How The Smartwatch Evolved To What It Is Today

Smartwatches are on people’s wrists everywhere you look today. In fact, one in six consumers owns a wearable device. The market for wearable technology is growing faster than any other technology sector, and it’s not hard to see why with their many useful functions that make our lives more convenient and efficient.

But when were smartwatches invented, and what features have made them so popular? We’ll explore and answer those questions in this article.

A smartwatch used to solve crime

If you’re old enough to remember a comic strip called Dick Tracy, you’ll remember that the crime-fighting hero wore a watch that doubled as a two-way radio. It became his signature accessory, and in the 1960s, they upgraded the watch to be able to perform video calls. The comic strip began in 1931 and later became a popular TV show. Apple CEO Tim Cook said Dick Tracy’s watch was an inspiration for what is now the smartwatch with the biggest portion of the market, the Apple Watch.

When was the smartwatch invented?

The invention of the smartwatch actually goes back many decades. In 1972, the Hamilton Watch Company invented the Pulsar. The watch was wrapped in 18-carat gold, and you had to press a button to see the digital clock. It paved the way for future smartwatches and sold for USD $2,100.

How have smartwatches developed since then?

Seen in James Bond’s Octopussy, Seiko invented the T001, which was released in 1983. The screen was divided into two areas with the top part showing the time and regular watch features, however, the bottom part was like a television screen so the wearer could watch videos. Although the quality wasn’t great, it was the first of its kind.

Fast-forwarding a little to 1999, Samsung released the first smartwatch that was capable of making a phone call. The SPH-WP10 had an LCD screen, and the person could speak for up to 90 minutes as it had a speaker and microphone.

In 2013, Pebble took the world by storm with its successful Kickstarter campaign raising $10 million, showing that there was a big demand for smart devices. Pebble could act as a remote controller for a person’s smartphone or for devices such as GoPro cameras. There are over 1,000 applications in the Pebble app store.

Smartwatches For Fitness

Smartwatches are making our lives better because we can track our health and daily activity to make better lifestyle choices. Since the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, Apple Watch sales have continued to grow as more people stay at home and want to look after their health. In the third quarter of 2019, 45.5 million smartwatches and fitness bands were sold.

People have been encouraged to stay indoors due to the pandemic, and there are even Workout apps. This includes dance workouts, core training workouts, and functional strength training workouts. You can even track your sleep cycle now to get a better night’s sleep.

Smartwatches For Healthcare

Smartwatches, even have hand-washing timers so you can ensure you’re washing your hands for at least 20 seconds to get rid of all the germs and bacteria on them. As well as hand washing, smartwatch usage in healthcare is increasing, especially among elderly people.

There are endless applications for smartwatches in healthcare, from fall detection to monitoring people with diseases like Parkinson’s. New technology has now made it possible for seniors to feel safe living at home by themselves with tech gadgets to keep them safe. There are devices that can alert someone if the wearer has fallen over and is unable to get up. A smartwatch that can detect falls is doubling as a personal alarm that can save the life of someone in trouble.

In closing, smartwatches have vastly improved in the last 50 years, and with further innovation, it’ll be interesting to see what smartwatches will be capable of doing 50 years from now. Smartwatches are able to not only keep track of our fitness but also potentially save people’s lives. Hopefully, these devices continue to be a force for good as we develop new technology.