DisPlay Watch

• An analog E-Ink watch that’s only purpose is to foster creativity and express yourself!

• This is an ongoing project to build an analog watch with an E-Ink display dial, allowing users to display whatever art they want on their wrist, while keeping an analog feel

A teardown of a previous product with an E-Ink dial and mechanical watch hands. I tried to reverse engineer the EE layout, but ultimately sourced a different display to use that was compatible with common microcontrollers

I want to work on projects that can foster people's creativity, and make tangible hardware that users can interact with in a satisfying and creative way. One of my favorite statement pieces are watches, I specifically love mechanical skeleton watches, but really anything with a fun aesthetic or a unique theme. I love watches that say something about the user, beyond what they can afford, and I want people to be able to utilize that medium to express whatever they want.

While at a tech convention a couple years ago, I saw a unique application of E-Ink displays to make playing cards that had static custom images, that required no power to display due to the nature of the technology, but could then be swapped to a new image by connecting to a computer and reseting the display. I realized the potential and a new idea formed.

The core product requires three different components; the watch itself, the base that connects the watch to the computer, and a software solution to allow users to make and share their own images. We can break it out into steps

1. Proof of concept - watch only

   1. Currently working on this, will continue to iterate on the software controls and look into getting the drive circuitry down to a manageable size to fit inside a modest watch case, including adding the analog hands

2. Functional prototype - watch and base

   1. Once the display is working, I can design and 3D print watch housings for the electronics, and move towards the actual watch design I want to have.

   2. Additionally, I’ll need to develop the watch base at the same time, which should be a very simple usb to pogo pin adapter that the watch can sit in to interface with a PC

3. Looks-like works-like prototype

   1. Once I have a design I like, I’ll move away from 3D printed plastic parts and design machinable parts to be made locally out of aluminum, to give the watch a bit more tactile feel. I’ll do that same with the base, then show friends and family to get feedback

4. Iterations and crowdfunding

   1. Once I iterate the designs to a manufacturable product that I am happy with, I’m going to gauge interest in the idea by a crowdfunding campaign, for a limited run of 500 units. This will give my a good idea of what the audience would be, and I could get good feedback for models down the line.

The first proto suffered a casualty; mechanical damage to the display from getting pinched by the 3D-printed enclosure

The idea is to build an analog watch with an E-Ink display, fully programmable to display whatever image the user sets, along with approachable software to either convert an image into the display or make your own, and a marketplace for people to share watch face designs with each other. E-ink watches do exist, and have been attempted previously, but only for smartwatch applications. The idea for this watch is not to compete with smartwatches, it would not have the functionality that those deliver, and I don’t want it to. I want this watch to simply be a canvas, where you can display whatever you are feeling that day,  a custom piece of art to add a bit of creative intentionality every day for the people that want to embrace it. 

To actually build the watch I first reviewed if anyone had attempted something similar in the past, and first found a discontinued smartwatch with an E-Ink display and analog hands, and was able to order a unit from the factory that made them. After tearing down this unit but ultimately being unable to use it into my own prototype, I found another supplier that sold a similar module - a circular E-Ink display with a center hole for analog hands - with a breakout board included to drive it.

With workable hardware in-hand, I assembled a quick proof-of-concept with a 3D printed watch case to fit the development boards, and am pleased with how it turned out! Besides the damage to the display (lesson learned), I’m quite pleased with this initial direction, and I think I should be able to get the circuitry down to a small size and even might be able to relocated some components to an external base, which will be used to swap the image on the watch.