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I contend that almost every problem solvable by a wearable can be solved “well enough” by a smartphone, to the point where an additional device is not worth the

I contend that almost every problem solvable by a wearable can be solved “well enough” by a smartphone, to the point where an additional device is not worth the trouble for the marginal benefit (unless you’re a person who likes gadgets). For exercise specifically I do see the value of a watch form factor since people don’t want to carry a phone in their exercise gear. But, that’s pretty niche.

fullshark 2y ago
Yeah we might end up just circling back to VR over AR and prioritizing immersive gaming, the only thing you can't do on a smartphone / desktop.
- AlexandrB 2y ago
  The problem with VR gaming is that movement that doesn't match real world movement tends to make people barf. The types of games you can build in VR is just so much more limited as a result. For example, it's very cool to imagine a VR MMO but it would be hell to actually play it.
danans 2y ago
> I contend that almost every problem solvable by a wearable can be solved “well enough” by a smartphone, to the point where an additional device is not worth the trouble for the marginal benefit I've found glanceable notifications on my smartwatch to be really useful. Dismissing or answering calls without taking out my phone (or without my phone at all since the watch has mobile connectivity), quickly seeing text messages (especially 2 factor auth codes). The remote viewfinder for my camera lets me actually be in family photos. And of course exercise tracking (reminders to get a few thousand more steps today are helpful). AR/VR goggles would be useless for any of those, and make the last two worse.
- jemmyw 2y ago
  But as the parent poster said, most of those things are adequate without the watch. I have a watch but it's a nice to have rather than essential.
  - danans 2y ago
    A mobile connected tablet could do everything a smartphone can well enough (and more), but I still prefer to carry a phone over that. I definitely wouldn't get a smartwatch instead of a phone (except for a kid), but there are definitely some small set of things it does better.
- nox101 2y ago
  I've found notifications period to be a net negative to my life. I have almost all of them off. > Dismissing or answering calls without taking out my phone (or without my phone at all since the watch has mobile connectivity), quickly seeing text messages (especially 2 factor auth codes). The distraction of even looking breaks me out of the zone. So no, don't need a watch for notifications.
  - theshackleford 2y ago
    > I've found notifications period to be a net negative to my life. I have almost all of them off. I’ve found the complete opposite. Funny how that works. Notifications have been one of the most significant and beneficial additions to my life. Especially on the watch, it is in fact really the only reason I own a watch. To be fair, I only let calendaring /medical apps do notifications, but equally, that’s the reason I own it in the first place.
  - microtonal 2y ago
    Same. I have found notifications on my Apple Watch even more distracting on the phone. The vibration is particularly annoying when you are in hyper-focus. So I have also disabled most notifications on my Watch. I do like it a lot for other things like workouts, having connectivity without bringing my phone along, etc. Also, I don't really understand the benefit for 2-factor codes. On the Mac and iPhone they can be autofilled from messages. So, I never need to see/read/type them.

fullshark 2y ago

Yeah we might end up just circling back to VR over AR and prioritizing immersive gaming, the only thing you can't do on a smartphone / desktop.

AlexandrB 2y ago
The problem with VR gaming is that movement that doesn't match real world movement tends to make people barf. The types of games you can build in VR is just so much more limited as a result. For example, it's very cool to imagine a VR MMO but it would be hell to actually play it.

danans 2y ago

> I contend that almost every problem solvable by a wearable can be solved “well enough” by a smartphone, to the point where an additional device is not worth the trouble for the marginal benefit I've found glanceable notifications on my smartwatch to be really useful. Dismissing or answering calls without taking out my phone (or without my phone at all since the watch has mobile connectivity), quickly seeing text messages (especially 2 factor auth codes). The remote viewfinder for my camera lets me actually be in family photos. And of course exercise tracking (reminders to get a few thousand more steps today are helpful). AR/VR goggles would be useless for any of those, and make the last two worse.

jemmyw 2y ago
But as the parent poster said, most of those things are adequate without the watch. I have a watch but it's a nice to have rather than essential.
- danans 2y ago
  A mobile connected tablet could do everything a smartphone can well enough (and more), but I still prefer to carry a phone over that. I definitely wouldn't get a smartwatch instead of a phone (except for a kid), but there are definitely some small set of things it does better.
nox101 2y ago
I've found notifications period to be a net negative to my life. I have almost all of them off. > Dismissing or answering calls without taking out my phone (or without my phone at all since the watch has mobile connectivity), quickly seeing text messages (especially 2 factor auth codes). The distraction of even looking breaks me out of the zone. So no, don't need a watch for notifications.
- theshackleford 2y ago
  > I've found notifications period to be a net negative to my life. I have almost all of them off. I’ve found the complete opposite. Funny how that works. Notifications have been one of the most significant and beneficial additions to my life. Especially on the watch, it is in fact really the only reason I own a watch. To be fair, I only let calendaring /medical apps do notifications, but equally, that’s the reason I own it in the first place.
- microtonal 2y ago
  Same. I have found notifications on my Apple Watch even more distracting on the phone. The vibration is particularly annoying when you are in hyper-focus. So I have also disabled most notifications on my Watch. I do like it a lot for other things like workouts, having connectivity without bringing my phone along, etc. Also, I don't really understand the benefit for 2-factor codes. On the Mac and iPhone they can be autofilled from messages. So, I never need to see/read/type them.