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Smart Personal Objects Technology

This article is about Microsoft SPOT initiative. For other uses, see .NET Micro Framework.

The Smart Personal Objects Technology (SPOT) is a discontinued initiative by Microsoft to create intelligent and personal home appliances, consumer electronics, and other objects through new hardware capabilities and software features.

A Melitta drip coffeemaker displaying a weather forecast on an electronic visual display powered by SPOT

Development of SPOT began as an incubation project initiated by the Microsoft Research division.[1][2][3] SPOT was first announced by Bill Gates at the COMDEX computer exposition event in 2002,[4] and additional details were revealed by Microsoft at the 2003 Consumer Electronics Show where Gates demonstrated a set of prototype smartwatches—the first type of device that would support the technology.[1][5] Unlike more recent technologies, SPOT did not use more traditional forms of connectivity, such as 3G or Wi-Fi, but relied on FM broadcasting subcarrier transmission as a method of data distribution.[6][7]

While several types of electronics would eventually support the technology throughout its lifecycle, SPOT was considered a commercial failure. Reasons that have been cited for its failure include its subscription-based business model, support limited to North America, the emergence of more efficient and popular forms of data distribution, and mobile feature availability that surpasses the features that SPOT offered.[7]

History

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Development

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Development of SPOT began as an incubation project led by Microsoft engineer, Bill Mitchell, and initiated by the Microsoft Research division.[1][2][3] Mitchell would enlist the help of Larry Karr, president of SCA Data Systems, to develop the project. Karr had previously worked in the 1980s to develop technology for Atari that would distribute games in a manner distinct from the company's competitors; Karr proposed FM broadcasting subcarrier transmission as a method of distribution, technology which would also be used by Microsoft's SPOT.[6][8] Microsoft Research and SCA Data Systems would ultimately develop the DirectBand subcarrier technology for SPOT.[9][10] National Semiconductor would aid in the development of device chipsets, which would feature an ARM7 CPU and ROM, SRAM, and a 100 MHz RF receiver chip.[2]

SPOT was unveiled by Bill Gates at the annual COMDEX computer exposition event in fall of 2002.[4] Gates stated that "new devices and technologies will help bring about the next computing revolution" and demonstrated refrigerator magnets that displayed the current time and sports scores, and an alarm clock that could display a list of upcoming appointments, traffic updates, and weather forecasts.[11][12][13]

 
Microsoft's "XEEL" remote concept aimed to provide a consistent navigation experience across various device types including SPOT devices.[14]

At the Consumer Electronics Show of 2003, Microsoft announced that wristwatches would be the first type of device to utilize the technology in a partnership with watch manufacturers Citizen Watch Co., Fossil, and Suunto.[1][5][15][16] Bill Gates also demonstrated a set of prototype smart watches.[17] SPOT was not Microsoft's first foray into the smartwatch business—the company previously co-developed the Timex Datalink with Timex in 1994.[18] During CES, Microsoft claimed that the first SPOT-based smartwatches would be released in the fall of that year;[15] the company would also release a promotional video that displayed an estimated delivery time of fall 2003,[19] but the first devices would be delayed until the beginning of 2004.[20][21][22]

At the Windows Hardware Engineering Conference of 2003, Gates unveiled a new set of hardware-based navigational controls codenamed XEEL, designed to create a consistent navigation experience across Windows-based devices, such as smart phones, tablet PCs, and those powered by SPOT.[23][24] Microsoft intended for XEEL to create a consistent navigation experience across hardware devices that equaled the software interface navigation consistency introduced by the mouse scroll wheel.[25]

In June 2003, Microsoft unveiled its MSN Direct wireless service developed specifically for SPOT, which would be made available across North America. The company stated that the service would enable the delivery of personalized information on devices and, as an example of this functionality, would allow users to receive messages sent from MSN Messenger or calendar appointment reminders from Microsoft Outlook.[26][27] MSN Direct would use a subscription-based business model, available through monthly or yearly service plans.[26][28] MSN Direct relied on the DirectBand subcarrier technology developed by Microsoft in conjunction with SCA Data Systems.[9]

Release

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The first devices to make use of SPOT were released in 2004 by Fossil and Suunto.[10][29] Tissot would later introduce the first compatible watch to feature a touchscreen,[30][31] and Swatch would release the first compatible watch, largely tailored towards younger consumers.[32][33] As smartwatches were the first type of devices to make use of the technology, they became the de facto type of device that represented it.

In 2006, Oregon Scientific released the second type of SPOT device, a weather station that displayed regional weather forecasts and other various types of information.[34] A second generation of smartwatches was also released, and were designed to address the shortcomings observed in first generation models.[35] Later that year, Melitta released the third type of device to utilize the technology: a coffee maker that displayed weather forecasts on an electronic visual display.[36] Garmin released the first SPOT-compatible GPS navigation units in 2007.[37]

In early 2008, Microsoft announced that MSN Direct would be available for Windows Mobile,[38][39] and in early 2009, the service would receive additional location-based enhancements.[40]

Discontinuation

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Production of SPOT watches ceased in 2008.[10][41][42][43][44] In 2009, Microsoft announced that it would discontinue the MSN Direct service at the beginning of 2012.[45] The company stated that this decision was due to decreased demand for the service and because of the emergence of more efficient and popular forms of data distribution, such as Wi-Fi.[45][46] The MSN Direct service continued to support existing SPOT devices until transmissions ceased on January 1, 2012.[10][46][47]

Overview

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SPOT extended functionality of traditional devices to include features not originally envisaged for them; a SPOT-powered coffeemaker, for example, would be able to display information such as weather forecasts on an electronic visual display.[7] Smartwatches featured digital watch displays, referred to as Channels, that presented information in a manner that could be customized by a user—a user could also specify the default channel to be displayed; this feature was functionally analogous with a home screen commonly seen in mobile operating systems. Additional channels could be downloaded from a specialized website,[1][3] and a Glance feature would allow a user to cycle through downloaded information.[1][48]

Manufacturers could also add their own features to SPOT-based devices;[7] as an example, a manufacturer could create its own smartwatch channel in order to distinguish its product from a competitor's product.[1] Each SPOT-based device included a unique identification number used to enable secure authentication and encryption of DirectBand signals. Microsoft also reportedly considered an alarm function for SPOT-based smartwatches that would activate in the event of theft.[1]

SPOT relied on the .NET Micro Framework for the creation and management of embedded device firmware.[49] This technology would later be used for the Windows SideShow feature introduced in Windows Vista, which shares design similarities with SPOT.[49][50][51] In 2007, five years after SPOT was announced, Microsoft released the first software development kit for the .NET Micro Framework.[52][53]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Thurrott, Paul (January 16, 2003). "Smart Personal Object Technology (SPOT) Preview". SuperSite for Windows. Penton. Archived from the original on July 21, 2011. Retrieved April 22, 2015.
  2. ^ a b c "Q&A: Microsoft and Watch-making Partners Announce First Smart Personal Objects Technology Wristwatches". News Center. Microsoft. January 9, 2003. Retrieved April 23, 2015.
  3. ^ a b c "Microsoft Presents Smart Personal Objects Technology (SPOT)-Based Wristwatches at CES". News Center. Microsoft. January 9, 2003. Retrieved April 28, 2015.
  4. ^ a b "Microsoft Launches Smart Personal Object Technology Initiative". News Center. Microsoft. November 17, 2002. Retrieved April 22, 2015.
  5. ^ a b Walker, Leslie (January 16, 2003). "Web Special: Consumer Electronics Show 2003". The Washington Post. Nash Holdings. Retrieved April 22, 2015.
  6. ^ a b Hachman, Mark (January 31, 2003). "Microsoft's SPOT: The Atari Connection". ExtremeTech. Ziff Davis Media. Retrieved April 22, 2015.
  7. ^ a b c d Bright, Peter (September 11, 2014). "Lessons learned from Microsoft's pioneering—and standalone—smartwatches". Ars Technica. Condé Nast. Retrieved April 28, 2015.
  8. ^ Niccolai, James (January 13, 2003). "CES - Microsoft's SPOT technology has humble origins". PC World. IDG. Archived from the original on November 25, 2015. Retrieved April 22, 2015.
  9. ^ a b SCA Data Systems Inc. "Clients". Retrieved April 22, 2015.
  10. ^ a b c d Baker, Chris (July 2010), "How Microsoft Lost the Wrist-Top", Wired, vol. 18, no. 7, p. 27
  11. ^ Anderson, Kevin (November 18, 2002). "Bill Gates spots the next big thing". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved April 22, 2015.
  12. ^ "At COMDEX, Bill Gates Reports on State of the 'Digital Decade'". News Center. Microsoft. November 17, 2002. Retrieved April 22, 2015.
  13. ^ Hachman, Mark (November 18, 2002). "Gates Proposes Web-Enabled Alarm Clocks". ExtremeTech. Ziff Davis. Retrieved April 22, 2015.
  14. ^ Bear, Eric (2003). "Designing Intuitive Hardware Controls". Microsoft. Archived from the original (EXE) on August 8, 2003. Retrieved March 11, 2017.
  15. ^ a b "Microsoft Presents Smart Personal Objects Technology (SPOT)-Based Wristwatches at CES". News Center. Microsoft. January 9, 2003. Retrieved May 23, 2015.
  16. ^ Hansell, Saul (January 9, 2003). "A Microsoft Watch Will Provide Much More Than Time". The New York Times. Retrieved May 23, 2015.
  17. ^ Hermida, Alfred (January 9, 2003). "All you need to know, on your wrist". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved April 22, 2015.
  18. ^ Aamoth, Doug (July 8, 2010). "Great Moments in Geek History: The Timex Datalink Watch". Time Magazine. Time Inc. Retrieved April 28, 2015.
  19. ^ "Microsoft SPOT Web Broadband Video". Microsoft SPOT. Microsoft. Archived from the original (WMV) on February 7, 2003. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
  20. ^ Hachman, Mark (November 14, 2003). "Microsoft, Partners Delay SPOT Watches". ExtremeTech. Ziff Davis. Retrieved May 23, 2015.
  21. ^ Niccolai, James; Evers, Joris (December 16, 2003). "Microsoft SPOT Watches Hit Stores". PCWorld. IDG. Archived from the original on May 19, 2015. Retrieved May 23, 2015.
  22. ^ Smith, Tony (November 17, 2003). "Microsoft SPOT watches delayed". The Register. Situation Publishing. Retrieved May 23, 2015.
  23. ^ "Bill Gates Unveils Next Wave of Windows PC Innovation at WinHEC 2003". News Center. Microsoft. May 6, 2003. Retrieved March 12, 2015.
  24. ^ Rosoff, Matt (May 19, 2003). "Message to OEMs: Focus on Consumers". Directions on Microsoft. Archived from the original on June 2, 2003. Retrieved April 23, 2015.
  25. ^ "Speech Transcript – Will Poole, Windows Hardware Engineering Conference (WinHEC) 2003". News Center. Microsoft. May 7, 2003. Retrieved April 22, 2015.
  26. ^ a b "Microsoft Announces Wireless Service Plans For Smart Watches Available This Fall". News Center. Microsoft. June 4, 2003. Retrieved April 23, 2015.
  27. ^ Preston, Cheri (June 13, 2003). "A Wristwatch of Wireless Data". ABC News. American Broadcasting Company. Retrieved April 27, 2015.
  28. ^ Evers, Joris (June 5, 2003). "Microsoft Shares Smart Watch Details". PCWorld. IDG. Archived from the original on June 22, 2003. Retrieved May 23, 2015.
  29. ^ "Smart Watches for MSN Direct Ship to Retail". News Center. Microsoft. January 7, 2004. Retrieved April 27, 2015.
  30. ^ Smith, Tony (July 28, 2004). "Tissot preps pricey Microsoft data watch". The Register. Situation Publishing. Retrieved April 27, 2015.
  31. ^ Evers, Joris (July 26, 2004). "Tissot offers MSN Direct watches". InfoWorld. IDG. Retrieved April 27, 2015.
  32. ^ Thurrott, Paul; Furman, Keith (October 25, 2004). "Swatch Hits the SPOT with New Watch". SuperSite for Windows. Penton. Retrieved April 27, 2015.
  33. ^ Neal, William (February 10, 2005). "Swatch Paparazzi review". CNET. CBS Interactive. Retrieved April 27, 2015.
  34. ^ "SPOT-On Weather Forecasts from Oregon Scientific and Microsoft". News Center. Microsoft. January 4, 2006. Retrieved April 28, 2015.
  35. ^ Carnoy, David (June 13, 2006). "Microsoft watch keeps up with the times". CNET. CBS Interactive. Retrieved April 28, 2015.
  36. ^ Bishop, Todd (September 19, 2006). "Now brewing: A Microsoft-powered coffee maker". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Hearst Corporation. Retrieved April 28, 2015.
  37. ^ Johnston, Stuart (January 9, 2007). "Microsoft and Garmin Aim To Hit the Spot". Microsoft Certified Professional Magazine. 1105 Media Inc. Retrieved April 28, 2015.
  38. ^ "MSN Direct Now Available for Windows Mobile Devices". News Center. Microsoft. February 11, 2008. Retrieved May 3, 2015.
  39. ^ Patel, Nilay (February 11, 2008). "MSN Direct now on Windows Mobile". Engadget. AOL. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
  40. ^ "MSN Direct Expands GPS Navigation Services and Partner Ecosystem". News Center. Microsoft. January 8, 2009. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
  41. ^ Carnoy, David (April 23, 2008). "Time runs out on Microsoft's SPOT watches". CNET. CBS Interactive. Retrieved April 23, 2015.
  42. ^ Vance, Ashlee (March 1, 2009). "Microsoft Mapping Course to a Jetsons-Style Future". The New York Times. Retrieved April 23, 2015.
  43. ^ Ziegler, Chris (April 23, 2008). "SPOT watches, R.I.P.: 2004 - 2008". Engadget. AOL. Retrieved April 23, 2015.
  44. ^ Smith, Tony (April 28, 2008). "Microsoft winds down smart wristwatch". The Register. Situation Publishing. Retrieved April 27, 2015.
  45. ^ a b Gohring, Nancy (October 28, 2009). "Microsoft to Discontinue MSN Direct". PCWorld. IDG. Retrieved April 26, 2015.
  46. ^ a b "MSN Direct Service Announcement". Microsoft. 2011. Archived from the original on November 9, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2015.
  47. ^ Ziegler, Chris (January 2, 2012). "MSN Direct switched off on schedule, some Garmin navigators affected". The Verge. Vox Media.
  48. ^ Miller, Michael (January 7, 2004). "SPOT Watch First Look". PCMag. Ziff Davis. Retrieved April 28, 2015.
  49. ^ a b "What Is the .NET Micro Framework?". MSDN. Microsoft. September 2009. Retrieved April 28, 2015.
  50. ^ Hall, Mike (February 14, 2005). "SPOT to be Found in Windows Longhorn". MSDN Blogs. Microsoft. Retrieved October 22, 2015.
  51. ^ Egger, Markus. "Unveiling Windows SideShow". EPS Software. Code Magazine. Retrieved April 22, 2015.
  52. ^ "Microsoft .NET Micro Framework Is Now Available". News Center. Microsoft. February 13, 2007. Retrieved May 23, 2015.
  53. ^ Johnston, Stuart (February 13, 2007). "See SPOT Develop . . . Apps, That Is". Microsoft Certified Professional Magazine. 1105 Media Inc. Retrieved May 23, 2015.
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