With the advent of the cell phone and the astronomical rise and expansion of the smartphone, most Americans can walk around with the world at their fingertips.
Given that cell phones come equipped with clocks that are synchronized with the Atomic clock and charged with the rest of the phone, the use of wristwatches as a means of keeping time has become almost obsolete.
With watches quickly becoming less purposeful, Apple did what most normal companies would do — they created a purpose for it. And coming soon to the marketplace will be the “Apple Watch,” a timepiece, phone and text messaging product all rolled into one.
I have to admit, I had always dreamed of having a communications device on my wrist. As a kid growing up in a less technological world, my friends and I would ride around the neighborhood on our bikes pretending to speak to each other through our watches, emulating what even TV shows and movies thought would be the wave of the future.
But then the nineties came along and cell phones became “the thing.” Why talk to your wrist and hold it up to your ear when you can just do both into a slightly bigger device?
So, it’s with some confusion that I look upon the Apple Watch with a bit of skepticism.
It can field phone calls. Great. So can cell phones. It can receive text messages. So what? So can cell phones, and with much bigger screens to view them. It can track health and fitness. Again, cell phones have apps that can do that.
The list of “features” that Apple boasts on its website goes on and on, but I’m yet to be persuaded that it has a suitable purpose.
From what I read about this product, it’s actually an auxiliary display for your cell phone. To which I respond: why do I need a much smaller display of our ever-increasing cell phones? I prefer bigger views.
The only benefit I am currently aware of is that you can wear the watch on your wrist so you don’t have to carry your phone in your hand.
Is that so great a benefit that it’s worth shelling out as much money as this thing will probably cost? I can’t think of a scenario — short of an emergency — where I’d need such quick access to anything on my phone. And then, who’s to say I’d even be able to operate that little wristwatch with a tiny screen display in such an emergency?
And what about safety hazards? Are we to believe that placing these watches on people’s wrists will make them safer drivers? No, I feel the already poor driving in this country will become all the more unsafe as more attention is placed on digital devices that are easily accessible.
The concept of communicating through your watch was such a cool idea back in the 80s, and even earlier than that. And while I see a practical use for accessing your phone’s apps and text messages from your watch and not having to dig through your pocket for your device, I just don’t see much “need” for that, hence, I don’t think I’ll be dishing out boatloads of money for such a product any time soon. At least not until Apple convinces me otherwise.