Report: Microsoft Wearable Puts Kinect Sensors On Your Wrist

Microsoft is rumored to be working on a smartwatch of their own, according to sources. Their offering will not only be their entry into the increasingly muddled smart wearable category, it is said to be cross-platform, working on all major smartphone platforms. A novel concept, it also keeps the wearable in line with Microsoft's new direction of having their offerings available for every platform.

Microsoft's smartwatch, which doesn't yet have a name, will rely on sensors the company picked up from Kinect. Those sensors will continually monitor your heart rate, rather than waiting for a prompt. Outside of fitness, where Microsoft engineers are said to have created a platform to make sense of the data, not much is known about what the watch will do.

The form factor is said to be about the size of the Gear Fit from Samsung, with a small screen "about the size of half a stick of gum." The screen will be positioned on the inside of the wrist, which is to keep notification away from prying eyes. There's likely nothing stopping you from flipping it around if you like, though.

As for who will handle the health data, Forbes points to Caradigm as a possible partner. Microsoft owns a 50% stake in their venture with GE, which works with hospitals to better analyze the risk of patient re-admission if released.

There is currently no release date being noted for this wearable, and Microsoft wasn't willing to comment on their wearable ambitions.

Source: Forbes