Almost a year ago, I wrote a post on this blog that declared bluntly, “smartwatches are basically useless.” Now that Apple, with today’s announcement of the Apple Watch, has made the discussion around the usefulness of smartwatches relevant again, I’d like to revisit the topic.

My main argument about smartwatches was based on the idea of putting a smartphone on your wrist. Trying to make phone calls might actually be more difficult, unless you pair it with a Bluetooth-connected ear piece, which is only an option for those willing to walk around with multiple wearable devices on their bodies. Typing text messages and emails is inherently more difficult to do with one remaining free hand on a smaller screen awkwardly strapped atop the other wrist. Speak-to-text is only convenient in private settings, unless you want everyone around you to listen in as you compose your text messages and emails. The only real benefit of a smartwatch, from this perspective, is being able to decide whether an incoming call or message is worth taking out your phone.

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