Hello world! More specifically, hello fellow tech skeptic. Welcome to this week’s issue of Technically Speaking. In this issue, we will talk about the most personal computer on the market right now, the smartwatch—more specifically the Apple Watch, due to popularity on and off campus. Watch buyers have historically preferred clocks and watches with a personal feel to their design. In terms of accessories that humans use everyday, none is more iconic than the watch, so we will discus how Apple has been able to dip themselves into the industry.
Much like technology, fashion continues to innovate constantly. With every step in this industry, a watch closely followed as it is very complimentary and elegant to one’s outfit. Apple has taken this into account with their design of the Apple Watch. With replaceable and interchangeable bands, the consumer can coordinate the watch with whatever they are wearing. Cleverly, Apple has noticed the watch as a necessity to fashion and has decided to bring the world of technology that they have shaped to the watch scene.
In the design phase of every piece of technology, there is the painful ever-present question for developer and engineer teams: “Is it practical for the consumer?” By appearances, the Apple Watch is just an iPhone for your wrist. When paired with an iPhone, a user can make calls, send a text message, and even tweet. This is great news for those on the go all the time, i.e. the average millennial and/or the marathon jogger. While that is great and exciting, is it practical for all? It is hard to argue against the watch’s practicality, as it is literally built for extreme use. However, for those looking for a cheap accessory, this is not the ideal product. The current average price for the Apple Watch is $399, with other watches of different types that can go up to $799, or the price of an average textbook! (Thank you, I’ll be here next week.) With that, there is also the app issue. Though the watch comes with an decent amount of apps, and even more that can be downloaded, most of them will be predictably limited in functionality. Also, the watch can only be used in its entirety when in range of an iPhone. Of course for Android users, an alternative, such as an Android Wear device, would be a better purchase. Besides those conditions, the watch is a very good drop in the bucket of wearable technologies and exhibits interesting methods of interaction and design.
