Smart Personal Objects Technology

This article is about Microsoft SPOT initiative. For other uses, see .NET Micro Framework.
A Melitta drip coffeemaker displaying a weather forecast on an electronic visual display powered by SPOT

The Smart Personal Objects Technology (SPOT) is a discontinued initiative by Microsoft to create intelligent and personal home appliances, consumer electronics, and other objects through new hardware capabilities and software features.

Development of SPOT began as an incubation project initiated by the Microsoft Research division.[1][2][3] SPOT was first announced by Bill Gates at the COMDEX computer exposition event in 2002,[4] and additional details were revealed by Microsoft at the 2003 Consumer Electronics Show where Gates demonstrated a set of prototype smartwatches—the first type of device that would support the technology.[1][5] Unlike more recent technologies, SPOT did not use more traditional forms of connectivity, such as 3G or Wi-Fi, but relied on FM broadcasting subcarrier transmission as a method of data distribution.[6][7]

While several types of electronics would eventually support the technology throughout its lifecycle, SPOT was considered a commercial failure. Reasons that have been cited for its failure include its subscription-based business model, support limited to North America, the emergence of more efficient and popular forms of data distribution, and mobile feature availability that surpasses the features that SPOT offered.[7]

  1. ^ a b Thurrott, Paul (January 16, 2003). "Smart Personal Object Technology (SPOT) Preview". SuperSite for Windows. Penton. Archived from the original on July 21, 2011. Retrieved April 22, 2015.
  2. ^ "Q&A: Microsoft and Watch-making Partners Announce First Smart Personal Objects Technology Wristwatches". News Center. Microsoft. January 9, 2003. Retrieved April 23, 2015.
  3. ^ "Microsoft Presents Smart Personal Objects Technology (SPOT)-Based Wristwatches at CES". News Center. Microsoft. January 9, 2003. Retrieved April 28, 2015.
  4. ^ "Microsoft Launches Smart Personal Object Technology Initiative". News Center. Microsoft. November 17, 2002. Retrieved April 22, 2015.
  5. ^ Walker, Leslie (January 16, 2003). "Web Special: Consumer Electronics Show 2003". The Washington Post. Nash Holdings. Retrieved April 22, 2015.
  6. ^ Hachman, Mark (January 31, 2003). "Microsoft's SPOT: The Atari Connection". ExtremeTech. Ziff Davis Media. Retrieved April 22, 2015.
  7. ^ a b Bright, Peter (September 11, 2014). "Lessons learned from Microsoft's pioneering—and standalone—smartwatches". Ars Technica. Condé Nast. Retrieved April 28, 2015.