Inspired by the Pebble smartwatch, developer Jonathan Cook set out to create a similar device that is open-source and therefore fully customizable. His project, simply titled Open Source Watch, is still in the works but already has Bluetooth Low Energy networking, a Microduino processor, and a 3D-printed case. The watch will soon be compatible with email, Facebook, and Twitter, just like the leading designs on the market.
By nature, each Open Source Watch can be personalized with distinct coding and design. For aesthetes, this offers the unique opportunity to create a smart watch that favors beauty as much as function. Modifying the watch does of course require specialized skills such as soldering and wiring. Nonetheless, there are instructions available to the public, and, with time and revision, building an open-source smartwatch will likely become a simpler, more achievable goal for the design community.