola today unveiled the "Offspring" concept design for a set of wearable devices. The individual pieces communicate via Bluetooth. A central device - the WDA - serves as the hub, and provides a wireless connection to an iDEN network. The design is only a concept at this point, although Motorola is preparing for user testing, and plans to bring a product based on the design to market within two years.

The entire family of modular devices is wirelessly connected, allowing each device to share information with other devices and the user, operating as a seamless personal network.

WDA (Wearable Digital Assistant): The WDA is a handheld device that contains the same components as an iDEN phone. This device does not use a numeric keypad. Instead, it contains voice recognition capabilities, a video-game-like navigation device, and high capacity storage for audio and visual data. Like the other products in the family, the WDA is Bluetooth enabled for seamless wireless connectivity between devices.

Wristable: The Wristable serves the same function and has the same technical description as the WDA, but it is worn on the wrist. The display is black and white. The materials are plastic for the housing and rubber for the areas that interface with the user.

The Wristable in action.

Goggles: Integrated into the frame of exciting, stylish sports eyewear, this device incorporates a heads-up display, digital camera, ear bud and microphone. Due to the power requirements, there is a tethered cord that runs out the back to an external power supply. You can view 800 X 600 displays while simultaneously staying in touch with the world around you.

Digi-Cam: Digital Camera This is a mini-digital camera that is Bluetooth enabled. It has a clip that allows it to be worn on any piece of clothing. Tethered to the digi-cam is the shutter button. After an image is captured, it is immediately sent to either the WDA or the wristable.

Comport: A Bluetooth enabled, wireless hands free earbud and mic combination, this unit interfaces with the WDA and the Wristable.

Also show here are several additional devices:

Radio-button (Wireless push-to-talk): This wireless, Bluetooth enabled Push-to-Talk button can be worn as an accessory.

Intelli-pen: This is a pen with two tips, a rollerball with ink and a plastic tip that can go over on any surface. There is an LCD screen on the side of the pen for viewing of functions and to review what has been written. For the ink, the user can write or draw on a surface, have the original in ink and a saved digital version in storage independent of the WDA or the wristable. The data can be uploaded to the WDA or the wristable at any time, where it can be sent to any email account. The same is true for the plastic tip but without an original copy.

The concept will be featured in the Wireless Fashion Show at CTIA Wireless 2003 in New Orleans next week. Phone Scoop will be there, so check back next week for extensive live reports, photos and videos!