The World’S First Active Matrix Epd Watch Is Launched.

[bazmlb]

SEIKO WATCH CORPORATION is pleased to confirm the introduction of the world's first EPD* watch with an active matrix system. Three models will be available in selected major markets around the world from December 2010 onward.

When the demonstration sample was exhibited at Baselworld 2010, it attracted huge interest from watch enthusiasts, journalists and industry experts alike. With its innovative and very detailed graphics, its clear, high-resolution screen of 300 dpi**, and its wide viewing angle, the new EPD watch demonstrated the future of digital time in a way that impressed the entire industry and opened visitors' eyes to the extraordinary potential of quartz timekeeping allied to innovative displays.

In addition to having an entirely new display system, the second generation EPD watch receives a time signal from the world's atomic clocks via radio wave so that the usual 15-seconds-a month accuracy of the watch is enhanced whenever the watch is in range of the transmitters. The time signal it receives is from atomic clocks that are accurate to 10-13 seconds a day or one second in every 30 million years!

It is powered by a self-recharging solar battery, so that no battery replacement is ever required. Once fully charged, thanks to SEIKO's expertise in energy-efficient IC and other hi-tech electronics, the new EPD watch can run for up to nine months even without additional exposure to light. Furthermore, if no button is pressed while the watch remains in darkness for 72 hours, the ‘sleep’ mode is activated. In this mode, the watch remembers the time and continues to receive the radio signal for over three years. As soon as any button is pressed or the solar cells are exposed to light, it awakes and the display operates normally once again.

* Electrophretic Display

Technology of EPD

EPD stands for Electrophoretic Display, a method of display with electronic ink technology. Electronic ink is a proprietary material that is processed into a film for integration into electronic displays. Although revolutionary in concept, electronic ink is a straightforward fusion of chemistry, physics and electronics to create this new material. The principal components of electronic ink are millions of tiny microcapsules, about the diameter of a human hair. Each microcapsule contains negatively charged white particles and positively charged black particles suspended in a clear fluid. When a negative electric field is applied, the white particles move to the top of the microcapsule where they become visible to the user. This makes the surface appear white at that spot. At the same time, an opposite electric field pulls the black particles to the bottom of the microcapsules where they are hidden. By reversing this process, the black particles appear at the top of the capsule, which now makes the surface appear dark at that spot.

http://www.seikowatches.com/press/2010/sep_rls1009-01.html

[JSixpack]

Fantastic. Now they just need to put that display into a G-Shock.

Price wasn't mentioned.

[nikster]

What's the point of a watch? It's a piece of jewelry these days.

[britmaveric]

^tell the time I would suspect.

[Daffy D]

Truly amazing thanks for the info.

Sounds like it might be a little expensive

[britmaveric]

^Seiko's are moderately priced prob be no more than 300 quid at the most.

[RKASA]

My cell phone is linked to UT why would I need watch. I don't even have clocks in the house with all PC's and TV's all over the place whats the point.