The first of the series. Introducing the "wrist camera" concept; the watch includes a grey-level digital camera (lens + video display).

Technical specs :

120x120 16 grey display
120x120 sensor
1MB memory; 100 uncompressed pictures can be stored in memory
24 characters available for comments with each picture.
3 picture recording modes : normal, duotone, splitted screen
InfraRed Interface for data transfer

Functions :

Hour + Date display
Camera recording mode
"Visual databank" mode (picture viewer)
Alarm
Countdown
StopWatch
IR data transfer

Extras :

The optionnal LENS-1 "Telelens" extension can be attached to the watch, offering a 2x lens position

WQV-2 Wrist Camera

It's basically the same model as the WQV-1, the only change is the new, rounder, better (IMHO) design

What's less :

looses compatibility with LENS-1 "tele-lens" extension.


On the right is the WQV-1 with the "LENS-1" module. This option is equivalent to a permanent 2x zoom position. Due to the different casing of the WQV-2, the LENS-1 only adapts on the first WQV-1 models.
WQV-3 Color Wrist Camera

Brings colors to stored pictures! Introduces a very different design, not to be re-used in later models.


What's more :
Color CMOS sensor for 176x144 pictures
JPEG stored pictures, for approx 100 pictures in the built-in 1MB memory
Startup screen can be chosen from any picture in memory
Calendar function
Uses standard IR communication protocol
Thumbnail browser for easy navigation


What's less :
pictures are blurry...
luminosity can only be chosen from 3 exposure modes


On the right : the WQV-3 in picture display mode. In order to appear on the 120x120 screen, only the central part of the 176x144 stored pictures is displayed.
WQV-10 Color Wrist Camera

Color screen, digital zoom!! Aand back to the early, strange-looking design.

What's more :
70 x 80 4096 color display!
2x digital zoom!
Picture quality sharpenned (as compared to WQV-3 sensor)
5 different hour display to choose from


What's less :
Not possible to set a startup screen anymore


Below : two WQV-10 sample screens illustrate the use of the color display; for the "skinnable" watch mode ("time keeping" mode) on the left, and for image viewing on the right. Although i've chosen a colorful image to display, the picture of the watch doesn't render the color screen that well...



Camera operation :

Pressing the central Shutter button in any mode -excepted IR- will switch to "record" (camera on) mode. For power-saving purpose, a rest time equivalent to the previous recording duration is programmed. This means that after staying in record mode for, say, 20 seconds; the watch won't allow to re-enter record mode for another 20 seconds after leaving the last recording session.
When attempting to access record mode before the rest time; a countdown displays the remaining waiting time as a countdown in seconds.
The watch then displays the number of available pictures for about 1.5 sec, then turns to record mode.
Maximum recording time in a row is one minute.

Depending on the watch model, it's possible to set the exposure mode and/or digital zoom position while in record mode, and watch the result live on the video screen.

Pressing the Shutter button in record mode records the onscreen picture (screen freezes for a few seconds), then lets record mode on, allowing for more pictures to be taken (max 1 minute).