SmartWatch Era: What is a SmartWatch?

This year is definitely the year to see the SmartWatch world at its peak. smartwatches have been around for a while now and are set surge from this year on. So the question is, what exactly is a smartwatch?

Pcadvisor.co.uk says “A SmartWatch is a wristwatch with screen and the ability to do much more than tell you the time. In essence, it’s like having a tiny Smartphone on your wrist.” Why would you need something like that when your phone takes barely a second to pull out of your pocket? Thewirecutter.com answers that question correctly by saying “Because it allows you to ignore your Smartphone more.  You can glance at your wrist in the middle of a conversation and know if a phone call is important enough to take.”

How do SmartWatches work?

The smartwatches we have now are not fully independent devices simply because they do not have access to the internet. The smartwatches are designed in such a way that it needs access to other devices like your Smartphone that have internet connectivity.  

Just like your smartphone needs to be connected to the internet, a smartwatch needs to be connected to a Smartphone in order to work to its full potential like message notifications, gps navigation, and calendar synchronization. And of course a Bluetooth or NFC connection to your phones means the watch can help you make calls or send and receive messages.

Nismo SmartWatch from Nissan

Some smartwatches are made specifically for athletics purposes, letting you track your lap time times, distance, and route. They may work in tandem with accessories such as a heart rate monitor or cadence sensor.

How much do SmartWatches cost?

With £100($160) you can afford an original Sony smartwatch but the others will cost more than this. The second edition of the Sony smartwatch costs more than that £149($240) to be precise, others like Samsung Galaxy Gear and Pebble Steel are sold for around £250($400).

Will any SmartWatch work with my smartphone?

This is a good question anyone that wants to buy a smartwatch should ask. In one word, the aanswer is No. Smartwatches are developed to work with particular mobile phone platforms – iOS and Android. You have to check this before you buy.

Some SmartWatches are only compatible with specific Smartphone as well, not just the operating system. A prime example is the Samsung Galaxy Gear which only works with selected Samsung phones like the Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 3.

Few smartwatches like the Timex Ironman One is a stand alone watch with 3G connectivity that doesn't need to connect with any smartphones for data or other purposes.

“There's an interesting theory that smartwatches are to the smartphone what wristwatches were to the pocket watch.” – Chris Martin, PC Advisor

So if you were thinking smartwatches aren’t necessary, think again.