Does a smartwatch have to tell the time?
A slight spin on the question that pops up regularly, ie is a smartwatch a watch, but coming from a slightly different angle. There are an increasing number of people selling wearable tech that competes in the smartwatch field that don't tell the time. The whoop strap and the new nowatch are good examples. Which got me thinking.
Should we be saying "smart watch" - two words, where smart is simply an addition to watch and telling the time is intrinsic to being a smart watch, or
Should we be saying "smartwatch" - one word, whole new meaning for a new class of device where its just wearable connected tech worn on the wrist (which might not tell the time or even have a display)?
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Pete
Consistently overthinking watches, still, better than underthinking I guess.
Melbourne, Australia
Member since
Last active: 11 months ago
By definition, to be a watch it must actually tell time. Otherwise, it is a fitness tracker/wifi device.
Yes, a smart watch has to tell time, like a smart toaster has to toast bread. Otherwise it’s a smart something else.
No time no watch lol 😆
Can't decide if serious or if WC is now big enough to have attracted enough trolls to be noticeable lol.
The Whoop is certainly not a smartwatch, it’s a fitness tracker, a device that only tracks data and has no other functionality, and they would never call it a smartwatch in any of their marketing materials. The Nowatch is literally saying it’s not a watch in its name.
The Whoop is certainly not a smartwatch, it’s a fitness tracker, a device that only tracks data and has no other functionality, and they would never call it a smartwatch in any of their marketing materials. The Nowatch is literally saying it’s not a watch in its name.
So like a stopwatch I guess.
my view is a smartwatch IS a connected, wearable device you usually wear on your wrist like a watch - hence the use of the word 'watch' in forming the new word smartwatch. but it doesn't have to have the function of a watch to be a smartwatch
this is basically the same process that creates - say - BMX. BMX is a bicycle motor cross but it doesn't have a motor - however, its used like a motor cross bike so we go with it.
this isn't defined by breaking the words up and search for etymologies but rather by considering usage
So like a stopwatch I guess.
A stopwatch, even a mechanical one, still has a timing display. I’m not saying that words have singular meanings or that they don’t change over time. But looking at the current common usage of these words both by the general public and the companies making these products the Whoop isn’t a smartwatch.
A stopwatch, even a mechanical one, still has a timing display. I’m not saying that words have singular meanings or that they don’t change over time. But looking at the current common usage of these words both by the general public and the companies making these products the Whoop isn’t a smartwatch.
Im less sure of that. I see "smartwatch comparisons" including the whoop band and even the oura ring all the time. I suspect that within a few years smartwatch will devolve to basically wearable tech.
Personally I've been there for the best part of ten years with my garmins never being "watches" just like my phone has never been a "pocket watch" or my garmin head units "handlebar clocks"..
They are compared to smart watches likely because they are in a new category of display-less wearable tech and need to be compared against something. The fact that they are compared that way in reviews and comparisons doesn’t mean they are the same thing or should be called the same thing. lots of products, especially ones in new categories, are in that space where there aren’t enough of them to only be compared within that new product category.
And as I said, language is constantly changing and evolving and the meaning that I currently see based on what I’ve read and heard is obviously different to what you are seeing. That’s fine.