This week, we learned that Google is officially putting its considerable weight behind wearable devices, including smartwatches, with Android Wear. The software platform will bring a familiar Android experience right to a user's wrist.
So be prepared. Whether anyone really wants them or not, expect the market to be flooded with dozens of smartwatch options by Christmas.
Since Google is behind the project, that means different hardware manufacturers like Samsung, LG, and Motorola can build watches and devices that should work with existing phones. This was not the case in the past; Samsung, for example, built its own smartwatch, which only worked with a very small number of Samsung phones.
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So what do you need to know about the new crop of smartwatches powered by Android Wear?
First and foremost, they will look better than anything you've seen before. Android Wear supports both round and square device displays. Watches from LG and Samsung so far have square faces, while Motorola's 360 utilizes a round face. The latter is very attractive, and has spawned a lot of creative design ideas.
The new watches are also heavily influenced by Google Now, Google's Siri-like assistant/learning algorithm. The constant display on your wrist will alert you to flight delays, traffic alerts, and other notifications beyond text messages or calls. But since the screen is inevitably small, it will be very reliant on voice commands. The display will be touch-capable, of course, allowing for swiping and tapping, but Google wants the main input method to be voice. As with Siri, you'll be able to ask your watch to set an alarm or get driving directions.
You might be wondering: Can't I do all this on my phone? Why do I need a smartwatch?
Those are good questions. A modern smartphone can already perform these tasks. And of course, the smartwatch is merely an extension of the smartphone, which is the main hub of activity.
But the watch is meant to enhance the phone's experience. At its annual I/O developers conference this week, Google noted that people take their phones out of their pockets 125 times each day on average. The purpose of the smart watch is alleviate the need to check your phone for the mere sake of checking it.
At the conference, Google demonstrated the benefits of the watch by using it while cooking — a task that greatly benefits from having both hands free. The app was installed and running on the phone, but step-by-step instructions were shown on the watch face. Plus, the presenter had the ability to tap and set a timer, all without taking the phone out of his pocket.
Furthermore, when you have two devices talking to each other, new possibilities arise.
This was demonstrated by the presenter using the watch to turn off the cumbersome lock screen on his phone. It knew he was there and that the phone didn't need to be locked. After he took the watch off, however, the phone re-enabled the lock screen because it didn't know the owner was around.
Google also mentioned this security feature in relationship to its Chromebook computers. While it's just a hint of what's possible with further development, it means that these watches aren't completely duplicating standalone phone features.
