Linux on a Wrist Watch Prototype
Chandra Narayanaswami
IBM Research

Advances in circuit design, board layout, and packaging technologies have made it possible to put together a reasonably powerful processor and memory subsystem coupled with a display, battery, and RF wireless communication into a wrist watch. The availability of open source code for Linux, a powerful operating system, allows open platforms to be built on such devices. These abilities open up a new a set of tough challenges in the nature of input devices, applications, power management, interaction models with other devices, wireless communication, and other areas. This demo will show the platform IBM Research has built. We are successfully running Linux and X11 on the wrist watch prototype. (See attached file: watch on arm.jpg)

Features: Linux operating system version 2.2; X11 R6; Size: Watch: 56 mm wide by 48 mm long by 12.25 mm thick (2.20" x 1.89" x 0.48") Motherboard: 27.5 mm wide by 35.3 mm long (1.08" x 1.39"); Weight: 44 gms (approx. 1.5 ounces); Touch sensitive display and roller wheel; 8MB Flash memory, 8MB DRAM memory; IrDA, Radio Frequency wireless connectivity; Rechargeable lithium-polymer battery.

For further information, please visit http://www.research.ibm.com/WearableComputing