Smart Personal Objects Technology

Development of SPOT began as an incubation project led by Microsoft engineer, Bill Mitchell, and initiated by the Microsoft Research division. Mitchell would enlist the help of Larry Karr, president of SCA Data Systems, to develop the project. Karr had previously worked in the 1980s to develop technology for Atari that would distribute games in a manner distinct from the company's competitors; Karr proposed FM broadcasting subcarrier transmission as a method of distribution, technology which would also be used by Microsoft's SPOT.{{cite web |url=http://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/article/48208/ces_-_microsoft_spot_technology_has_humble_origins/ |title=CES - Microsoft's SPOT technology has humble origins |last=Niccolai |first=James |date=January 13, 2003 |publisher=IDG |work=PC World |accessdate=April 22, 2015 |archive-date=November 25, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151125214110/http://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/article/48208/ces_-_microsoft_spot_technology_has_humble_origins/ |url-status=dead }} Microsoft Research and SCA Data Systems would ultimately develop the DirectBand subcarrier technology for SPOT.{{cite web |url=http://scadata.com/clients.htm |author=SCA Data Systems Inc. |title=Clients |accessdate=April 22, 2015}}{{citation |title=How Microsoft Lost the Wrist-Top |magazine=Wired |volume=18 |issue=7 |page=27 |last=Baker |first=Chris |date=July 2010}} National Semiconductor would aid in the development of device chipsets, which would feature an ARM7 CPU and ROM, SRAM, and a 100 MHz RF receiver chip.

SPOT was unveiled by Bill Gates at the annual COMDEX computer exposition event in fall of 2002. Gates stated that "new devices and technologies will help bring about the next computing revolution" and demonstrated refrigerator magnets that displayed the current time and sports scores, and an alarm clock that could display a list of upcoming appointments, traffic updates, and weather forecasts.{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/2487787.stm |title=Bill Gates spots the next big thing |last=Anderson |first=Kevin |date=November 18, 2002 |publisher=BBC |work=BBC News |accessdate=April 22, 2015}}{{cite web |url=http://news.microsoft.com/2002/11/17/at-comdex-bill-gates-reports-on-state-of-the-digital-decade/ |title=At COMDEX, Bill Gates Reports on State of the 'Digital Decade' |date=November 17, 2002 |publisher=Microsoft |work=News Center |accessdate=April 22, 2015}}{{cite web |url=http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/52564-gates-proposes-webenabled-alarm-clocks |title=Gates Proposes Web-Enabled Alarm Clocks |last=Hachman |first=Mark |date=November 18, 2002 |publisher=Ziff Davis |work=ExtremeTech |accessdate=April 22, 2015}}

File:MicrosoftXeelSlide.png |format=EXE |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20030808211422/http://download.microsoft.com/download/c/f/1/cf1806ad-5a4f-4f7d-a5b2-07fdb59a7adb/WH03_TPA12.exe |archivedate=August 8, 2003 |accessdate=March 11, 2017}}]]

At the Consumer Electronics Show of 2003, Microsoft announced that wristwatches would be the first type of device to utilize the technology in a partnership with watch manufacturers Citizen Watch Co., Fossil, and Suunto.{{cite web |url=http://news.microsoft.com/2003/01/09/microsoft-presents-smart-personal-objects-technology-spot-based-wristwatches-at-ces/ |title=Microsoft Presents Smart Personal Objects Technology (SPOT)-Based Wristwatches at CES |date=January 9, 2003 |publisher=Microsoft |work=News Center |accessdate=May 23, 2015}}{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/01/09/technology/09SOFT.html |title=A Microsoft Watch Will Provide Much More Than Time |last=Hansell |first=Saul |date=January 9, 2003 |work=The New York Times |accessdate=May 23, 2015}} Bill Gates also demonstrated a set of prototype smart watches.{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/2641265.stm |title=All you need to know, on your wrist |last=Hermida |first=Alfred |date=January 9, 2003 |publisher=BBC |work=BBC News |accessdate=April 22, 2015}} SPOT was not Microsoft's first foray into the smartwatch business—the company previously co-developed the Timex Datalink with Timex in 1994.{{cite web |url=https://techland.time.com/2010/07/08/great-moments-in-geek-history-the-timex-datalink-watch/ |title=Great Moments in Geek History: The Timex Datalink Watch |last=Aamoth |first=Doug |date=July 8, 2010 |publisher=Time Inc. |work=Time Magazine |access-date=April 28, 2015}} During CES, Microsoft claimed that the first SPOT-based smartwatches would be released in the fall of that year; the company would also release a promotional video that displayed an estimated delivery time of fall 2003,{{cite web |url=http://www.microsoft.com/resources/spot/video/spot_web_broadband_256K.wmv |title=Microsoft SPOT Web Broadband Video |publisher=Microsoft |work=Microsoft SPOT |format=WMV |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20030207095857/http://www.microsoft.com/resources/spot/video/spot_web_broadband_256K.wmv |archivedate=February 7, 2003 |accessdate=June 1, 2015}} but the first devices would be delayed until the beginning of 2004.{{cite web |url=http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/55326-microsoft-partners-delay-spot-watches |title=Microsoft, Partners Delay SPOT Watches |last=Hachman |first=Mark |date=November 14, 2003 |publisher=Ziff Davis |work=ExtremeTech |accessdate=May 23, 2015}}{{cite web |url=http://www.pcworld.com/article/113897/article.html |title=Microsoft SPOT Watches Hit Stores |last2=Evers |first2=Joris |last1=Niccolai |first1=James |date=December 16, 2003 |publisher=IDG |work=PCWorld |accessdate=May 23, 2015 |archive-date=May 19, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150519055730/http://www.pcworld.com/article/113897/article.html |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2003/11/17/microsoft_spot_watches_delayed/ |title=Microsoft SPOT watches delayed |last=Smith |first=Tony |date=November 17, 2003 |publisher=Situation Publishing |work=The Register |accessdate=May 23, 2015}}

At the Windows Hardware Engineering Conference of 2003, Gates unveiled a new set of hardware-based navigational controls codenamed XEEL, designed to create a consistent navigation experience across Windows-based devices, such as smart phones, tablet PCs, and those powered by SPOT.{{cite web |url=http://news.microsoft.com/2003/05/06/bill-gates-unveils-next-wave-of-windows-pc-innovation-at-winhec-2003/ |title=Bill Gates Unveils Next Wave of Windows PC Innovation at WinHEC 2003 |publisher=Microsoft |work=News Center |date=May 6, 2003 |accessdate=March 12, 2015}}{{cite web |url=http://directionsonmicrosoft.com/sample/DOMIS/update/2003/06jun/0603mtofoc.htm |title=Message to OEMs: Focus on Consumers |last=Rosoff |first=Matt |date=May 19, 2003 |publisher=Directions on Microsoft |archivedate=June 2, 2003 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20030602055949/http://www.directionsonmicrosoft.com/sample/DOMIS/update/2003/06jun/0603mtofoc.htm |accessdate=April 23, 2015}} Microsoft intended for XEEL to create a consistent navigation experience across hardware devices that equaled the software interface navigation consistency introduced by the mouse scroll wheel.{{cite web |url=http://news.microsoft.com/speeches/speech-transcript-will-poole-windows-hardware-engineering-conference-winhec-2003/ |title=Speech Transcript – Will Poole, Windows Hardware Engineering Conference (WinHEC) 2003 |date=May 7, 2003 |publisher=Microsoft |work=News Center |accessdate=April 22, 2015}}

In June 2003, Microsoft unveiled its MSN Direct wireless service developed specifically for SPOT, which would be made available across North America. The company stated that the service would enable the delivery of personalized information on devices and, as an example of this functionality, would allow users to receive messages sent from MSN Messenger or calendar appointment reminders from Microsoft Outlook.{{cite web |url=http://news.microsoft.com/2003/06/04/microsoft-announces-wireless-service-plans-for-smart-watches-available-this-fall/ |title=Microsoft Announces Wireless Service Plans For Smart Watches Available This Fall |date=June 4, 2003 |publisher=Microsoft |work=News Center |accessdate=April 23, 2015}}{{cite web |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=97621 |title=A Wristwatch of Wireless Data |last=Preston |first=Cheri |date=June 13, 2003 |publisher=American Broadcasting Company |work=ABC News |accessdate=April 27, 2015}} MSN Direct would use a subscription-based business model, available through monthly or yearly service plans.{{cite web |url=http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,111035,00.asp |title=Microsoft Shares Smart Watch Details |last=Evers |first=Joris |date=June 5, 2003 |publisher=IDG |work=PCWorld |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20030622193157/http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,111035,00.asp |archivedate=June 22, 2003 |accessdate=May 23, 2015}} MSN Direct relied on the DirectBand subcarrier technology developed by Microsoft in conjunction with SCA Data Systems.

The first devices to make use of SPOT were released in 2004 by Fossil and Suunto.{{cite web |url=http://news.microsoft.com/2004/01/07/smart-watches-for-msn-direct-ship-to-retail/ |title=Smart Watches for MSN Direct Ship to Retail |date=January 7, 2004 |publisher=Microsoft |work=News Center |accessdate=April 27, 2015}} Tissot would later introduce the first compatible watch to feature a touchscreen,{{cite web |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/07/28/ms_direct_tissot/ |title=Tissot preps pricey Microsoft data watch |last=Smith |first=Tony |date=July 28, 2004 |publisher=Situation Publishing |work=The Register |accessdate=April 27, 2015}}{{cite web |url=http://www.infoworld.com/article/2665258/operating-systems/tissot-offers-msn-direct-watches.html |title=Tissot offers MSN Direct watches |last=Evers |first=Joris |date=July 26, 2004 |publisher=IDG |work=InfoWorld |accessdate=April 27, 2015}} and Swatch would release the first compatible watch, largely tailored towards younger consumers.{{cite web |url=http://windowsitpro.com/systems-management/swatch-hits-spot-new-watch |title=Swatch Hits the SPOT with New Watch |last2=Furman |first2=Keith |last1=Thurrott |first1=Paul |date=October 25, 2004 |publisher=Penton |work=SuperSite for Windows |accessdate=April 27, 2015}}{{cite web |url=http://www.cnet.com/products/swatch-paparazzi/ |title=Swatch Paparazzi review |last=Neal |first=William |date=February 10, 2005 |publisher=CBS Interactive |work=CNET |accessdate=April 27, 2015}} As smartwatches were the first type of devices to make use of the technology, they became the de facto type of device that represented it.

In 2006, Oregon Scientific released the second type of SPOT device, a weather station that displayed regional weather forecasts and other various types of information.{{cite web |url=http://news.microsoft.com/2006/01/04/spot-on-weather-forecasts-from-oregon-scientific-and-microsoft/ |title=SPOT-On Weather Forecasts from Oregon Scientific and Microsoft |date=January 4, 2006 |publisher=Microsoft |work=News Center |accessdate=April 28, 2015}} A second generation of smartwatches was also released, and were designed to address the shortcomings observed in first generation models.{{cite web |url=http://news.cnet.com/Microsoft-watch-keeps-up-with-the-times/2100-1041_3-6083432.html |title=Microsoft watch keeps up with the times |last=Carnoy |first=David |date=June 13, 2006 |publisher=CBS Interactive |work=CNET |accessdate=April 28, 2015}} Later that year, Melitta released the third type of device to utilize the technology: a coffee maker that displayed weather forecasts on an electronic visual display.{{cite web |url=http://blog.seattlepi.com/microsoft/2006/09/19/now-brewing-a-microsoft-powered-coffee-maker/ |title=Now brewing: A Microsoft-powered coffee maker |last=Bishop |first=Todd |date=September 19, 2006 |publisher=Hearst Corporation |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer |accessdate=April 28, 2015}} Garmin released the first SPOT-compatible GPS navigation units in 2007.{{cite web |url=http://mcpmag.com/articles/2007/01/09/microsoft-and-garmin-aim-to-hit-the-spot.aspx |title=Microsoft and Garmin Aim To Hit the Spot |last=Johnston |first=Stuart |date=January 9, 2007 |publisher=1105 Media Inc. |work=Microsoft Certified Professional Magazine |accessdate=April 28, 2015}}

In early 2008, Microsoft announced that MSN Direct would be available for Windows Mobile,{{cite web |url=http://news.microsoft.com/2008/02/11/msn-direct-now-available-for-windows-mobile-devices/ |title=MSN Direct Now Available for Windows Mobile Devices |date=February 11, 2008 |publisher=Microsoft |work=News Center |accessdate=May 3, 2015}}{{cite web |url=https://www.engadget.com/2008/02/11/msn-direct-now-on-windows-mobile/ |title=MSN Direct now on Windows Mobile |last=Patel |first=Nilay |date=February 11, 2008 |publisher=AOL |work=Engadget |accessdate=May 4, 2015}} and in early 2009, the service would receive additional location-based enhancements.{{cite web |url=http://news.microsoft.com/2009/01/08/msn-direct-expands-gps-navigation-services-and-partner-ecosystem/ |title=MSN Direct Expands GPS Navigation Services and Partner Ecosystem |date=January 8, 2009 |publisher=Microsoft |work=News Center |accessdate=May 4, 2015}}

Production of SPOT watches ceased in 2008.{{cite web |url=http://www.cnet.com/news/time-runs-out-on-microsofts-spot-watches/ |title=Time runs out on Microsoft's SPOT watches |last=Carnoy |first=David |date=April 23, 2008 |publisher=CBS Interactive |work=CNET |accessdate=April 23, 2015}}{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/02/technology/business-computing/02compute.html |title=Microsoft Mapping Course to a Jetsons-Style Future |last=Vance |first=Ashlee |author-link=Ashlee Vance |date=March 1, 2009 |work=The New York Times |accessdate=April 23, 2015}}{{cite web |url=https://www.engadget.com/2008/04/23/spot-watches-r-i-p-2004-2008/ |title=SPOT watches, R.I.P.: 2004 - 2008 |last=Ziegler |first=Chris |date=April 23, 2008 |publisher=AOL |work=Engadget |accessdate=April 23, 2015}}{{cite web |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/04/28/ms_unwinds_spot/ |title=Microsoft winds down smart wristwatch |last=Smith |first=Tony |date=April 28, 2008 |publisher=Situation Publishing |work=The Register |accessdate=April 27, 2015}} In 2009, Microsoft announced that it would discontinue the MSN Direct service at the beginning of 2012.{{cite web |url=http://www.pcworld.com/article/174581/article.html |title=Microsoft to Discontinue MSN Direct |last=Gohring |first=Nancy |date=October 28, 2009 |publisher=IDG |work=PCWorld |accessdate=April 26, 2015}} The company stated that this decision was due to decreased demand for the service and because of the emergence of more efficient and popular forms of data distribution, such as Wi-Fi.{{cite web |url=http://www.msndirect.com/MSNDirectServiceAnnouncement.aspx |title=MSN Direct Service Announcement |date=2011 |publisher=Microsoft |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111109133756/https://www.msndirect.com/MSNDirectServiceAnnouncement.aspx |archivedate=November 9, 2011 |accessdate=April 23, 2015}} The MSN Direct service continued to support existing SPOT devices until transmissions ceased on January 1, 2012.{{cite web |url=https://www.theverge.com/2012/1/2/2677369/microsoft-msn-direct-shutdown |title=MSN Direct switched off on schedule, some Garmin navigators affected |last=Ziegler |first=Chris |date=January 2, 2012 |publisher=Vox Media |work=The Verge}}

SPOT extended functionality of traditional devices to include features not originally envisaged for them; a SPOT-powered coffeemaker, for example, would be able to display information such as weather forecasts on an electronic visual display. Smartwatches featured digital watch displays, referred to as Channels, that presented information in a manner that could be customized by a user—a user could also specify the default channel to be displayed; this feature was functionally analogous with a home screen commonly seen in mobile operating systems. Additional channels could be downloaded from a specialized website, and a Glance feature would allow a user to cycle through downloaded information.{{cite web |url=https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,1427911,00.asp |title=SPOT Watch First Look |last=Miller |first=Michael |date=January 7, 2004 |publisher=Ziff Davis |work=PCMag |accessdate=April 28, 2015}}

Manufacturers could also add their own features to SPOT-based devices; as an example, a manufacturer could create its own smartwatch channel in order to distinguish its product from a competitor's product. Each SPOT-based device included a unique identification number used to enable secure authentication and encryption of DirectBand signals. Microsoft also reportedly considered an alarm function for SPOT-based smartwatches that would activate in the event of theft.

SPOT relied on the .NET Micro Framework for the creation and management of embedded device firmware.{{cite web |url=https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc533012.aspx |title=What Is the .NET Micro Framework? |publisher=Microsoft |work=MSDN |date=September 2009 |accessdate=April 28, 2015}} This technology would later be used for the Windows SideShow feature introduced in Windows Vista, which shares design similarities with SPOT.{{cite web |url=http://blogs.msdn.com/b/mikehall/archive/2005/02/14/372799.aspx |title=SPOT to be Found in Windows Longhorn |last=Hall |first=Mike |date=February 14, 2005 |publisher=Microsoft |work=MSDN Blogs |accessdate=October 22, 2015}}{{cite web |url=http://www.codemag.com/article/0512122 |title=Unveiling Windows SideShow |last=Egger |first=Markus |publisher=Code Magazine |work=EPS Software |accessdate=April 22, 2015}} In 2007, five years after SPOT was announced, Microsoft released the first software development kit for the .NET Micro Framework.{{cite web |url=http://news.microsoft.com/2007/02/13/microsoft-net-micro-framework-is-now-available/ |title=Microsoft .NET Micro Framework Is Now Available |date=February 13, 2007 |publisher=Microsoft |work=News Center |accessdate=May 23, 2015}}{{cite web |url=https://mcpmag.com/articles/2007/02/13/see-spot-develop----apps-that-is.aspx |title=See SPOT Develop . . . Apps, That Is |last=Johnston |first=Stuart |date=February 13, 2007 |publisher=1105 Media Inc. |work=Microsoft Certified Professional Magazine |accessdate=May 23, 2015}}

• Internet of things
• .NET Framework
• .NET Compact Framework
• Microsoft Band
• Smart Display
• Windows CE
• Windows SideShow

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Microsoft}}

Category:Discontinued Microsoft products

Category:Microsoft initiatives

Category:Products introduced in 2002

Category:Products and services discontinued in 2012

Category:Smart devices

Category:Smartphones

Category:Smartwatches