Seiko Unveil The World's First GPS Solar Watch

RobBrady

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.

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Robert Brady

GeoffCee · 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? Embarassed

AllyCat · 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)? Wink

Cheers, Alan.[/i]
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peterc10 · Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2012 12:16 pm Post subject:

Guivre46 · 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?
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AllyCat · 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).

M8TJT · Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2012 1:11 pm Post subject:

Surely it must to more than adjust the time zone and keep deadly accurate time? Seems like a solution to a problem that doesn't really exist to me. Rolling Eyes

PaulB2005 · Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2012 1:52 pm Post subject:

DennisN · Posted: Sun Mar 11, 2012 9:07 am Post subject:

Guivre46 · Posted: Sun Mar 11, 2012 8:43 pm Post subject:

Exactly. Cut to the chase - how much is it?
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Go 530T - unsupported
Go550 Live [not renewed]
Kia In-dash Tomtom

DennisN · Posted: Sun Mar 11, 2012 8:54 pm Post subject: Re: GPS on your wrist

M8TJT · Posted: Sun Mar 11, 2012 11:29 pm Post subject: Re: GPS on your wrist

MaFt · 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.

A neat bit of info I found in another news article about this watch said:

MaFt · 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!

MaFt

M8TJT · Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2012 10:23 am Post subject:

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