I don't get it. If I still have to carry around a walkman-like thing, why bother with the watch? Why not put the screen on the walkman-like thing, and eliminate the wire through my sleeve?
Because this is what other electronics manufacturers like Sony, Panasonic and Sinclair already did. On the other hand, there was this long lasting dream of television on the wrist (compare Dick Tracy and its audiences now having grown up to become potent consumers) and Seiko was a watch manufacturer. This long lasting dream is also why we have now smart watches, but still no wrist TV. :-)
BTW, the usefulness of these tiny pocket TVs of the early 1980s was quite heavily contested. The Seiko interpretation of the theme had some going for it regarding the the show-off factor, which isn't to be discounted for when it comes to (expensive) novelty items.
With the power of the iphone's main chip, Apple could come out with more auxiliary devices. An AR headset that utilizes your iphone for all the processing. It's kind of how carplay/Android auto works.
I think this is sound design consideration in action-- we all have, "supercomputers" in our proverbial wallets-- assuming that conspicuous consumption is likely to continue-- what, "add-ons" could you incorporate into future, "phones?"
We too easily get lost in, "but actually conspicuous consumption is kind of killing the planet" land as designers and consumer electronics has been sorely impacted as a result. How ironic it may be when a lack of technological and economic growth fueled by climate concerns ends up bankrupting the economy for renewables and permaculture.
I'd trade 5 Apple watches for a functional Japanese watch-TV from the 80s. Perhaps I should listen to myself speak sometimes.
For the flex, as they say. Because Seiko figured out how to make a small, wrist-bound TV. It could only hold the screen (not speakers, or a headphone barrel, or even the antenna assembly), so that's what they put on the wrist and moved the rest away. Also, there's an aspect of 80s opulence at play with this. So they did it because they could using the best of what they had at the time.
BTW, the usefulness of these tiny pocket TVs of the early 1980s was quite heavily contested. The Seiko interpretation of the theme had some going for it regarding the the show-off factor, which isn't to be discounted for when it comes to (expensive) novelty items.