Urbandreamer wrote:Arborbridge wrote:PS smart watches? Only know two people with them and they can never really explain why they bought them. Who wants to know their blood pressure all the time?
I think that you are confusing fitness measurements, which smartwatches can often do, with their other functions. Though, I think many might understand tracking heart rate and blood pressure while exercising at a Gym.
I don't use a smartwatch, but you know how it's possible to tap in and tap out while travelling with your rail card. Well, young people use a device on their wrist* for the same function charging their bank account. Or to buy coffee or crushed avocado on brioche.
They can also use it to read SMS messages or receive diary alarms. It means that for many things, they can use their phones while their phone is in a handbag or pocket.
I do actually have a smartwatch, but unfortunately it acts as the phone's speaker and mic during calls, like Dick Tracy. The quality was so bad I refuse to use it.
*Coincidentally, you can buy wristbands that will hold keys and/or cards intended for running. It achieves the same purpose. They just look like the rest of your outfit should be spandex.
Pretty much.
I have used an Apple Watch for a couple of years now, and it was bought primarily to use at the gym and although personally I am not bothered about tracking exercise (although I do let it do that), what I do find useful is that I can synchronise music and podcasts from my phone so I can listen to those whilst in the gym on Bluetooth earphones and leave my phone at home - in essence avoiding the issues in this story.
It also allows me to add credit cards onto the watch, so I can pay for things if I don't have my phone or my wallet handy - handy if you are out and about and don't want to carry too much. And you can also keep copies of any loyalty cards on the watch and also cinema tickets, boarding passes, etc.
There is the range of timers, alarms, calendar that appears on your phone, and with the timers there is a useful app I installed on mine which allows you to set a range of different timers for when you are cooking something more complex where lots of things need to be done at different times.
Mine is also cellular version so it has a esim in it and can make and receive phone calls even if not near the phone (when it would use Bluetooth or WiFi to do that) but it shares the same number as the phone, and the calls are acceptable if using earphones. You can also receive and send text messages.
When using walking directions with Google Maps then the watch will also give directions, and not just a little map, but gentle taps on your wrist to indicate to turn left or right - handy if you are somewhere where you might not want to be getting your phone out of your pocket.
And perhaps more suited to any 'old codgers' it will recognise if you fall over and will call for help, plus coming with the latest update next week it will remind you when to take your pills.
Is it worth it - for most probably not, but it wasn't that expensive (certainly a lot less than many spend on watches) and if it keeps me in the gym for an extra 15 minutes or half an hour because I am not bored, then it delivers value to me.