We should first agree that all future "killer" devices would likely include most, if not all, of the following:
New (old) Emerging Concepts
To this mix we add concepts such as 'glanceable' information, pervasive computing, networked devices, user-centered
design and data visualization. Where the intent is to make devices that require little or no training, also ideally
very little interaction with these devices - almost invisible technology. Think of the microchips in your car that
just do a job in the background, or a mood ring that just displays colors.
A practical example of simple but useful feedback is my outdoor fishpond (sorry it isn't a device). The pond is designed to never freeze completely for obvious reasons. The size of the opening where it hasn't frozen is my weather indicator; one glance and I know exactly how to dress that day.
What is Smart Personal Object Technology (SPOT)?
SPOT hardware is comprised of seven chips contained on a system board that measures only 34 mm by 30 mm by 2 mm, at its heart is an RF receiver. The entire package is small enough to fit in a watch and has low enough energy consumption that it can run for 2 to 3 days without needing to be recharged.
SPOT has a supporting network that ensures it is "always on." This network will provide coverage in most major North American cities.
One of the visions articulated by the folks from Redmond appears to be, lots of distributed devices communicating with a central server, a.k.a. "smarter everyday objects" or Smart Personal Object Technology (SPOT). By mixing and matching the above ingredients, in this case wireless, very small devices, Internet and "always on," we get SPOT.
In an age where most people can't be bothered to set their VCRs, the SPOT devices had better not need too much input from us or they will go back to their previous state, "fairly dumb everyday object;" i.e., morph into a DOT (Dumb Object Technology).
See SPOT Run
To get a good idea of what SPOT allows lets look at the features of the first significant offering - wristwatches:
Be still my foolish heart, some of the new watches come with the Palm Operating System (I am an unabashed Palm bigot) and a small built-in stylus; plus, they can be synced.
There are other SPOT devices (some really off the wall) that are envisioned that would perform single functions with even simpler interfaces, where a quick glance will tell you some useful even urgent information. Think of blood-sugar or blood-pressure readings, either of yourself or a loved one, to get a sense of the potential. In some of these visions, there is conductor for this plethora of devices in your home; none other than the PC.
A New Computing Platform
Microsoft has decided that this is significant enough to be labeled a new computing platform. Yes, and new
software development kits (SDKs) are coming. For more information, samples, demo videos etc on SPOT devices
see www.microsoft.com/resources/spot/product.mspx.
Under the Covers
The Chipset: Microsoft has worked with National Semiconductor, in partnership with SCA data systems, for more
than two years to plan and build a chipset to power wristwatches and other SPOT-based devices. This seven chip board
consists of an application chip with an ARM7 CPU (see www.national.com/news/images/SPOTboard.jpg), ROM,
SRAM, and a tiny 100MHz RF chip. The small platform (1.3 inch by 1.1 inch by 0.08 inch) has been designed to
require very low power; i.e., it will not need recharging for 2 to 3 days. The time will be kept by a separate battery.
FM Tuner: The FM tuner circuit is designed to cover a frequency range of 85 to 110 MHz, which will allow it to cover the entire 87.5 to 108 MHz U.S. broadcast band.
FM Sub-carrier Technology: Microsoft collaborated with SCA Data Systems, a pioneer in FM sub-carrier technology, to design this unique high-bit-rate, noise-tolerant radio system and new radio protocols. Microsoft says that it has also developed a new way to optimize data transfer over the FM sub-carrier spectrum. The combination of these is called DirectBand. The technology allows continuous downloads of bits of information, which would appear to the user to be near real time. It is rated with a throughput of 12K bit/sec. It utilizes the deregulated sub-carriers, a.k.a. sidebands, available to broadcasters operating FM radio stations. These sub-carriers were deregulated in the US by the FCC since 1983 and are used for RDS (Radio Data System) for traffic reports or to send information such as call letters and song titles that radios can display on their displays. A sub-carrier is a separate signal modulated along with the audio carrier and then decoded by a special receiver.
Personalized: National Semiconductor has burnt a personalized reception code into its circuitry, which will allow a specific SPOT device to receive personalized information out of a broadcast. The device selects and downloads the, often pre-selected, information.
Data Storage: The SPOT devices have 512K of ROM and 384K of RAM to provide the storage for both programs and data.
Global SPOT?
To build the DirectBand network, Microsoft is subleasing spare radio FM spectrum from a number of broadcasters, including Entercom, Clear Channel, Rogers Communications, and Greater Media.
Part of the vision is to be a service provider. Microsoft says that it will act as the service provider, working with device manufacturers who in turn will create devices and market subscription data services. Initially 250 FM radio stations would cover 100 metropolitan US cities in all 50 states plus the14 major Canadian cities. Japan, Singapore and India are expected to soon follow. See where in North America http://www.microsoft.com/resources/spot/images/map.gif ).
The subscription data service providers are expected to lease the carrier capacity and the SPOT devices will automatically retrieve the signals using the built-in FM chips.
Why SPOT?
Is this an attempt to leapfrog the competition by Microsoft or just continuing to nibble away at anything with the potential to increase revenues? It would appear to be the latter. We know messaging is popular and people will pay for it.
Consumers that have a PDA with a connection to www.AvantGo.com or a wireless connection and a cellular phone may find insufficient reasons to add this to the mix. But SPOT chips are expected to be a PDA add-on soon offering a way to add the "always on" feature to many of these devices. Unfortunately unlike the BlackBerry, this is one-way communication only.
A Better Mousetrap?
Cars with microprocessors are here to stay, so are dishwashers, in fact appliances are now chockfull with microprocessors, so adding the ability to receive information will clearly offer more intelligent appliances to a seemingly receptive public. The only difficulties would appear to be: a) this is a broadcast mechanism and b) there are monthly fees.
Simplicity Has Achieved Success
One reason often given for the success of the PDA is its simplicity. It allows you to perform some useful tasks with a minimum of fuss. Microsoft seems to be attempting to follow this reasoning and enhancing what they call "core functionality" without adding a complex user interface.
Breakthrough Technology? Not!
This is clearly not breakthrough technology, Timex Internet Messenger; an offering with Skytel offers many of the same features today. Ref: (www.skytel.com) http://mobile.timex.com/indexENTER.html
And the Ambient Orb ships with free access to the Homeland Security channel; financial channels: Dow Jones Industrial Average, NASDAQ Composite, S&P 500, NASDAQ 100, Russell 2000; regional weather forecast channels: NYC, Chicago, San Francisco, Atlanta; and health channels: local pollen forecasts. Additional for fee data channels are available including personalized stock portfolio, localized nationwide weather, and localized forecast weather. With more channels planned for 2003: email alerts, IM status of buddies and coworkers, your commute traffic, and online auction tracking.
DMarc Networks launched a similar "radio-text" service called RadioGreetings.com, which supports sending personalized text messages or dedications through the Internet for broadcast by three Los Angeles radio stations.
RIM's BlackBerry was a hit with some consumers due to its "always on" technology. Note the most current versions use CDMA2000 but the first models started with the 800MHz DataTAC network and 900MHz Mobitex network frequencies.
SMS messages are very popular with cellular phone users; it is a runaway offering worldwide because of its "always on" feature. In many Asian countries even small kids know how to "text" as it is called. Though for those who have sent sms messages that are rejected, pending or just lost in the ether, they know the annoyance when "always on" sometimes means "never sure," especially as different networks seem to follow different rules.
Cost?
The entire platform is expected to eventually be embedded in $20 gadgets. But the initial watches from Citizen Watch Co., Suunto, Fossil Inc. and others are expected to cost around $150 with a monthly fee of around $10 a month.
Personalization
A Web page is expected to allow subscribers to select the type of information and services they want to receive on the devices. This will then be broadcast and retrieved by the SPOT device. Personal information will be encrypted.
Competing Visions
Personal Digital Assistants: On the other end of the spectrum is the PDA. Where the mantra appears to be: "Everything on a single device, no more, no less."
Convergence? Personally, I find it very appealing. I take my PDA just about everywhere, because I can. If it were smaller and waterproof, I would likely take it into the bathtub with me. Hey a waterproof, SPOT PDA may soon be available. On the other hand, I hate small screens. A PDA is the electronic version of the overstuffed handbag or briefcase. It's a real grab bag of stuff for me. The normal daytimer functions; repeating alarms; my exercise log; my SMS repository; a place to store the occasional "must read but not now article" and so on.
Cellular Phones (Has the battle been lost already?): Many gurus are saying the battle has already been lost (or won) depending on your point of view and that the cellular phone is the victor. There are many good articles that put forward persuasive arguments. Notice the cellular phone has all of the ingredients we expect in any winning device.
Personally, when I only have room for a single device, what is it? My phone. I turn it off with great reluctance in meetings, often just muting the sound. I am always expecting that all-important call. It is clear that I am not alone in my love for the cellular phone. Cellular phones have fast becoming the ubiquitous device worldwide. Most people seem to agree it is a must-have device. I never leave home without it.
The Ultimate Device: What is my vision for the ultimate device? First like a good chef in the new millennium, we must start with all of the basic ingredients:
Visions into Reality
The "Who's Who" of the computer and entertainment industries want to turn these and other visions into reality, each trying to create the next appliance, device or standard to make this happen. We are waiting eagerly for the next must-have device but SPOT watches are not likely to be it. SPOT technology will likely appear in other appliances if the cost is reduced and be appreciated likely without much fanfare.
So What Does the Consumer Want?
As any good economist will tell you needs are unlimited. Certainly judging by the proliferation of devices a.k.a. toys, there is no end to what we want. The more important question is "What are we willing to pay for?"
People have shown they want to communicate and will pay for it. Our preference is the spoken word, closely followed by text. The jury is still out on pictures. Anything that fills that need should be a winner!
References
www.nytimes.com/2002/12/15/magazine/15NEWS.html
www.freep.com/money/tech/newman11_20021211.htm
www.cfo.com/article/1,5309,7377%7C0%7CM%7C284%7C,00.html
www.theinquirer.org/?article=7142
www.abacuswatches.com/default.asp?load=true
www.suunto.com/pls/suunto/suunto2.pubmainpage.frameset
www.microsoft.com/resources/spot/direct.mspx
news.com.com/2100-1040-980055.html?tag=cd_mh
www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,108581,00.asp
www.freep.com/money/tech/newman11_20021211.htm
www.ambientdevices.com/cat/press/brookstone-release.doc
www.mobilemag.com/content/100/102/C1379/
www.bbc.co.uk/reception/factsheets/docs/radio_rds.pdf
www.microsoft.com/billgates/speeches/2003/01-08ces.asp
About the Author
Charles Dow is Vice President, Banking Systems with SLMsoft. Charles has over 25 years of experience in Technical Management. Prior to joining SLMsoft, Charles served as Portfolio Manager for the Application Integration Practice of Deloitte Consulting where he worked closely with clients to build and implement new systems and technologies.