(ThyBlackMan.com) In 2015, Apple Watch users didn’t know that the smartwatch will do so much more in the future. In the beginning, the Apple Watch was considered an iPhone accessory. Many people were clueless about its purpose and were just happy with the basic features it offered. Today, Apple Watch is one of the most powerful wearable products. Here’s how it is changing the way we live, and the smartwatch is helping people in unbelievable ways.
Health and fitness
In the health and fitness area, Apple Watch has changed the way people track their activities and achieve their health goals. During the WWDC 2018 event, Apple revealed that the company studies 6 TB of data collected from over 12000 participants using the device’s inbuilt sensors such as the accelerometer, gyro, heart-rate sensor, and GPS. Apple examined the data from over 90,000 hours of sessions.
A real motivator
Apple Watch offers daily fitness coaching features to help users set health goals, track progress, and celebrate when the goal is achieved. The company also encourages users to participate in some special challenges on a weekly and monthly basis. Sharing is also one of the most popular features on the Apple Watch that allows users to share their activities, progress reports with friends to keep the competitiveness alive.
Now it’s all about more competitiveness
The new version of the watchOS will take competitiveness to a new level. After downloading the new WatchOS 5 update on your Apple Watch, you will be able to challenge your friends (those you share activities with) for a seven-day competition. Winning a competition means more points and rewards. Apart from the activity tracking capabilities, Apple Watch can now track yoga sessions as well.
Tackling the accuracy challenge
The most important feature being added to the Apple Watch is automatic workout detection. So, as soon as the device detects your activity, it will start tracking it and even if you press start after starting your activity session, your progress will be recorded from the moment you started. The Apple Watch will also support auto stop feature when it detects that the workout session is over.
An iPhone alternative
Apple Watch is slowly taking users away from their smartphones. As a viable alternative to smartphone platforms, the WatchOS is now helping users to stay connected in even more ways. Apple is bringing Walkie-Talkie, a completely new voice-enabled messaging experience for Apple Watch users. Once after you send a Walkie-Talkie connection request to your friends and they accept it, you will be able to communicate directly just like how you do on a real walkie-talkie device.
The mini web
Apple is slowly opening doors to third-party applications. During the WWDC event in 2018, the company confirmed third-party apps support for Siri watch face on Apple Watch. Apple is also making sure to limit your use of smartphones by adding the WebKit to Apple Watch. There are moments when you can’t wait to open a link someone shared with you in messages or emails. Earlier there was no other option than opening a web browser on your phone to check such links. With the Apple WatchOS 5, you will be able to open links right on your watch. Apple is also bringing the Podcast app on Apple Watch.
Helping our researchers
Apple is working with many research groups to improve things in the healthcare industry. The company has partnered with Stanford University School of Medicine, California and American Well, a telehealth company, to conduct a study known as the Apple Heart Study. It is a research project that helps researchers study heart rate data collected from Apple Watch users.
At present, Apple Watch is helping health experts and researchers to track symptoms associated with several diseases including Parkinson’s disease. The company’s products, particularly the Apple Watch, is helping researchers in the detection of the disease by reading tremors and shake patterns.
And it’s helping people in unlikely places
During the WWDC 2018, we saw Apple Watch can be used to extend restaurant reservations from the Yelp app and you can check the restaurant menu as well. In a surprising move, some restaurants are trying to push the watch’s capabilities to the next level. Third-party developers are finding new ways to use watchOS and soon you will be able to see it in restaurants improving their customer service process. Some restaurants in New York are even using Apple Watch to make sure that all the orders are being served on time.
Staff Writer; Corey Shaw
Have any Tech Tips? News? Hit up our Tech Guru at; CoreyS@ThyBlackMan.com