In today’s world, smartwatches have become an integral part of our daily lives. These devices not only tell time but also offer a wide range of features like fitness tracking, heart rate monitoring, and even mobile payments. But have you ever wondered what was the first smartwatch? In this article, we’ll take a trip down memory lane and explore the origins of the smartwatch.
The first smartwatch can be traced back to the early 2000s when Microsoft introduced its “SPOT” (Smart Personal Objects Technology) platform. The SPOT platform was designed to allow everyday objects like watches to receive information wirelessly. The platform was based on FM radio waves and required a monthly subscription fee.
The first smartwatch to use the SPOT platform was the MSN Direct Smart Watch, released in 2004. The MSN Direct Smart Watch was a joint effort between Microsoft and watchmaker Fossil. It was a simple device that could display notifications, weather updates, news headlines, and sports scores.
The MSN Direct Smart Watch had a black and white display and was powered by a rechargeable battery. It was water-resistant and had a range of up to 30 feet from the user’s computer. The watch had four buttons that allowed users to scroll through various features, and it could be customized with different watch faces.
Despite its limitations, the MSN Direct Smart Watch was a groundbreaking device. It was the first watch that could receive information wirelessly and was a precursor to the modern smartwatch. Unfortunately, the SPOT platform was discontinued in 2012, and the MSN Direct Smart Watch was eventually discontinued as well.
In 2009, another smartwatch was introduced by a startup company called Pebble Technology. The Pebble watch was one of the first smartwatches to feature an e-paper display, which made it easier to read in bright sunlight. It could connect to both iOS and Android devices, and it had a range of features like notifications, music control, and fitness tracking.
The Pebble watch was a huge success, raising over $10 million on Kickstarter and selling over a million units. However, the company struggled to compete with larger tech companies like Apple and Google, and it eventually went bankrupt in 2018.
Today, smartwatches are more advanced than ever before. Companies like Apple, Samsung, and Garmin offer a wide range of smartwatches with features like cellular connectivity, GPS, and advanced health monitoring. The first smartwatch may have been a simple device, but it paved the way for the technology we have today.
It could be argued that the first smartwatch was the MSN Direct Smart Watch, released in 2004. While it was a simple device by today’s standards, it was groundbreaking at the time. Smartwatches have come a long way since then, and they continue to evolve with new features and technology