Smartwatch Development
Even though the prefix “smart” has become so prevalent in today’s tech-savvy society that smartphones and smart homes are not even remotely the novelty they once were, wearable devices and smartwatch development remain one of the ultimate trends.
Both the surprising variety of practical features and ease-of-use, despite being one of the most compact pieces of technology, wearable or not, are the reasons for such an extensive demand. That, in turn, is why we also have a smartwatch development team here, at Sirin Software.
Keep reading to find out the specifics of our development process, as well as wearable UX best practices and the topmost benefits of using smartwatches in your everyday life.
Apple Watch currently holds the title as the most recognizable smartwatch, however, the road was already paved long before it ever appeared on the market. From the very first analog GPS called Wristlet Route Indicator back in 1927 to the digital watch boom from 1972 to 1985, smart wearable devices development was nothing short of productive.
The previous decade was marked by the Nike+ Fuelbands activity tracker first launched in 2012, followed by Sony SmartWatch the same year, then a few smartwatches from Samsung, and finally, the previously mentioned Apple Watch in 2015.
Market Share Forecast
Various studies report that the global smartwatch market is expected to reach more than $96 billion by 2027. As we’ve established with our smartwatch timeline, numerous leading companies are a part of this growing trend, adding to the tremendous rise of nearly 20% in the compound annual growth rate of the industry over the last couple of years.
With smartwatches having totally dissimilar form-factor and a slightly narrower variety of features, there are a few specific details that can be different from a standard mobile app development practice:
- Fewer features on smartwatches mean more focus on perfecting those that are more essential and how they look on smaller displays;
- The need for more thorough optimization to extend battery life and performance;
- The need to accommodate for a few physical buttons – at least one, preferably a couple, if the device has too small of a screen;
- Navigation on smartwatch apps has to be more shallow and linear, as opposed to mobile apps that can go multiple levels deep;
- Using buttons or tapping for scrolling.
The smartwatch development has encountered a few setbacks during its blossoming stage, partially due to unusually small screens and somewhat frustrating battery life, all in comparison to smartphones we’re so accustomed to.
While starting as their not particularly necessary companions, smartwatches continue to evolve and gradually become a slightly more free-standing piece of tech. Here’s what sets them apart now:
Design
One of the most crucial parts of smartwatch development is the design process. It’s essential to make an app focused, split the information on the display into small sections for easier comprehension, and make use of all the space available.
Among the wearable UX best practices you can find numerous pieces of advice on how to design and execute notifications for them to be quick and to the point. Balance in everything is crucial. Everything should be not too large but not too small, wrist-optimized, appropriately spaced, and most of all, relevant.
Smartwatch Apps Features
The variety of features in wearable devices development is determined by the type and purpose of the smartwatch and its apps. Nearly all smartwatches, especially those that connect to a smartphone, are able to show calls, notifications, and emails, plus can allow you to talk to digital assistants.
Sports or fitness trackers need to have heart rate monitors, calorie tracking, sleep management, some of them even incorporate breathing monitors. Health monitoring smartwatch apps tend to also include oxygen saturation levels, a more advanced EKG than the previous smartwatch type, female health trackers, even stress levels.
With navigation and payment types it’s crucial to have NFC and other contactless payments, built-in GPS, and Bluetooth. Home automation means having control of the smart lights on your home, along with security cameras, locks, thermostats, and other smart devices.
The benefits of using smartwatches and wearable solutions in everyday life go beyond just being a compact “little helper” on your wrist and the extension of your smartphone. Let’s go through the most popular uses of smartwatches and the advantages they bring in these areas of human life:
- Communication. The synchronization with your smartphone does wonders for those who need to keep track of their calls, messages, and other notifications. There may be a time when your phone’s screen is not easily accessible, and that’s where wearable devices come in.
- Health and Excercise. Most of the features mentioned in the previous section of our article promote better care of you and your health. With many of us leading busy and fast-paced lives, we might sometimes forget to listen closely to our own bodies and this can have a detrimental effect on our health, unless someone, or, in this case, something does this instead.
- Other helpful everyday features. You can leave your wallet at home and still be able to pay or find a direction without staring at a map. In addition, using smartwatches to control your homes can assist in energy-saving through remote and timely supervision, as well as time and safety management.
Other benefits include:
- Fashion and style. With all its useful traits and features, sometimes a smartwatch, just like an ordinary watch, can be simply a fashion statement, and to keep away from such an important part in smartwatch app development is not wise nor possible.
- Education and entertainment. Certain wearables are often used to listen to music and podcasts.
- Locating your phone in case you misplaced it or someone stole it.
It’s already been established in some of the latest market reports that the lack of awareness about the value and utility of smartwatches is one of the biggest reasons both consumers and business owners are still being hesitant about them. We’d like to do our part in changing that.
This article brought to you by our own smartwatch development team is meant to clear up any doubts, whether you are thinking about purchasing a wearable device or developing your own smartwatch or an app. Feel free to drop us a question regarding any type of smartwatch development you’re interested in.
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