Nissan takes a stab at wearable tech with Nismo smartwatch
Japanese car maker Nissan has unveiled its own concept smartwatch under the Nismo brand.
The company took the wraps of its smartwatch at the Frankfurt International Motor Show on Monday, showcasing a device that helps sports drivers monitor their own body's and vehicle's key indicators, such as heart rate, speed and fuel consumption.
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The watch could connect to the car using a smartphone app and Bluetooth, and offer Nissan a chance to send tailored messages to wearers.
Nissan's smartwatch joins a growing number of similar devices, ranging from the Kickstarter-funded Pebble to Samsung's just-launched Galaxy Gear and Sony's SmartWatch.
According to Nissan, the Nismo watch uses a lithium battery and is charged via a micro-USB port. One area Nissan outperforms Samsung's Gear though is battery: while the Gear will last just one day before needing a charge, Nissan's watch will last seven (though as a concept device, it's difficult to know how the two will measure up in practice).
Other technologies it may integrate with the smartwatch in future include an electrocardiogram (ECG) to identify early fatigue, and electroencephalogram (EEG) brainwave monitor to keep check on drivers' concentration levels and tools to measure skin temperature.
For Nissan, the concept smartwatch is designed to make its 'performance' brand Nismo more accessible, according to the company.
Though no release date has been set, when it does become available, it will be available in black, white and black and red. According to the company, the watch's packaging will be made from "tyres and rubber from the racetrack".
On the connected car side of things, Nokia, which is bowing out of the smartphone business after selling its devices and services unit to Microsoft, also recently announced its ambitions for car makers to install embedded Nokia systems in cars to support mapping and possibly to utilise a smartphone to lock and unlock the car and get readings on car performance.