Smartwatch : The wearable computer
One of the most trendy new technology gadgets and a new implementation of the 90s Hollywood movie dreams is the Smartwatch.
These days these little devices are equipped with low powered dual core processors and up to 512mb of RAM memory.. this is how fast technology evolves!
Source: https://s3.amazonaws.com/ksr/assets/000/820/224/60b3a1ab8f3a5afb11cdb122d90967c2_large.jpg?1376217330
But let’s not get ahead and start with the history first.
The first device that had a common interface to connect with computers was the Seiko RC-1000 Wrist Terminal.. that came out in 1984. It was compatible with most of the popular PCs of that time. The functionality was extremely limited, however, since it only enabled scheduling, memos, synchronized world time and had a four-function calculator app.
Source: http://i10.tinypic.com/82dkivm.jpg
It wasn’t too successful, so much that after its release nothing similar entered the market until 1998/1999, when two major devices were announced - the Samsung Watch Phone SPH-WP10 and the Linux watch.
Source: http://www.mobile-review.com/sadm_images//models/samsung/samsung-sph-wp10.jpg
These devices were better developed as they were capable of performing more tasks by themselves - the Samsung watch was capable of handling “phone” talks (although the battery lasted only for.. 90 minutes) while the Linux Watch is still considered the father of wearable computing. It enabled 6 hours of battery life, but ran Linux 2.2 Operating System.
Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9c/Stevemannwristcomp.jpg
The focus was more on improving existing technology, maximizing performance/energy usage ratio and going lower and lower with manufacturing technology to minimize the size of components.
Between 2000 and 2013 there were several efforts, but none of them was extraordinarily worth noting, and in 2013, which was considered “the year of the Smartwatch”, the majority of new-gen devices have been announced.
Within just a year Acer, Apple, BlackBerry, Google, LG, Microsoft, Qualcomm, Samsung, Sony, and Toshiba all announced their own smartwatch.
Some of them looked pretty neat, just like this Motorola Moto 360, which is considered to be the most successful (and at the very least best designed) Smartwatch:
http://o.aolcdn.com/hss/storage/midas/1857305ff51ca911d70ddd9a741b1a90/200326888/moto360lead.jpg
If it comes to Smartwatch operating systems, the most common ones include Google’s Android Wear, Apple’s iOS and Tizen - all were adjusted to smartwatches also 2013 and 2014. Now just a few days ago also Microsoft joined with its smart band along with a wearable OS.
Based on the aforementioned we can clearly say that we are observing a Smartwatch boom. But is it the right time to buy a Smartwatch?
In my opinion, it comes down to what your needs are. Currently Smartwatches are evolving extremely fast but are facing severe limitations.
They allow checking notifications, reading messages and launching a variety of apps (although the selection is still pretty limited, mostly focused on fitness). You can also interact with your phone through your Smartwatch without pulling your phone out of your pocket.
The major disadvantage is the battery life of those devices and relatively limited scope of tasks that you can perform with them. Theoretical the battery life is displayed in the table below:
However the real usage might mean you might have to charge your device as often as every day. Personally, I am keen to give Smart Watches a benefit of the doubt and wait and see how things unfold in the future. If the battery life and functionality greatly improves, if there are new, superior charging techs, I will be happy to buy one at that point. For now, the advantages don’t outweigh the hassle that comes from charging an additional device each day (or even every few days).
Comments
http://arctouch.com/2014/08/can-android-wear-work-iphone/
I think in the future there will be full compatibility, however.
I would like to use a watch instead of a phone but the main problem to me would be small screen, too small to comfortably write text messages.
Besides that I like the idea of smart watch.
Have you seen LG G Watch R. It is round like Motorola 360 but it has better battery. However, It costs almost $300 whereas you can get Motorola 360 for about $250.
What I like about motorola 360 is that is so simple and clean <3 Lovely :) And it fits either a woman and a man :)
This one? Classy!
These are one of the first images that I saw after an Iwatch announcement ;) "The real way the Iwatch will look". I think they fit this topic:
- http://i.imgur.com/Qe2ylXy.jpg
- http://i.imgur.com/UXWifDv.jpg
And I remembered a cool project that shows a phone that can be projected anywhere: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pz17lbjOFn8
I'm interested in this now, smart rings http://www.businessweek.com/videos/2014-03-25/the-next-wearable-device-the-smart-ring
And i think that idea of holographic things is still out of reach, lets wait for stable "bending" phones.
Shame it only works with android phones though.
Now i'm less enthusiastic about it, since my only need for smartwatch is to control the music player on my phone that usually tend to be on my pockets and i am too lazy to pick it every time to change songs. Also it goes for massages, since most of a time it is set to vibrations.
I do want Moto 360, like i stated earlier in Svitlana comment, it has sexiest design now, but i am iPhone user so there is no compatibility.
I do love the idea of "smartbands" like that one https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1977264838/moment-smartwatch-worlds-first-wrap-around-smart-w
I didn't know that is so long list of "smartwatches" from past.
I have one problem with them. battery... for me charging every day smartphone is already annoying enough.
For me a watch is a watch. I rarely even use stopper or timer, but alarm is neat. I do like gadgets, especially ones that help one's health monitoring and that's the scenario I'd like to see smartwaches or other gadgets shine in. The rest of it is just for showing-off in my opinion.
As you mentioned, the major disadvantage is battery life. I find watch which needs regular daily battery charging more of a problem than a useful gadget.
I think Smartwatches can be quite useful - when your in the middle of a very important meeting, at the gym, running in the park, in the cinema and you can't reach ur phone...:)
Can you imagine people walking through the streets talking to their watches? For me sound at least abstractly
The most important feature of this smartwatch is ability to disconnect call without taking out my phone from the pocket. It's also useful to change the song in crowded places.
It also provides great feedback when running: Using 3rd party apps it can display pace, distance and... actual time of course.
This last feature is really important. I did hear about smartwatches that were not able to display actual time not being connected to smartphone.
Watch should be watch. Smartwatch also should be watch.
To be honest I have never seen smartwatch for real yet...:(
Paulina: thank you for the links. the projected phone idea is nice.
Sell used apple smartwatches
affordable smartwatch