A computer on my wrist

Who would have thought back in the early 80’s, when the first Apple Mac or IBM PC was introduced, that within 30 years we would have access to a watch with more processing power and applications than those early computers. It was the stuff of science fiction novels.

Here in 2017, we now have access to a range of ‘smart watches’ that not only tell us the time, but also our fitness progress, health signs, play music, provides local and national weather and the forecasts, alert us to texts and calls from our mobile phone and much more.

On 9 September being interested in technology, I got to watch the Apple event of the year where they launched an array of new mobile devices/gadgets and updates/upgrades. It was 120 minutes long and full of promotional detail delivered at a rapid speed by Apples ‘experts’ in each of their respective fields.

If you’re interested to view it click here.

The gadget that sparked my interest was the Apple Watch series 2. I own an iPhone 6 that already had the Apple Watch application (an icon which launches a program to run commonly called an app). After watching the presentation it was easy to decide I wanted/needed one of those watches.

Oh joy the day my new Apple Watch arrived.

Opening the package was an experience in itself as anyone who has bought an Apple mobile device will know ‘unwrapping’ your new prized possession is an exciting event.

Already charged to 85% it was simply a matter of opening the Apple Watch app on my iPhone and following the prompts.

Suddenly, a whole new world has opened to me. With the watch now syncing with the application on the iPhone, most of the apps I used on the phone were now available on the watch.

WOW!

Here is just a snapshot of what I am now doing:

I can pick the watch face of my choice (analogue, digital, photo, graphic etc). To read the time I simply lift my arm up and it displays not only the time but the local temperature and from the health app, how many kilojoules I’ve consumed today.

Tap on the temperature and the local forecast is shown in clock face form with symbols indicating sun, rain, cloudy, wind or thunderstorms at hourly intervals. Press the centre of the watch and I get a 10 day forecast. (No guarantees here that it is an accurate prediction but I can say most weather forecasts are 100% correct – 40% of the time!!). This just a start of the weather extra’s that are available.

Swiping up, down, from the left and right brings up other applications and notifications.

When I receive a txt to my phone, it appears on the watch face also. From there I have a choice of answering it using the ‘scribble’ function (draw each letter on the face) or use Siri (Apples voice recognition software) to slowly speak my reply and send it off. Amazingly using this latter functionality I get 98 – 99% accuracy. Of course, I speak s-l-o-w-l-y to ensure there are no mistakes.

Using Siri I can get it to start other applications. For example if I say “Hey Siri, start an outdoor walk”, I immediately get the fitness app opening up for me to press start and I’m away.

One function I really enjoy using is Apple Pay. For merchants who have this facility available I simply double tap the side button and hold my wrist face down over the terminal and hey presto – account paid. What I get a kick out of is watching the expressions on the young salespersons face seeing an ‘oldie’ use such a modern method to pay. See, we still rule the world!!

There are so many more functions available. Time won’t allow me to expand on them but watch this space!!

Hopefully I’ve motivated you, if nothing else, to look at the presentation on You Tube and get caught up in the enthusiasm that this technology generates. Wearing a ‘computer’ on my wrist has been a move I will never regret.

There is no doubt about it – we are living in the best of times.

by Alex Sharp, Age Hacker