The Apple Watch

By Kaitlynn Bayne

Apple is at it again.  Their latest product?  The Apple watch.  This new device will have many options for the band, so it will be easy to customize.  It can be synced to your iPhone, allowing you to be notified when you receive new messages and phone calls.  The watch has sensors that touch your skin, which allows it to do so much more than just a watch with a screen.  It vibrates when you have a new message, allowing you to communicate easier and faster.  With these sensors, it can also measure your heart rate with its workout app.  That’s right- the watch has its own apps! 

The health aspect of the watch is what everyone is talking about right now.  The workout app not only measures heart rate and physical activity throughout the day, but will also vibrate when you have been sitting around for too long without moving.  This is to remind you to get up and start moving.  Another app, made by Dexcom, will be able to measure diabetes patients’ glucose levels with a monitor that is inserted under the patient’s skin.  As this app shows, the Apple watch has great potential with many different health aspects.  Even more apps are being developed specifically for the Apple watches.  Being the first of its kind, technology that is wearable and touches the skin, the possibilities are endless.

Although this watch seems like something completely new, the reality is it combines a bunch of other technologies together.  It’s like taking a fitness band, a watch, a phone, and a blood sugar monitor and morphing it into one.  Yes, it would be very convenient to have all of that accessible in one place; but once again it begs the question, is it necessary?  Think about it, many people have their phones that they use, and more and more people are using fitness bands.  At the same time, those who need such things as glucose readers, have those as well.  Will people be willing to spend ~$350 simply to have everything in one place?  That’s right- the Apple watch will be sold starting at $350.  I think the most unique thing these watches will have to offer is their ability to receive messages.  However, I feel like we are in a time where we are already too accessible to other people.  I wouldn’t want to be reached even easier.  But, that might just be me.


Research:
http://www.apple.com/watch/

http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2015/02/11/tim-cook-on-apple-watch-fighting-new-cancer/