Swiss Startup Winwatch has patented a way of integrating a RFID transponder into a wristwatch without altering the internal structure of the watch.

As the non-contact type RFID tag is simply fixed to the surface of the glass or embedded in the watch glass, design changes of the watch body are unnecessary. Therefore, the watch and the tag can be manufactured separately and the watch can be obtained by employing existing or ready-made watches with a minor change made on the cover for enabling the secure attachment of the tag to the watch glass.

It seems that wristwatches makers are targeting the techo-addicts market:

– The Credit-Card Wristwatch by JCB and Casio has a non-contact chip which enables its wearer to pay for goods and services by simply passing the watch over a reader at a cash register. It can also be used for access control to buildings and rooms. The chip uses the same format as Sony FeliCa non-contact smart card technology.

– YRP Ubiquitous Networking Laboratory has developped the “UC-Watch” equipped with an RFID reader. Users can pick up objects that contain a RFID chip to read the info, which is then displayed on the 120 x 160 pixel screen on the RFID wrist watch.

– The Thanko MP3 Ultra Disk Watch can record MP3 from any audio source.