Smartwatch: Reinventing the wheel
Some time ago, if you were to ask a trendy person if tech could be considered in the fashion realm, they would probably go "eeek!", call you a geek, and ask you to leave. It is understandable really when you consider the fact that tech gadgets back then were clunky, bulky boxes.
Fast forward to today and it seems design for tech gadgets is just as high on the list as innovation. From featherweight laptops and computers with sleek bodywork, Hi-fi systems which look like works of art in your living room, to curvy flat panel TVs to match the curves on your walls, you will be spoilt for choice when buying something to make your living room look great.
While tech can now be used to make your home look trendy, can it also enter the world of fashion? With the advent of Smart Wearables that answer seems to be a foregone conclusion. The list of things coming under the banner of 'wearables' is huge and they are sure to revolutionise the fashion industry in the near future.
But that's all for later. Right now though, the only thing we have in the market for people to buy is a Smartwatch; it is like a normal wristwatch, except the face is a display and it pairs with your existing smartphone and displays all sorts of information so you do not have to bring out your phone for every vibration. It even lets you interact with said notifications straight off the watch. These smartwatches are powered by Android or other proprietary software depending upon the manufacturer.
The allure of a smartwatch to a watch-lover is undeniable. Sure, the first of the crops were a complete eye-sore, but starting with the Moto 360, they have only gotten better. The headline feature that everyone is going to love is that you are not bound to a single watch face, as you can change it to your heart's content.
Another awesome feature is that you can interact with your smartwatch and receive important information on the move such as the weather. Also, fitness buffs will love the slew of health monitoring kits available with smartwatches.
Truth be told, there are some annoyances to smartwatches as well, such as charging the gadget every night or that the construction, while sturdy, is not quite as sturdy as proper wristwatches. Regardless, the benefits still outweigh the annoyances.
With all that said and done, it is time to address the elephant in the room. Can a smartwatch be considered a fashion item? If it were about wristwatches, then the answer would be an unequivocal yes. However, when you put a smartwatch into the mix, some lines are drawn. Some will say that it can never replace the allure and romanticism of a proper wristwatch, while others argue that it is simply the next step.
Logically, a smartwatch represents both these worlds. Fact: a smartwatch can never replace a proper wristwatch, but then again, it does not really need to. It can simply co-exist and serve as an alternative to those who love it and wish to stand out from the crowd. And with big names in watch circles (no pun intended) like Tissot, Casio, Fossil and many more joining the smartwatch bandwagon, you can rest assured that they also value this ideal and will not let the smartwatch go the way of the dodo.
By Intisab Shahriyar
Photo: Collected
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