Dell considers 'wearable' computers

ROUND ROCK, Texas, July 6 (UPI) -- The future of U.S. computer giant Dell could be in wearable computers, the company's vice president of global personal computing said.

"We're exploring ideas in that space," said Dell Vice President Sam Burd.

Dell could follow the example of Google, which is developing glasses with computer capabilities and Pebble, a company in California that is developing computers worn on the wrists, The Guardian reported Saturday.

Pebble, generally called the smart watch, has sold more than 85,000 units and industry observers say Apple is exploring what would predictably be called an iWatch.

"There are challenges in cost, and how to make it a really good experience. But the piece that's interesting is that computers are getting smaller. Having a watch on your wrist -- that's pretty interesting, pretty appealing, Burd said.

The New York Times said Saturday Dell's future as a public company is in question. As Dell decides how to adapt in a market with sliding personal computer sales and soaring mobile device sales, founder Michael Dell and private equity firm Silver Lake are holding firm on their $24 billion deal to take the company private.

A shareholder vote on the deal is scheduled for July 18, but how shareholders vote depends largely on a report by Institutional Shareholder Services, a proxy advisory firm that is evaluating the offer.

Shareholders are already voting with their wallets. Dell share values dropped 4 percent Friday after several news organizations reported the price offered by Dell and Silver Lake was not going to change.