Ever wanted your smartwatch to work like a computer instead of being a fashion accessory? Ever felt the need to type on keys that were too small for normal human fingers to use? 1980s dream was a computer the size of a watch. In the 21st century, we have so much more. The previously featured Chinese company Lilygo evokes his 1980s aesthetic with this tiny Bluetooth keyboard. CNX software.
image 1 of 2
It’s cute, but the actual usage is questionable. Unfortunately, he can’t turn his Apple Watch into a productivity machine this time around, as it would require a specific smartwatch. The Watch-Keyboard-C3 connects to the ESP-32 C3 microcontroller and the LilyGo T-watch as is well known. If you don’t have a watch, it’s included in the keyboard bundle. There is also an optional audio module with microphone and speaker.
The mini keyboard connects via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi 4 for all your wireless networking needs and has a USB-C port for power and data. The board also has a 3-axis accelerometer and is actually designed to count steps, but with the right code it can be used as a gesture control input system. This little computer can be programmed via Arduino tools. It does not have a desktop OS.Additionally there is some sample code Github in two repositorybut not much in terms of documentation and tools.
| ESP-32 C3 | RP2040 (Raspberry Pi Pico) | |
| controller | C3 RISC-V | Dual-core Arm Cortex-M0+ (32-bit) |
| speed | Up to 240MHz | Up to 133MHz |
| Voltage | 3.3V/5V | 5V |
| flash storage | 4MB | 2MB |
| sheep | 520KB | 264KB |
| GPIOs | 30 pin | 26 digital inputs and outputs |
| interface | 2x SPI, 2x I2C, 2x UARTs | 2x I2C, 2x I2S, 1x IR, 4x SPI, 3x UART, Bluetooth, WiFi (W version) |
The ESP32-C3 was announced in November 2020 and is part of a larger range of ESP32 boards launched in 2016. ESP32 microcontrollers have become popular due to their low cost, plentiful supply, and ease of use. Many models of ESP32 come in different configurations. Some reach speeds of 240 MHz and offer single or dual core CPUs with up to 512KB of SRAM. With faster CPU speeds and more RAM than the Raspberry Pi Pico W, the ESP32 is a good choice for established manufacturers.
Keyboard-C3 is now AliExpress (opens in new tab) If you want the whole package and don’t already have a compatible smartwatch, it’s just under $50.
