As technology advances, so does its accessibility. Much of this new technology is defined as “wearable”, in other words, it can be attached to your body.

I want to make sure expectations are realistic for one segment of wearable, the smart watch. Some of you might remember the calculator watches of the 80’s (they’re as old as I am), well they’re back, in a slightly more fashionable and functional way.

 

PRO’s

Accessibility

– Easier to glance at than digging a phone out
– May catch more phone calls and notifications by being able to feel smart watch’s vibration better than a typical smartphone
– May be appropriate to use for a quick phone call (when in a quiet, private place ~ think similar to speakerphone)
– Although the  on board camera tends to be poor, it’s a quick option
– Effective range of the wireless Bluetooth connection is around 40 feet, it’s nice for when you’re out of the cab, but didn’t grab the phone

 

CON’s

Durability

– Most are made with decent dust resistance and some water resistance, but as a friend of mine discovered, a smart watch is no match for a mean spirited hog
– It’s one more thing to get caught and/or break or lose

Accessibility

– Takes two hands to interact with
– Long sleeves or a jacket hinder the look at a glance capability
– Viewing outdoors may be difficult in direct sunlight, but this is improving on newer models
– Most devices aren’t capable of typing out a reply message, this is changing daily but will be cumbersome and time consuming no matter what

Battery Life

– Most won’t make it through more than a day, if that, depending on usage
– It’s one more thing to charge, and some of the charger designs leave a lot to be desired
– Will use at least a little more battery life on your phone if you’re not already using Bluetooth

Cost

– They’re not cheap, $150-$300+, and they are outdated quickly.

Usefulness

– Few apps take advantage of smart watches as of this writing, but will change over time

 

What I use My Smart Watch For

– I have a Samsung Galaxy Gear (the original model).
– I got the Gear as a cheap refurbished model, which has been a good deal considering it’s pristine quality, but minimal usefulness.
– The main usefulness for me has been not missing phone calls in loud environments

 

BOTTOM LINE:

– Smart watches aren’t for everyone.
– Make sure to do your research.
– Purchase from a retailer with a good return policy and stick to a brand name.

 

 

 

Wikipedia has a general overview of recent history for the wearable and Smartwatch terminologies.