It is safe to say that all watches have only one face, which is why smartwatches also have one face. It is also because smartwatches are so dynamic that one face is all it needs as users can swipe between screens for more information. However it seems that recently researchers at the Dartmouth College have created a smartwatch, dubbed Doppio, with a dual screen setup.
As you can see in the video above which shows the prototype in action, the second screen of the watch can be stacked on top of the first, possibly with the use of magnets. However it can also be connected to either side of the watch, and apart from adding an extra screen, moving the screen around the watch and its placement will result in different functions.
For example placing it side-by-side the other display will result in more information about the weather being displayed at a glance. Rotating the screen will also result in different functions, so not only does it provide more screen real estate, there’s actual use for the second screen as well, although right now the prototype does look admittedly bulky.
According to Dartmouth’s Computer Science Assistant Professor Xing-Dong Yang, “The orientation of the top relative to the base and how the top is attached to the base create a very large interaction space. Our proof-of-concept hardware prototype demonstrates how Doppio interactions can be used for notifications, private viewing, task switching, temporary information access, application launching, application modes, input and sharing the top.”
Unfortunately there’s no telling if the Doppio will ever be made a reality, but in the meantime what do you guys think? Is this a smartwatch you might be interested in?
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