Smartwatches have become a staple of our ever-evolving modern world of technology. Smartwatches feature advanced technology and many new functions that make our everyday life much simpler. In short, picture the kind of watch that James Bond would wear, only without the shooting projectiles or laser beams. What Exactly Does a Smartwatch Do? Smartwatches can
Smartwatches have become a staple of our ever-evolving modern world of technology. Smartwatches feature advanced technology and many new functions that make our everyday life much simpler. In short, picture the kind of watch that James Bond would wear, only without the shooting projectiles or laser beams.
What Exactly Does a Smartwatch Do? Smartwatches can do everything a smartphone is capable of doing, as well as measure certain biometric information such as heart rate, respiration rate, blood oxygen saturation, and sleep patterns. Smartwatches do not always have to be paired with a phone, and may have a cellular connection depending on the model.
Just like the old landline telephones, traditional watches are becoming outdated, despite their style and class. Investing a little more (or in some cases, less) into a smartwatch gives you technology you can wear on your wrist that does so much more than just tell you the time. Read on below to learn more about the many functions of the smartwatch and how it can make carrying out your day-to-day tasks easier and more convenient.
The first smartwatches were designed to be a wristwatch computer in the early 1990s. The smartwatch was capable of downloading and storing data from a computer. The they started being used for logging dates and alerting the wearer of reminders. These original smartwatches served as watches for astronauts and cosmonauts in space missions.
It’s a little different nowadays.
What Is the Main Purpose of a Smartwatch? Smartwatches serve many purposes. Along with telling the time, smartwatches have a slew of other functions for everyday use. They can keep you connected wherever you are, without having to take out your phone for calls or messages. They serve as one of the best wearable technology for any age, even for the elderly.
A smartwatch is basically a computer in the form of a wristwatch. You can integrate a smartwatch with your smartphone, allowing you to use various app functions or place and receive phone calls if the watch in not connected itself to a cellular plan. A smartwatch also features sensors for fitness and health tracking.
In previous years, smartwatches acted as an extension of your phone. Today you have the option of the smartwatch being an independent smart device, all while giving you access to more exclusive features a simple phone can’t do.
Smartwatch Features and Benefits
There is very little that the most advanced smartwatches cannot do. Here are some of the smartwatch’s many helpful features:
Receive Notifications
Smartwatches can provide you with any update from your linked phone. Notifications from social media and emails can be forwarded to your smartwatch alerts, as well as text and phone calls.
Voice Commands
Smartwatches, like smartphones, can also be programmed for voice control. You can conveniently access functions by voice, such as Google searches, directions, and setting timers on the smartwatch.
GPS Navigation
You can use your smartwatch for navigation too, instead of opening up a map or searching it on your phone. The GPS function is also quite useful for tracking your runs to monitor your distance.
Music
Bluetooth headphones can likewise connect to a smartwatch for playing music while you’re out for a run, going for a relaxed stroll, or whatever you might be doing where music would be nice.
Find Lost Devices
Smartwatches are also useful for tracking your smartphone if you lose it. Since smartwatches connect to the phone, it can set the phone to ring, vibrate, or even flash, in case it’s on silent mode. Likewise, your smartphone can be used to find your watch.
Contactless Paying
You can pay for purchases with a smartwatch as well. Smartwatches have mobile payment systems that free you from having to pay with your card or smartphone. This feature should work in any store with contactless payment.
Remote for Taking Photos
You can link your phone with the smartwatch too, and use it as a remote for your phone’s camera. It also enables you to see a picture preview and adjust certain camera settings.
Smart Home Control
If you live with smart home features, then a smartwatch would prove extra handy for you as well. Smartwatches can integrate with your home automation, allowing you to control all the features of your home system from your watch. Imagine the convenience of accessing all those features from your wrist, and you can even do it through voice commands.
Smartwatches make for a great health and fitness-tracking companion. Add to it that a lot of these features are not available on a smartphone. A smartwatch can keep a record of your daily activities and has integrated sensors that provide data for your health and fitness activities. Below are some of these health monitoring features:
Heart Rate Monitor
Smartwatches come with heart rate monitors. This feature allows you to track your heart rate while you’re exercising and doing other physical activities. Monitoring your heart rate also allows you to detect an abnormal heart rhythm or any other problem with your heart.
Blood Pressure Monitor
This is a fairly new feature for smartwatches. Monitoring your blood pressure is useful for tracking your physical progress and heart’s health.
Sleep Tracker
Tracking your sleep gives you information on the quality and duration of your sleep. Sleep trackers are useful for knowing when you get the best hours in and when the best time is for you to go to bed and wake up so you can get ample rest.
Fall Detection
Most smartwatches also feature a fall detection system. If the watch’s wearer falls down and becomes unresponsive, the smartwatch can call emergency services and/or notify your emergency contacts. This is a great feature for those of us with elderly family we want to take care of.
Calorie Counter
Smartwatches keep count of how active you are in a day as well and provides an estimate of how many calories you have burned throughout your daily activities.
Pedometer
A pedometer is a standard feature of smartwatches. Smartwatches can set a daily goal of how many steps you should take and notifies you when you have reached your daily goal.
Barometric Altimeter
The barometric altimeter is used to track your elevation. This altitude tracker, working together with the thermometer and compass, is very useful for frequent hikers and runners.
Sport Tracking Features
Most smartwatches can be set to track specific activities such as walking, running, swimming, cycling, and even gym training. This can be used to help track things like workout intensity, laps around a track, stairs climbed, etc.
Can You Text on a Smartwatch? A smartwatch can be used for receiving and sending texts. Depending on the model, the smartwatch can either function as a remote Bluetooth connection to your phone, or reply to texts using its own cellular connection.
Smartwatches can also be used for making or receiving phone calls. Similar to texting, it can either function as a remote for your phone for answering calls, or as the calling device itself. Smartwatches also makes it easier for you to send texts while you’re walking or working out in the gym. You can view the messages and send a reply without having to take out your phone. You can quickly send a pre-set message as well if you’re busy and can’t fully reply to a message or answer a call.
Having a smartwatch means you won’t need to always grab your phone every time you receive a text or call. Our smartphones may not always be within reach, which makes having a smartwatch very useful. Plus, the option of using voice commands for replying means you won’t even have to use the smartwatch’s touchscreen for your replies.
Does a Smartwatch Need a Phone to Work? Smartwatches don’t necessarily need a phone to work. Its basic features and programs, such as tracking, alarms, and time functions, don’t need any link to a phone for them to be functional. Cellular data functions, such as messaging and phone calls, require a smartwatch that is able to connect to LTE or 5G when the watch is not connected to a phone.
While smartwatches are highly advanced and can do a range of things, they can’t fully replace your phone just yet, mostly due to battery life. Smartwatches don’t last very long on a single charge, especially if you are using cellular data. If this isn’t a problem, and a small screen isn’t a problem, than you can probably replace your smartphone with a smartwatch.
The caveat to this though, is that some smartwatches have solar powered screens, which can help keep the watch powered for an extended period of time. However, this isn’t enough to keep the watch powered all day when it is using data frequently.
Smartwatches are available in a wide selection of styles and designs. Some are designed to have the traditional and classic look of a watch, while others feature a more modern and futuristic design. You can also mix and match your smartwatch’s straps, depending on your mood. Strap designs for casual, formal, or sports are widely available. Most smartwatches are quite durable and are waterproof. In fact, some swimmers use their smartwatches to track their heart rate while swimming. There are even smartwatches developed for diving.
Smartwatches offer the ultimate convenience in the form of a wristwatch. These compact computers work as your personal assistant and give you several helpful features that can make your life much more convenient. A smartwatch can be easily utilized to make it easier for you to go about your daily tasks. Having a smartwatch means you won’t have to fully rely on your phone for everything, and it may even be able to replace your phone.