Sony E-Paper Smartwatch Revealed as Crowdfunded FES Watch

Last week, when Sony's plan of developing an e-paper smartwatch broke cover, the entire tech industry compared it to one similar flexible prototype E-Ink smartwatch project, named FES Watch. Now, it turns out that the FES Watch is actually company's secret project, according to Sony spokesperson.

While speaking to the Wall Street Journal on Friday, the spokesperson confirmed that company has a project in development, called 'Fashion Entertainments' (FES), where it is studying how electronic paper can be used to make fashion products.

The FES Watch prototype is a smartwatch that is completely made out of electronic paper (including watch face and the wrist band), which is said to change its appearance based on user gestures. It comes with 24 different user selectable patterns. While there is no confirmation from Sony regarding the official release of the product, the Japanese crowdfunding project page notes that the supporters will be able to pre-order the smartwatch and receive it after May 2015.

A person involved in the project told WSJ that, "We hid Sony's name because we wanted to test the real value of the product, whether there will be demand for our concept."

The project was put on Internet crowdfunding site in September, where it had reportedly surpassed its initial goal of raising JPY 2 million (approximately Rs. 10 lakhs) in just three weeks, and at the time of writing had received JPY 2.78 million (approximately Rs. 14.5 lakhs) from 140 supporters.

Further citing the project person, WSJ notes that the Japanese electronics giant's plan behind the project was to redefine e-paper as a fabric, and it is not limited to watches, "as the team is also developing E-Ink-based bow ties, hat accessories or paper holders."