New Watch Suggestion
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As some of you may know, I work for Timex - the watch company. I'm currently in the process of designing the user interface for a new digital sports watch. I want to make it appealing to the younger cell phone generation - it must be something they would wear outside of the gym. My industrial design guys are handling that part. However, what would you all like to see in a digital sports watch - aside from the standard chronograph with lap storage, alarms, and timer that every sports watch has. Oh, and for this project, computer connectivity, heart rate monitors and GPS receivers are out of the question. Regards, Brigg Thorp Senior Software Engineer Timex Corporation
Make common operations the easiest to get to. For example, instead of making the wearer find a button while they're running, let them tap the face of the watch (in other words, make the watch face a big button). If the watch is in chronograph mode, a tap can do start/stop, next lap, whatever. I would rather have 10 or 12 modes that basically switched what the 'tap' meant than to have to find a button.
Software Zen:
delete this; -
I would like it to sense darkness and sense when it is being held in a position that means it's being looked at and light up accordingly.
I'm not sure how well this would work. Mainly I think you'd get alot of false positives from the motion/orientation sensors and drain the battery. MY watch occasionally blinks the light for no explained reason, it's really annoying when driving at night.
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As some of you may know, I work for Timex - the watch company. I'm currently in the process of designing the user interface for a new digital sports watch. I want to make it appealing to the younger cell phone generation - it must be something they would wear outside of the gym. My industrial design guys are handling that part. However, what would you all like to see in a digital sports watch - aside from the standard chronograph with lap storage, alarms, and timer that every sports watch has. Oh, and for this project, computer connectivity, heart rate monitors and GPS receivers are out of the question. Regards, Brigg Thorp Senior Software Engineer Timex Corporation
Put it on a jockstrap and make it change colors according to the wearer's mood, or better yet, make it vocalize the wearer's mood - call it a CrotchWatch... Oh, wait.... You said *outside* the gym... ------- sig starts "I've heard some drivers saying, 'We're going too fast here...'. If you're not here to race, go the hell home - don't come here and grumble about going too fast. Why don't you tie a kerosene rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass..." - Dale Earnhardt "...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001
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That is why you should get an eco-drive battery. It uses the light to store up a charge to power the watch. And it doesn't have to be in the light all the time to be able to see it. It stores the charge for a long time. Brett A. Whittington Application Developer
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As some of you may know, I work for Timex - the watch company. I'm currently in the process of designing the user interface for a new digital sports watch. I want to make it appealing to the younger cell phone generation - it must be something they would wear outside of the gym. My industrial design guys are handling that part. However, what would you all like to see in a digital sports watch - aside from the standard chronograph with lap storage, alarms, and timer that every sports watch has. Oh, and for this project, computer connectivity, heart rate monitors and GPS receivers are out of the question. Regards, Brigg Thorp Senior Software Engineer Timex Corporation
Off the top of my head, computer connectivity, heart rate monitors and GPS.
Brigg Thorp wrote:
Oh, and for this project, computer connectivity, heart rate monitors and GPS receivers are out of the question.
Boo! Seriously though, how can it be a sports watch without a HRM? Is it simply a watch someone would wear while playing sport? Here's my list of what I want in a sports watch (I'm a cyclist, so I'm biased here) - Watch, dual times, alarm with snooze - Date display in main window - dual times - Backlight - Altimiter (max, min, avg, log + graph) - Barometer - Compass - Inclinometer (max, min, avg, log + graph) - Cycle functions (speed (max/min/avg), cadence (+average), trip time (moving, total, average, wattage - HRM (max, min, avg, zones, log, fitness tests) - Thermometer I'm not actually fussed about a GPS but PC connectivity is a must. Most importantly, if you want it to be worn outside the gym then make it light so that it isn't annoying, not too huge so that it interferes with typing on a keyboard, and make the font clear and smooth. I love the Suunto X6 but it's too damn ugly for me. The X9 is brilliant but has no cycling features (and is a little huge). I'm currently using a Polar AXN 300 (because it was cheap and has most features I need) but as soon as I can track down a supplier I'll be getting a Ciclo HAC4 Plus. This bad boy does everything. Except look good. :sigh: cheers, Chris Maunder
CodeProject.com : C++ MVP
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I'm not sure how well this would work. Mainly I think you'd get alot of false positives from the motion/orientation sensors and drain the battery. MY watch occasionally blinks the light for no explained reason, it's really annoying when driving at night.
Well it would work as well as they can make it work I guess. Batteries are soon to be an issue no longer if the latest buzz becomes reality and they already have watches that can charge themselves anyway so I don't see it being much of an issue. They can always add a menu option to turn that off.
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Shog9 wrote:
I don't care how many other features the thing has
Are you kidding? The HRMs are a godsend. Jeremy Falcon
Actually, we have a whole line of heart rate monitors. I agree - for working out, these are a must. Training in your target zone optimizes your workout. This watch is more of a new version of our standard Ironman watches. Brigg Thorp Senior Software Engineer Timex Corporation
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Temperature, Humidity, perhaps?[
My articles and software tools
Our Expedition line of watches focus more on the temperature, barometer, altimeter and compass functions. Brigg Thorp Senior Software Engineer Timex Corporation
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wi-fi hot-spot detector. I love watches, but I'm allergic to them, physical allergy, I get irritation on my wrist, so something that will eliminate this. It might already exists, I haven't wore a watch in over 10 years.
Maximilien Lincourt Your Head A Splode - Strong Bad
Well, the new sports watch bands are made out of a new rubber material. Our first Ironman products (1986) had a horrible rubber band. There is a new additive in the rubber that prevents allergic reactions in most people. The WiFi host-spot detector would be cool, but probably better for a business watch. Brigg Thorp Senior Software Engineer Timex Corporation
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How about one with 1) Multiple alarms (I wake up at the same time, I need to leave the gym at the same time, I should eat lunch at this time, etc...) don't make me set one alarm 10 times a day. 2) a count down timer. That beeps when the time has hit. and then counts "up" after the time has elasped so I know how much time passed from the point when I should have stopped. 3) Don't make the watch this huge, bulky thing that looks like it fell off an Aircraft. Just because I like working out with weights, doesn't mean I want my watch to be one too. 4) Ok, I know you said "No computer connectivity stuff" but an MP3 player built-in with headphone jack. I mean COME ON this is a no brainer. Even if it held only 30 songs, that's enough for a work-out. oops - you said "After the gym" ... but honestly, the watch I wear when I work-out is almost always the same one I wear to work; and everywhere else. It has to function in/out of the gym and "play both parts" ;P 5) Make a woman's watch just like it. My wife complains all the time that men have the cooler watches and watch companies always muck up the "woman's version" of the watch. Make them the same, but make the sizes for a man and one for a woman. That's what've got.
:..::. Douglas H. Troy ::..
Bad Astronomy |Development Blogging|Viksoe.dk's Site -- modified at 13:37 Monday 6th March, 20061. Most of our high-end Ironman watches have 3 alarms or more. 2. All of our Ironman watches have a countdown timer. They count down and stop or repeat X times. We used to have a feature that would start the chronograph after the timer expired, but we've removed that recently due to lack of interest. 3. We have mid-size Ironman products that are very small, but still have big digits. 4. Point taken. 5. Like I said, our mid-size products are small and women wear them without a problem. Brigg Thorp Senior Software Engineer Timex Corporation
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Brigg Thorp wrote:
heart rate monitors
Crap. I love my Timex Ironman HRM. Of course with the strap, wearing it outside of the gym/working out is kinda silly. For a sports watch, I'd love the ability to see how many calories are burned, like a treadmil does. Of couse, you have to input weight, exercise, etc. but still I think it would be neat. Jeremy Falcon
Calories are hard to calculate. You can guestimate by putting in running, jogging, walking, etc. But it's VERY inaccurate. Brigg Thorp Senior Software Engineer Timex Corporation
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I think I might be able to give you some useful feedback. I currently have a Timex Triathalon, which is several years old. One problem I have had with it is I could never figure out how to reset the chronograph to zero. I can start it, stop it, and use the lap feature, but never could figure out how to zero it out. Perhaps you might be able to go have a look at how it was done on that particular watch, and make sure to do it differently! ;) Sincerely, Rich S
If it's a newer watch (within 5 years), this is standard across all of our products. After pressing Stop to stop the chronograph, you can hold it down to reset. The button should be labeled Stop/Reset. Brigg Thorp Senior Software Engineer Timex Corporation
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Make the UI SIMPLE (easier said than done). Basic design criteria: If you need to read the manual for a watch - it's a bad design. Period. I hate digital watches with 8 billion features that you can only get to with simultaneously holding two buttons or pressing one button, selecting with another, and back and forth. Who can remember all of that! Try copying the Ipod somewhat. The "dial + select + back" interface works really well for navigating, and the dial would fit well on the bevel of a watch.
We have followed a standard for our watches for the past 5 or 6 years. They are very easy. Our newer watches even have flags on the display to help you with the buttons when you are in certain states (setting time, setting alarms, etc.). Brigg Thorp Senior Software Engineer Timex Corporation
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Ever since I have been buying watches, I've had only a few requirements: 1) both analog and digital; 2) stopwatch; 3) alarm; 4) water resistant; 5) less than $30. I like for the watch to have an "outdoor" type rather than a "professional" type look. My current watch is a Remington. It looks really good but I can now complain about a few things since I've had it over a year: 1) the band is secured via Velcro which does not last very long. It also snags the end of long-sleeve shirts; 2) the buttons on the side are multi-purpose and not very intuitive (e.g., hold button A down for 3 seconds, when LED flashes, depress buttons B and C); 3) I've not been able to locate a replacement band as it connects to the watch itself in a very odd way; 4) not sure what some of the LEDs are for, and the instructions don't say either.
"Let us be thankful for the fools. But for them the rest of us could not succeed." - Mark Twain
"There is no death, only a change of worlds." - Native American Proverb
1. The analog and digital won't be in this product, but we have Dual-Tech watches with this feature 2. All of our Ironman products have stopwatches. 3. All of our Ironman products have one or more alarms. 4. All of our Ironman products are at least water resistant to 30 m. 5. Less than $30 is tough. We are obligated to pay Ironman Corporation a royalty on our watches. Also, we use better materials than the throwaway watches. As they say, they take a licking and keep on ticking. :) 6. Velcro sucks...plain and simple 7. What do you want - 20 buttons? :) We try to label our buttons so they are intuitive. Set is used to set time, alarm, etc. Start will start the chrono, timer, etc. 8. Replacement bands for Timex watches can be found at Wal-Mart. They may be able to be used on other products. 9. Noted about the flags on the display - we try to make these easy to understand. Brigg Thorp Senior Software Engineer Timex Corporation
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When running at night, it would be nice to switch on the backlight for a few secs but by tapping the watch, rather than having to lose balance, slow down while trying to fiddle around getting my fat fingers round to the lgiht button. Not that I do much running these days, just that it used to annoy me years ago. I would more likely roll than run the shape I am in now..... if(E_NOINTERFACE == pThat->QueryInterface(IID_IUnknown,(void**)&pUnk)) { // I aint no pUnk bitch! }
Our FLIX system might be what you are looking for. When it's enabled, you simply flick your wrist to turn on the light for 3 seconds. Brigg Thorp Senior Software Engineer Timex Corporation
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I would like it to sense darkness and sense when it is being held in a position that means it's being looked at and light up accordingly.
Refer to this message[^]. Brigg Thorp Senior Software Engineer Timex Corporation
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Off the top of my head, computer connectivity, heart rate monitors and GPS.
Brigg Thorp wrote:
Oh, and for this project, computer connectivity, heart rate monitors and GPS receivers are out of the question.
Boo! Seriously though, how can it be a sports watch without a HRM? Is it simply a watch someone would wear while playing sport? Here's my list of what I want in a sports watch (I'm a cyclist, so I'm biased here) - Watch, dual times, alarm with snooze - Date display in main window - dual times - Backlight - Altimiter (max, min, avg, log + graph) - Barometer - Compass - Inclinometer (max, min, avg, log + graph) - Cycle functions (speed (max/min/avg), cadence (+average), trip time (moving, total, average, wattage - HRM (max, min, avg, zones, log, fitness tests) - Thermometer I'm not actually fussed about a GPS but PC connectivity is a must. Most importantly, if you want it to be worn outside the gym then make it light so that it isn't annoying, not too huge so that it interferes with typing on a keyboard, and make the font clear and smooth. I love the Suunto X6 but it's too damn ugly for me. The X9 is brilliant but has no cycling features (and is a little huge). I'm currently using a Polar AXN 300 (because it was cheap and has most features I need) but as soon as I can track down a supplier I'll be getting a Ciclo HAC4 Plus. This bad boy does everything. Except look good. :sigh: cheers, Chris Maunder
CodeProject.com : C++ MVP
Chris Maunder wrote:
- Watch, dual times, alarm with snooze - Date display in main window - dual times - Backlight - Altimiter (max, min, avg, log + graph) - Barometer - Compass - Inclinometer (max, min, avg, log + graph) - Cycle functions (speed (max/min/avg), cadence (+average), trip time (moving, total, average, wattage - HRM (max, min, avg, zones, log, fitness tests) - Thermometer
Everything you mentioned (except for the cycling functions) are available in one product or another. Unfortunately, to add all of these sensors would make the size of the watch about the size of your car. :) That's why we have one product that's an HRM, and another that is an altimeter, barometer, thermometer and compass. Brigg Thorp Senior Software Engineer Timex Corporation
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Chris Maunder wrote:
- Watch, dual times, alarm with snooze - Date display in main window - dual times - Backlight - Altimiter (max, min, avg, log + graph) - Barometer - Compass - Inclinometer (max, min, avg, log + graph) - Cycle functions (speed (max/min/avg), cadence (+average), trip time (moving, total, average, wattage - HRM (max, min, avg, zones, log, fitness tests) - Thermometer
Everything you mentioned (except for the cycling functions) are available in one product or another. Unfortunately, to add all of these sensors would make the size of the watch about the size of your car. :) That's why we have one product that's an HRM, and another that is an altimeter, barometer, thermometer and compass. Brigg Thorp Senior Software Engineer Timex Corporation
Rubbish. Check out the HAC4 Plus[^] cheers, Chris Maunder
CodeProject.com : C++ MVP
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As some of you may know, I work for Timex - the watch company. I'm currently in the process of designing the user interface for a new digital sports watch. I want to make it appealing to the younger cell phone generation - it must be something they would wear outside of the gym. My industrial design guys are handling that part. However, what would you all like to see in a digital sports watch - aside from the standard chronograph with lap storage, alarms, and timer that every sports watch has. Oh, and for this project, computer connectivity, heart rate monitors and GPS receivers are out of the question. Regards, Brigg Thorp Senior Software Engineer Timex Corporation
Brigg Thorp wrote:
I want to make it appealing to the younger cell phone generation
Well, obviously it should include a cell phone. SMS capability is a must, along with two-way video, as kids no longer speak or write any sensible language. It should have about 3,000 hours of MP3 storage capacity, too, and SurroundSound 5.1 playback. And for us older folks who still go to the gym, a defibrillator would be nice. Try to keep the cost under two weeks allowance, too, or about one Social Security check.;) "...a photo album is like Life, but flat and stuck to pages." - Shog9
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Put it on a jockstrap and make it change colors according to the wearer's mood, or better yet, make it vocalize the wearer's mood - call it a CrotchWatch... Oh, wait.... You said *outside* the gym... ------- sig starts "I've heard some drivers saying, 'We're going too fast here...'. If you're not here to race, go the hell home - don't come here and grumble about going too fast. Why don't you tie a kerosene rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass..." - Dale Earnhardt "...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001
:-D 'nuff said... "...a photo album is like Life, but flat and stuck to pages." - Shog9
