Is the Smartwatch smart enough?

What's the use of a smartwatch if it isn't smart enough to tell you the time all the time? Up your game,...

Aamir Altaf September 18, 2013
Last week at the Internationale Funkausstellung (IFA) in Berlin, three new ‘smartwatches’ were unveiled. The most anticipated was the launch of the Samsung Galaxy Gear. Sony showcased Smartwatch 2 and Qualcomm made an entry with Toq. While Apple’s iWatch is just around the corner, the Kickstarter backed Pebble has already sold more than 100,000 watches.

It seems that the era of smartwatches is upon us. The internet is abuzz with analysts reviewing and talking about the wearable devices dubbed as smartwatches. While everyone seems excited about the future prospects of this new category of personal wearable tech, there is this underlying consensus developing though, that smartwatches or devices of today are not yet ready to take on the consumers of the world.

I will not take this space to do yet another review of the newly launched devices but rather share five key requirements that I think a smartwatch must fulfill to qualify as a ‘watch’ and live up to the promise of ‘smart’.

1. Tell time, all the time, without the need of charging:

The basic function of a watch is to tell time, all the time. A device that needs to be charged frequently to tell time can’t really qualify as a watch. The simplest Casio digital watches have battery life of over three years, and they cost just around $10.

2. Be ‘smart’, on its own:

A watch should be able to function on its own. If it has to sync with another smart device to be smart, then it’s merely an accessory. For example this digital watch by Timex is not smart but it can do a lot without syncing with any other device. The basic standalone abilities of a smartwatch should include internet, GPS, and mobile connectivity along with music playback and motion sensing. Syncing with another smart device should further enhance the smartness of the watch.

3. Outdo the smartphone

While smartphones keep getting smarter every day, they still have limitations when it comes to ease of use in specific situations. A smartwatch can and should push the boundaries of what can be achieved by a regular user with total freedom of mobility. It can have a much more meaningful purpose when worn by a swimmer, a mountaineer, a surgeon, a pilot, a patient, a toddler, or a soldier.

4. Doesn’t have to be a fashion embarrassment:

A wristwatch has always been an essential fashion accessory for men and women. A smartwatch need not be an exception to that, rather it should add to the personal fashion statement of the one who is wearing it. A neutral and elegant case can be complimented with different types of bands that customers can choose from in order to vary the look from being formal to fun and quirky.

5. Ready to be primary and secondary choice:

While non-techie and working professionals might want to wear a smartwatch as a secondary watch at certain occasions, the techies and students might actually adopt it as the primary choice of watchThe expectations from the smartwatch in these two scenarios would be very different. The success however will come to those smartwatch makers that can fulfil both expectations equally well.

So what do you think of this smartwatch phenomenon? Would you buy one? How and when would you wear it? What features are you really looking for in a smartwatch? I would love to hear from you on this topic.

This post originally appeared here.
WRITTEN BY:
Aamir Altaf A fond traveller and right-hand batsman, Aamir is an experienced marketing professional currently living in Riyadh, KSA. An entrepreneur at heart and a father of two awesome boys, he tweets as @aamiraltaf https://twitter.com/aamiraltaf
The views expressed by the writer and the reader comments do not necassarily reflect the views and policies of the Express Tribune.

COMMENTS (2)

kanga | 10 years ago | Reply One of the smarter smart watches to be released, is the Omate Truesmart Smartwatch 2. One and a half years in development, soon to be released through Kick starter, September, 2013. * 1.54" sapphire crystal screen, running Android 4.2 * Water resistant, metal body * Complete phone, 2G/3G connectivity + micro sim card slot * 1.3ghz dual core, Cortex A7 processor * Memory either 512mb/1gb + 4gb, micro SD card to 32gb * Embedded 5mp camera, 720p video recording * WiFi 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth 3, GPS, g-sensor, vibration alert * Over the air (OTA) system firmware update * 600mAh battery, with up to 100 hours standby * Price through Kick starter, around US$200 + $15 shipping In addition, this one is designed to look more like a watch, and is inconspicuous to others.
Anshuman Tripathy | 10 years ago | Reply The brain behind the concept of the samsung smart watch is an Indian by the name of Pranav Mistry http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pranav_Mistry .You should check out an absolutely fascinating TED talk he gave a few years ago about sixth sense technology http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SixthSense which has been implemented in this smart watch. He was born in a remote village in Gujarat and from there went on to do his post Grad from MIT , Boston. Goes on to show Nothing is impossible if you strive for something hard enough.
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