I can't see the utility in a smart watch no matter how hard I try. I'm open to ideas...actively looking for them, but I just can't see it. What could I possibly gain from a smart watch or even an exercise band?
- Tell me how many steps I took? This is gimmicky. I don't need to know this to run at a certain speed for twenty minutes, or to lift weights (I'm a lifetime runner/ex-collegiate athlete). Fitness is monitored by what exercise you do and when you do it. Monitoring how far you walked today is silly unless you're old, and even then it's a black and white thing...not something that demands technology. You either went for your daily walk or you didn't.
- The time? Too many alternatives from zero to cheap.
- Monitor my heart rate? Again, gimmicky. If you feel exhausted, slow down or stop. You don't need a piece of technology to tell you that you aren't working hard enough or that you're working too hard. You need definite rep numbers, definite time limits, and a normal amount of self awareness. Sure, monitor my heart rate...if I'm old. But why? The body already says, "I'm tired" when it's tired.
- Check messages? Okay...geez, if you're willing to pay over $200 to solve the "problem" of reaching into your pocket. Alright, maybe if you work in the stock market? But then...if you NEED to look at your messages that often, you probably need to reply quite a bit, too...in which case you're going to use a phone.
- Monitor your sleep? Another gimmick. I don't care if you know somebody who knows somebody who benefited from this. Here's how to get better sleep: Cut down on caffeine, especially in the afternoon. Eat regular meals strong in green veggies, light on refined carbs, and don't eat later than seven or so. Wake up at roughly the same time every morning, no matter how much sleep you got - your body will regulate itself and eventually adjust to a bed time that matches your wake time appropriately. What is your watch going to tell you...that you should do the things I just suggested because your sleep sucks? You already have a barameter for this...it's called being tired and irritable and other obvious things.
- Check weather? God, I know I sure need to have the weather on my wrist...never know when the distance to my pocket is going to overwhelm me.
- Blood pressure? Sheesh, again, you have a body...you'll feel light headed if you've pushed too hard.
This whole watch thing is straight up a gimmick. It is awkward to hold your arm up like this, and I've never known a single peer/athlete who uses these. I've seen people who buy Fitbits...they are people who buy gimmicks because they don't know how to exercise. The idea that actual "athletes" use these is absurd. Somebody bought one for me for Christmas. They meant well, but...really? I'm 6'4, 205, and less than 10% body fat. They bought it not because they knew what I'd do with it, but because they think what everybody else thinks, "technology helps you!" There is no information this thing could give me that wouldn't be superfluous to a straight forward, time and rep delimited workout. What I need to know is what I ate this week, whether I cheated on sleep, how many reps I did at what weight, and how long I ran at what speed and what intervals. And no, I don't need to know my &%# weight. Weight has nothing to do with it...so throw out the scale, too. Take your fingers and pinch your flab. Do you have too much? Then run more often, get more of your carbs from veggies and less from anywhere else, or better and more efficient, lift more weight to add muscle so your body passively burns calories while you're doing nothing. Build your biggest muscles (quads, chest) by doing simple reps with squats and bench press, add merely a few pounds of muscle and watch the calories burn while you sleep. You don't need this crap. There's a reason the people on the treadmills are "heavier" than the people who lift...they only burn calories when they run, versus the lifters who have more muscle that burns calories all day long, including during sleep.
There is simply no utility in this kind of device. It's an anachronism...a retro futuristic product that became obsolete once the future got here. The people who invented these sci fi devices were simply making faster horses...taking existing technology, making it smaller, and imagining it being on the wrist without any knowledge that other technology would make this idea obsolete. My money is on Apple not making one. At best, they'll make a "fuel band." But I hope not. I'd rather them get their iCloud $%# together.
When rumours of the iPad came out I thought 'Who would buy a bloody big iPhone', now I can't do without the iPad. My lesson has been learnt, IF Apple does bring out a watch I am confident it will change peoples perception of what a watch can/should be.
Who knows maybe Apple is working on a ye-olde style pocket watch .
Hey Eric, when someone is shaking your hand, you are supposed to look them in the eyes. I guess looking away is his way of saying "Steve, Google's in the process of copying your iOS devices".
Want to earn money & help your family without going anywhere.........I make $60h - $92h...how? I'm working online now its ur turn to make money at home...................... Buzz55.?om
Only a small population has the money to automate their homes, Ask AT&T, VZ and Comcast about this, they all offer products to do this for people who have the money. This is not the next great consumer product it is a niche market.
It depends on what you want to automate. If it's just simply turning off/on and adjusting lights, anything can do that with something like what Belkin, Philips Hue, etc. That's basic stuff. But if you want FULL automation, the big boys like Crestron, Savant, Control 4, etc. etc. integrate and develop apps for mobile devices to control whatever is connected.
But home automation IS becoming more popular with businesses of all sizes and homes. It's just what you want to do and with what budget.
All of this is new and some of it very affordable and easy to set up and some of it is more full feature and ripping expensive. But like anything, the average costs are coming down and functionality is going up.
When rumours of the iPad came out I thought 'Who would buy a bloody big iPhone', now I can't do without the iPad. My lesson has been learnt, IF Apple does bring out a watch I am confident it will change peoples perception of what a watch can/should be.
Who knows maybe Apple is working on a ye-olde style pocket watch ;) .
Edit: changed a word
I'm thinking these new leather iPhone cases are a pilot for learning how to make quality leather products… like, say a watch band.
Comments
I can't see the utility in a smart watch no matter how hard I try. I'm open to ideas...actively looking for them, but I just can't see it. What could I possibly gain from a smart watch or even an exercise band?
- Tell me how many steps I took? This is gimmicky. I don't need to know this to run at a certain speed for twenty minutes, or to lift weights (I'm a lifetime runner/ex-collegiate athlete). Fitness is monitored by what exercise you do and when you do it. Monitoring how far you walked today is silly unless you're old, and even then it's a black and white thing...not something that demands technology. You either went for your daily walk or you didn't.
- The time? Too many alternatives from zero to cheap.
- Monitor my heart rate? Again, gimmicky. If you feel exhausted, slow down or stop. You don't need a piece of technology to tell you that you aren't working hard enough or that you're working too hard. You need definite rep numbers, definite time limits, and a normal amount of self awareness. Sure, monitor my heart rate...if I'm old. But why? The body already says, "I'm tired" when it's tired.
- Check messages? Okay...geez, if you're willing to pay over $200 to solve the "problem" of reaching into your pocket. Alright, maybe if you work in the stock market? But then...if you NEED to look at your messages that often, you probably need to reply quite a bit, too...in which case you're going to use a phone.
- Monitor your sleep? Another gimmick. I don't care if you know somebody who knows somebody who benefited from this. Here's how to get better sleep: Cut down on caffeine, especially in the afternoon. Eat regular meals strong in green veggies, light on refined carbs, and don't eat later than seven or so. Wake up at roughly the same time every morning, no matter how much sleep you got - your body will regulate itself and eventually adjust to a bed time that matches your wake time appropriately. What is your watch going to tell you...that you should do the things I just suggested because your sleep sucks? You already have a barameter for this...it's called being tired and irritable and other obvious things.
- Check weather? God, I know I sure need to have the weather on my wrist...never know when the distance to my pocket is going to overwhelm me.
- Blood pressure? Sheesh, again, you have a body...you'll feel light headed if you've pushed too hard.
This whole watch thing is straight up a gimmick. It is awkward to hold your arm up like this, and I've never known a single peer/athlete who uses these. I've seen people who buy Fitbits...they are people who buy gimmicks because they don't know how to exercise. The idea that actual "athletes" use these is absurd. Somebody bought one for me for Christmas. They meant well, but...really? I'm 6'4, 205, and less than 10% body fat. They bought it not because they knew what I'd do with it, but because they think what everybody else thinks, "technology helps you!" There is no information this thing could give me that wouldn't be superfluous to a straight forward, time and rep delimited workout. What I need to know is what I ate this week, whether I cheated on sleep, how many reps I did at what weight, and how long I ran at what speed and what intervals. And no, I don't need to know my &%# weight. Weight has nothing to do with it...so throw out the scale, too. Take your fingers and pinch your flab. Do you have too much? Then run more often, get more of your carbs from veggies and less from anywhere else, or better and more efficient, lift more weight to add muscle so your body passively burns calories while you're doing nothing. Build your biggest muscles (quads, chest) by doing simple reps with squats and bench press, add merely a few pounds of muscle and watch the calories burn while you sleep. You don't need this crap. There's a reason the people on the treadmills are "heavier" than the people who lift...they only burn calories when they run, versus the lifters who have more muscle that burns calories all day long, including during sleep.
There is simply no utility in this kind of device. It's an anachronism...a retro futuristic product that became obsolete once the future got here. The people who invented these sci fi devices were simply making faster horses...taking existing technology, making it smaller, and imagining it being on the wrist without any knowledge that other technology would make this idea obsolete. My money is on Apple not making one. At best, they'll make a "fuel band." But I hope not. I'd rather them get their iCloud $%# together.
What do Americans use to emphasize something to make it even stronger? Call something very big and use a little name, like 'biggie'?
I guess in this case I'll use 'the author seems a bit biased'.
Thanks for the good read though.
And bigger than that: Boogie.
Okay, I’m still waiting for the list to show something that anyone would consider ‘crave-worthy’.
When rumours of the iPad came out I thought 'Who would buy a bloody big iPhone', now I can't do without the iPad. My lesson has been learnt, IF Apple does bring out a watch I am confident it will change peoples perception of what a watch can/should be.
Who knows maybe Apple is working on a ye-olde style pocket watch
.
Edit: changed a word
Yawni and Pass-adena.
Hey Eric, when someone is shaking your hand, you are supposed to look them in the eyes. I guess looking away is his way of saying "Steve, Google's in the process of copying your iOS devices".
And don't hold your breathe waiting, I just don't see it ever coming.
Want to earn money & help your family without going anywhere.........I make $60h - $92h...how? I'm working online now its ur turn to make money at home...................... Buzz55.?om
Just open Home tab nd make money
Only a small population has the money to automate their homes, Ask AT&T, VZ and Comcast about this, they all offer products to do this for people who have the money. This is not the next great consumer product it is a niche market.
It depends on what you want to automate. If it's just simply turning off/on and adjusting lights, anything can do that with something like what Belkin, Philips Hue, etc. That's basic stuff. But if you want FULL automation, the big boys like Crestron, Savant, Control 4, etc. etc. integrate and develop apps for mobile devices to control whatever is connected.
But home automation IS becoming more popular with businesses of all sizes and homes. It's just what you want to do and with what budget.
All of this is new and some of it very affordable and easy to set up and some of it is more full feature and ripping expensive. But like anything, the average costs are coming down and functionality is going up.
I'm thinking these new leather iPhone cases are a pilot for learning how to make quality leather products… like, say a watch band.