The Apollo landing keyboard shrunk into the world’s coolest calculator

You’ve probably heard that your smartphone has more computing power than the computers that sent the Apollo mission to the moon. Well, 55 years after the space flight that landed Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin on the moon, a company has managed to shrink the size of the Apollo computer in another way. British startup Apollo Tools I created a replica watch Apollo directing computer.

The Moonwatch DSKY (short for “Display and Keyboard”) shared the same interface as the briefcase-sized computers that were on board the Apollo program modules. The creators involved in the project took advantage of the original design specifications from MIT Instrumentation Laboratory to shrink the size of the board and create a wearable replica.

The original AGCs were used by astronauts for orientation and navigation, something you couldn’t do with a watch — and no offense, but you probably don’t own a spacecraft anyway. But it works in its own way. The watch has built-in GPS, a digital display, and a working keyboard. It is also programmable, built on an open source framework and compatible with a number of programming environments including Arduino and Python. So, if you have some features you’d like to turn on, they’re open for input.

The watch also has an 8-channel digital I/O port, opening up the possibility of using the watch to control or interact with “breadboard interfaces, development enclosures, and robotics,” according to the Apollo Instruments product description. The company said it will roll out software updates in the future and will work with community contributions, so if someone else comes up with a cool feature, you should be able to install it on your own device.

Ultimately, the DSKY Moonwatch is something new. And at £649 (about $812), it’s not exactly cheap. But at least it offers a fun interface and the ability to extend functionality in unique ways. It certainly won’t offer you all the features of your standard smartwatch, and it won’t turn heads for the same reasons as a more expensive watch. But at the very least, it’s probably the only cool calculator watch and a good conversation starter. This is something.

The DSKY Moonwatch could be that as well Pre-ordered from Apollo Instruments With a deposit of £240 ($300). The company says it expects to start shipping the finished product in the first quarter of 2025. Just for your safety, learn about Potential risks of contributing to crowdfunding campaigns Before jumping.