Smartwatch
Most modern smartwatches are operated via a touchscreen, and rely on mobile apps that run on a connected device (such as a smartphone) in order to provide core functions.
Early smartwatches were capable of performing basic functions like calculating, displaying digital time, translating text, and playing games.
More recent models often offer features comparable to smartphones, including apps, a mobile operating system, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, and the ability to function as portable media players or FM radios.
[1][2][3] While internal hardware varies, most smartwatches have a backlit LCD or OLED electronic visual display[4] and are powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery.
The Ruputer failed to achieve wide success due to its small, hard-to-read screen, cumbersome joystick method of navigation and text input, and poor battery life.
For instance, the company demonstrated coffee makers, weather stations, and alarm clocks featuring built-in SPOT technology.
[39][40][41][42][43][44] [excessive citations] Samsung also launched their S9110 Watch Phone, which featured a 1.76-inch (45 mm) color LCD display and was 11.98 millimetres (0.472 in) thin.
Vyzin Electronics Private Limited launched a ZigBee enabled smart watch called VESAG,[45] which featured cellular connectivity for remote health monitoring.
[57] The Pebble has a waterproof rating of 5 atm, which means it can be submerged down to 40 metres (130 ft) and has been tested in both fresh and salt water, allowing one to shower, dive or swim while wearing the watch.
[58] In 2013, startup Omate announced its TrueSmart watch via a Kickstarter campaign, claiming it was the first smartwatch to capture the full capabilities of a smartphone.
[60][61] As of July 2013, the list of companies that were engaged in smartwatch development activities consisted of Acer, Apple, BlackBerry, Foxconn/Hon Hai, Google, LG, Microsoft, Qualcomm, Samsung, Sony, VESAG and Toshiba.
Liew stated in an interview with gadget website Pocket-Lint that he believed that companies should be researching wearable technology, and that it could grown to "billions of dollars' worth of industry".
TechCrunch's Darrell Etherington said that "we’re finally starting to see displays that wrap around the contours of the wrist, rather than sticking out as a traditional flat surface".
[80] Apple's first wearable attempt was met with considerable criticism during its pre-launch period, with many early technology reviews citing issues with battery life and hardware malfunctions.
[86] The top smartwatches that debuted at the 2017 Consumer Electronics Show included the Casio WSD-F20, the Misfit Wearables Vapor and the Garmin Fenix 5 series.
[citation needed] In 2020, the United States Food and Drug Administration granted marketing approval for an Apple Watch app called NightWare.
[91] As of January 2025, smartwatches have advanced significantly, integrating sophisticated health-monitoring features, enhanced connectivity, and practical everyday functionalities.
Some watches can provide full GPS support, displaying maps and current coordinates, recording tracks, and bookmarking locations.
With Apple, Sony, Samsung, and Motorola introducing smartwatch models, 15 percent of tech consumers[98] use wearable technologies, which has attracted advertisers.
From about 2015, several manufacturers began to release smartwatches with LTE support, enabling direct connection to 3G/4G mobile networks for voice and SMS use, without the need to carry a paired smartphone.
did not specifically test the functionality of ultra-cheap watches, but noticed during their security audit that some could detect heart rate, blood oxygen measurements, and steps while not being worn or moved.
The Act, which should cover smartwatches, specifies security standards that manufacturers, importers and distributors (including online marketplaces) of smart devices must meet.
[103] A 2024 study by the University of Notre Dame found that some smartwatch straps contain high levels of PFAS, chemical compounds that have been classified as toxic or carcinogenic and might penetrate the skin.
An article published by the Healthcare Degree describes the most common method, in which devices use optical sensors to track the presence of blood in the wrist, indicating a heart beat.
Smartwatches are capable of collecting personal health data such as activity levels, heart rate, sleep patterns, and other metrics.
One instance published by the Warren Alpert Medical School involved Fitbit facing a lawsuit in 2011 for selling personal health data to advertisers without user consent.
[107] Another instance occurred when Strava allowed users to share their routes, which led to the accidental revelation of several military base locations throughout the world.
[108] It supports Android, desktop Linux, the PinePhone, and SailfishOS as companion devices for features such as music playback, call and text notifications, navigation instructions, and time synchronization.
[109] As of January 2022, Infinitime version 1.8's additional features include secure Bluetooth pairing, customisable watch faces, a flashlight, basic paint program, stopwatch, alarm clock, countdown timer, step counter, heart rate monitor, a one-player pong clone, a numerical puzzle game and a metronome.
While their functionality is limited, they primarily allow children to make and receive calls, display the time, and sometimes measure air temperature.
