Smartwatches: how an "iWatch" could actually help it take off

With current doubts as to whether or not smartwatches will meet their end before they even gained traction, could word that the big A itself plans to develop and produce an “iwatch” of their own finally kick things into gear for other manufacturers already in the game? I’d like to think so.

Sony SmartWatch - Source: Engadget

I've never been a fan of watches. I understand their purpose and I'm sure in another time, there’d been great use in having one, but for a person of my generation – I feel they've just about outlived their purpose. That’s not to say I've never owned a watch, but I've never bought one either. The moment I first got my hands on a mobile phone, that has been essentially my pocket watch. I know it would be more convenient to have a wristwatch to check the time whenever I needed, but I never cared about the convenience – I had a device in my pocket that could do the same thing that a watch could do, and more. So why is it now that people are starting to look into the idea of smartwatches, that I am suddenly considering buying something which I've never found a use for before? Simple, because of the word: “smart”.

Now, the basic idea behind a smartwatch isn't new, it’s been around for decades in the concept that one could use a phone for things other than telling time. We've seen and read about characters who use their watch as some normal, innocent looking gadget, only to find it capable of detonating explosives, firing lasers, tracking one’s own location, or being used for communication via a 2-way radio. Whilst most of the aforementioned features you’d imagine to be used by spies of sorts, the latter two could very well make their way into emerging smartwatches and future concepts.

James Bond  and the watch that could do so much more

Currently, there’s an ample selection of smartwatches available on the market, but their features and number of apps remain rather limited. Their main use at the moment is their substitution as a notification device for your smartphone - for when it’s not nearby or if you’re like me, and you’re frequently missing calls, texts and emails because your phone is in your pocket on silent. For this use, I can certainly see a point in owning a smartwatch, particularly when someone is urgently trying to contact you and you’re in a workspace which requires absolute silence. These devices also allow use of apps which may enable an individual to control their music wirelessly from their phone, act as a pedometer, provide weather details based on location, or perhaps even show you Twitter and Facebook updates.

One of the most popular smartwatches of today - the Pebble

In spite of all this, the reviews for the current crop haven’t been so stellar, nor have they provided any true reason other than novelty for buyers to fork out the coin for one. Questions of functionality with regards to apps and their integration remain, as do concerns over useability in terms of interface and intuitive control on a small screen, along with reliability of the device in maintaining a consistent pairing with a smartphone.

This is why your standard “i” branded device from you know who is what I feel is exactly what’s required to open up the minds and wallets of consumers, urging them to find a use for such a device in their lives. I do believe that whilst their market share has in some respects, fallen short of their unbelievable track record we've seen in the past, they could still successfully pull off the release of a new device, and generate enough hype for just about anyone to adopt the idea of a smartwatch – even those who refuse to buy “i” products. This could provide an opening for manufacturers to improve upon and provide well-rounded devices which are better developed than what’s presently offered.

Google's patent on a smartwatch concept

Obviously, this wouldn't be a post from me if at some point I didn't mention what Google could offer in all this, and with the recent success in their filing of a patent which sees the use of a dual screen smartwatch with a flip mechanism, enabling the transparent secondary flip screen to observe the surrounds of the user, and enhance their experience with a Goggles-like approach, providing information on nearby sites and objects.

Google Time - Adrian Maciburko

The concept ‘Google Time’ imagined by fellow Australian Adrian Maciburko , have made the rounds on just about all major technology websites, and for good reason – it’s an outstanding representation of a likely Google smartwatch, based on Google’s design language, which at present, is simple and clean. I, along with countless others would love to see these design elements make their way into a future Google smartwatch – if developers at Google can pry themselves for a moment from their work on Glass (though it’s headed for developer preview). With a watch like this, I know where the remainder of my money from my dwindling bank account will be going – in a heartbeat.