You've probably heard of Project Ara, the concept of a modular smartphone to which the user can build their own device like a Lego kit. With this in mind, we guess it was inevitable that this idea is also pushing on the scene smartwatches.
In fact, this idea is about to emerge through team Phonebloks, which is none other than that which is at the origin of the Project Ara prototype, before Google takes things in hand.
The smartwatch Blocks , which was exhibited at the Consumer Electronics Show last week, is a gadget which you'll be able to add modules to have a feature you need, whether for tracking your physical activity, navigation, or to make phone calls, etc.
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You can choose to have a rectangular or circular screen (or even an E-Ink screen), customize the colors and textures of the watch, and add modules to have a microphone, a heart rate monitor, an ultra-violet control, gestural controls, a GPS, a fingerprint sensor, an audio jack, a flashlight, a SIM card, a kinetic charger and even modules for an extra battery.
There are a ton of things you will be able to customize, and according to Gizmodo , the base module (with screen) will cost around $ 150, and additional modules will cost between 20 and 40 dollars.
The watch will be developed on an open platform for both hardware and software part, suggesting that anyone can produce additional modules for Blocks. As for the OS, it is a "home" version, which will be compatible for both Android and iOS smartphones, and the team plans to introduce Phonebloks Android Wear in a future version of its OS.
The campaign of crowdfunding for Blocks begin in the spring, with a device which should be shipped by the end of 2015.
In fact, this idea is about to emerge through team Phonebloks, which is none other than that which is at the origin of the Project Ara prototype, before Google takes things in hand.
The smartwatch Blocks , which was exhibited at the Consumer Electronics Show last week, is a gadget which you'll be able to add modules to have a feature you need, whether for tracking your physical activity, navigation, or to make phone calls, etc.
See also : Chrome OS: the file manager will adopt the Material Design
You can choose to have a rectangular or circular screen (or even an E-Ink screen), customize the colors and textures of the watch, and add modules to have a microphone, a heart rate monitor, an ultra-violet control, gestural controls, a GPS, a fingerprint sensor, an audio jack, a flashlight, a SIM card, a kinetic charger and even modules for an extra battery.