[CASIO AT-552]
A gem of CASIO's perverted technology.

【CASIO AT-552】[RARE!]

RELEASED1984PRICE
(YEN)
18,000MODULE320
FUNCTIONSECONDALARMBEEP
DAY OF WEEKSW1/10LIGHT-
YEAR1980-2019DT-BUTTON2+crown
FEATURESWhat a great handwriting recognition functionality nearly 40 years ago!

This is the "CASIO Janus read sensor" released in 1984.
The model number is AT-552.
At a glance, this model looks like an ordinary ana-digi wristwatch.
Most CASIO ana-digi models have the LCD on the bottom, but this model has the LCD on the top, which is unusual for CASIO.

[CASIO AT-552]
Looks like an ordinary ana-digi wristwatch.
[CASIO AT-552]
The case back is also quite normal.

The reason why the LCD is attached to the upper side is because, in fact, this model is an ana-digi wristwatch with a calculation function, with the entire windshield as a touch sensor (reed sensor) and a handwritten character recognition function!

[CASIO AT-552]
Even though there are two buttons,
this model has a calculator mode.
[CASIO AT-552]
Handwritten input on windshield.

It is surprising that handwriting recognition was realized almost 40 years ago, although it only recognizes numbers and four arithmetic symbols.
Incidentally, the first generation Apple Watch (smartwatch) was released in 2015, the first generation iPad (tablet) was released in 2010, and the Apple Newton (MessagePad) (PDA) was released in 1993. It shows how CASIO was ahead of its time (too much).
Perverted technology! (a word of praise)

[CASIO AT-552]
How to write by hand.
Carefully explained in the instruction manual.

Perhaps because “handwriting recognition” was not yet common, the instruction manual includes a detailed explanation of the handwriting method.
The handwriting recognition accuracy is quite good, but it takes about 0.5 seconds/character from character recognition to display.
Also, the recognition rate for the letter “5” is better if the horizontal bar is written first.

I have introduced various watches with calculation functions on this site, but the ease of use as a calculator is,
CASIO CFX-400
 > SANYO_CALCULATOR
  > CASIO AT-552 (this model)
   > CITIZEN CALCULATOR
    > SEIKO DATA-2000
(This is my personal impression.)

Other than the calculator function, there is an alarm function and a stopwatch function (1/10 second), which are operated using the two buttons on the left side.
been interesting to operate the alarm and stopwatch by touching the windshield, or to set the time with handwritten numbers, but unfortunately, this is not a “smart watch” but rather a 1980s ana-digi wristwatch.

[CASIO AT-552]
Alarm function
[CASIO AT-552]
Stopwatch function

Unfortunately, it seems that this model did not sell well at the time, and it is rarely seen at online auctions.
The originator of the current smartwatch is said to be the SEIKO DATA-2000, which was released in 1984, the same year as this model.
If this model had been an explosive hit, the current “smartwatch” may have become mainstream with a completely different concept and design.

[CASIO AT-552]
On the surface of the windshield, You can see the reed sensor.
Cool!
[CASIO AT-552]
If it sells a little more. This model may have become the original smartwatch.
Too bad!



[sanyowatch]Author : sanyowatch

I collect old digital watches mainly from the 1970s to 1980s as a hobby.
NOT FOR SALE!
I'll introduce them little by little.
I like vintage digital watch.
I also like junk old digital watch.

Top 3 accessed last month
New arrivals and Updates
Random Links

⚠️CAUTION⚠️

Unauthorized reproduction of contents from this site is strictly prohibited.
严禁未经授权复制或使用本网站的图像、文字等。我们不销售本网站介绍的手表。