[ChromeFreeDisco]

An ordinary looking watch that hides something quite extraordinary and decades ahead of it's time.

Casio AT-552 "Janus" was a gesture controlled touchscreen calculator watch - from 1984!

Even Microsoft referred to it for inspiration: http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/um/people/bibuxton/buxtoncollection/detail.aspx?id=227

 

[Watch_Geekmaster]

I always thought this model (or similar) watch does the calculator by a hidden touchscreen keypad on the crystal. Didn't realize it does that by gesture / drawing! Not only they made this back in 1984, but also on an awfully tiny watch, it's just mind-blowing!

 

[Rocat]

That was amazing tech back then and even now.

 

[cal..45]

With a watch like that, it is even more surprising that Casio lacks almost any innovation these days.....


cheers

 

[Watch_Geekmaster]

With a watch like that, it is even more surprising that Casio lacks almost any innovation these days.....

My guess, their engineers from 1984 no longer working there. ;-)

 

[ChromeFreeDisco]

A fuller description of the touchscreen technology and watch functions:

 

[Watch_Geekmaster]

Thanks to your thread, ChromeFreeDisco, I was able to ID an unexpected watch find in Mr. Bean, see my new thread https://www.watchuseek.com/f296/mr-bean-watches-identified-2198889.html ;-)

Here's a bigger picture of the AT552G (gold version), which you can see the grids clearly on the crystal.

 

[ShockMister]

In the 80's digital watches were the cutting edge of new technology. But now they are actually kind of "retro" which is the exact opposite. The hi-tech designers are no longer interested in the digital watch because they took it practically as far as they could.

Now it is more about a retro style. Or else sports. I was interested in the water-sports aspect of it 30 years ago. And I guess many other buyers were also because that is where the major appeal has been since then.

 

[Nazarene]

This watch model inspired Apple to make the iPhone.