What is a smartwatch?
A smartwatch is a wearable computing device that closely resembles a wristwatch or other time-keeping device.
In addition to telling time, many smartwatches are Bluetooth-capable. The watch becomes a wireless Bluetooth adaptor capable of extending the capabilities of the wearer’s smartphone to the watch. The wearer can use the watch’s interface to initiate and answer phone calls from their mobile phone, read email and text messages, get weather reports, listen to music, dictate email and text messages, and ask a digital assistant a question.
What features do smartwatches offer?
Smartwatches offer many features. Among them are the following:
- health informatics, such as heart rate, blood oxygen level, blood pressure and temperature monitoring;
- contactless payment and digital wallet applications;
- messaging and calling features, similar to those on a smartphone;
- emergency calls for assistance if the watch detects the wearer has fallen;
- social media and other notifications from synchronized smartphone applications;
- games, music, photos and other entertainment options;
- location features, such as maps, a compass and an altimeter; and
- GPS tracking.