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Joined: Jul 21, 2004 Posts: 2718 Location: Chelmsford, UK
Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2012 8:46 pm Post subject: Seiko Unveil The World's First GPS Solar Watch
As advancements in GPS technology continue to enter new realms, Seiko have achieved a new feat by unveiling the world's first GPS solar watch.
The personal time piece will automatically change the time to match the correct time zone when individuals travel, using GPS technology to keep track of the wearer's location.
The GPS receiver is low powered and this means that battery power is not consumed quickly. The device connects to four or more satellites in order to identify the location of the individual and adjust the time accordingly.
Whilst details of release dates and prices have not yet been announced, the watch is naturally expected to fall into a high price band and will be mainly targeted at those who travel frequently.
Joined: Jan 10, 2008 Posts: 56 Location: Telford, West Midlands
Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2012 1:52 am Post subject: GPS on your wrist
It isn't exactly a slim or dressy timepiece but I imagine it's an ice breaker, a talking point, between strangers trapped in each other's company on a long flight, for instance.
Speaking of which, whenever I fly the flightcrew kindly announce the local time as we are about to land. They are (almost) always right and adjusting one's watch oneself consumes no battery power whatsoever. Yet another example of technological innovation for the sake of it.
A must-have for geeks and dweebs. When will they be in the shops?
Joined: Feb 23, 2005 Posts: 376 Location: Catford, London, UK
Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2012 11:04 am Post subject:
Hi,
Since GPS signals tend to be in short supply in aircraft, airport buildings and even trains (metallised windows) I wonder how long it actually takes to update its time zone? IMHO WiFi localisation might be a far better method.
But maybe it's an answer to the nonsense that many flight crew/airlines won't allow the use of GPS receivers in aircaft (or will wearers be banned from entering the plane)?
Joined: Aug 21, 2005 Posts: 1761 Location: Kent, England
Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2012 12:16 pm Post subject:
AllyCat wrote:
But maybe it's an answer to the nonsense that many flight crew/airlines won't allow the use of GPS receivers in aircaft (or will wearers be banned from entering the plane)?
Cheers, Alan.[/i]
Do they? I have used mine (on phone) when flying with BA and queasyjet with no problems. As long as I am in a window seat I normally get a fix. The camera warnings are especially interesting! _________________ Peter
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Joined: Apr 14, 2010 Posts: 1262 Location: West London
Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2012 12:18 pm Post subject:
I've already got a watch that updates/times to an AM radio signal in Europe and NA. So this would be for people going off in the wilds. Though I've always wondered what would happen to gps devices at either pole? _________________ Mike R [aka Wyvern46]
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Joined: Feb 23, 2005 Posts: 376 Location: Catford, London, UK
Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2012 12:54 pm Post subject:
Hi,
Yes, I have one of those watches as well. As long as you consider "the wilds" to be anywhere where there are no RTS broadcasts, such as (AFAIK) Australasia, South America, Asia (except Japan) and Europe more than about 2000 miles from the German transmitter.
GPS doesn't have any problems at the poles. The satellite orbits are inclined and they're sufficiently high that they're easily "visble" anywhere on the Earth (unlike geostationary satellites). A far as time zones are concerned, I guess they're not too significant with 24 hour days or nights (depending on the season).
peterc10 wrote:
Do they? I have used mine (on phone) when flying with BA and queasyjet with no problems. As long as I am in a window seat I normally get a fix.
Can't remember the last airline I used but GPS use was specifically excluded in the safety notes in the Flight Magazine. BA and Easyjet do indeed seem to permit them, but not Lufthansa, Ryan or Virgin :
Joined: Feb 27, 2006 Posts: 14881 Location: Keynsham
Posted: Sun Mar 11, 2012 8:54 pm Post subject: Re: GPS on your wrist
GeoffCee wrote:
adjusting one's watch oneself consumes no battery power whatsoever.
For me, adjusting the time on my Seiko is a major effort to overcome geek technology on my mega expensive world time thing. I can change to/from summer time with a single touch of a button, but changing to and from Greek time means I have to take the manual with me twice a year.
Quivre46 wrote:
Cut to the chase - how much is it?
It had better cost more than this one which was £300 eight years ago! ('Course, it's still up to date, unlike my TomToms since then!) _________________ Dennis
Joined: Aug 31, 2005 Posts: 14964 Location: Bradford, West Yorkshire
Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2012 3:25 am Post subject:
Everyone who has commented so far (including myself) has two things in common:
1) We're British
2) To change timezone we have to sit still (on a plane, train, ferry etc) whihc gives us time to manually adjust our watches.
Those in places like the USA or Australia have multiple timezones that could be crossed on foot or while driving to a business meeting. Those people don't have time to spare on an aeroplane to adjust their watches so something like this would be more practical/useful to them.
The programming in the watch divides the world into one million 'squares' and allocates a time zone to each. Once a day (or on demand), Seiko Astron automatically receives the time signal by connecting to four or more of the GPS satellites that orbit Earth, allowing the watch to pinpoint its position and identify the time zone it's in. The process for manual updating involves pressing a single button.
Joined: Aug 31, 2005 Posts: 14964 Location: Bradford, West Yorkshire
Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2012 3:26 am Post subject:
Also, I think the main selling point of this is the fact it is fully solar powered - no batteries involved. While the battery savings don't justify the cost, it is pretty clever!
Joined: Apr 04, 2006 Posts: 10118 Location: Bexhill, South Sussex, UK
Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2012 10:23 am Post subject:
MaFt wrote:
Also, I think the main selling point of this is the fact it is fully solar powered - no batteries involved. While the battery savings don't justify the cost, it is pretty clever!
You mean just like the other solar Seikos. You don't have to change the battey, but you do have to replace the very expensive charge holding capacitor instead (but not as often)
Posted: Today Post subject: Pocket GPS Advertising
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