[spiderbat]

I think I am one of the most asocial creatures of the known universe. Just the idea that every moron on this planet, by composing a number, could disturb me wherever I am drives me crazy, so that I'd prefer having an impact-detonating hand granade without safety pin tied to my belt rather than an active cellular phone. At the same time, I enjoy conversing in forums where the level of interaction remains calm, but I steer far away from any form of social networking.
However, It can't be denied that cellular phones may prove very handy, or even essential, in some cases, so that I have one with me, that I keep always off, when I'm not forced to make a call. Three years ago I purchased an iPhone, which I use everyday with great satisfaction as a PDA. In the idyllic situation depicted by the author, I might perhaps consult the phonometer-app to get an objective measurement of the peace around, or, by night, use the planetarium-app to recognize a star, or read an iBook while sitting on a tree-root.
Furthermore, I must say that my affection for the PDA capabilities of the iPhone has the side effect that I never forget it at home, as I did often with the previous cellular-only contraptions.
The moral of the story is that you may take with you any apparate that connects you with other people and allows them to call you without being distracted, it it has a switch to put it off and you have the will to keep it in the right position.

[incognito]

I retired from the Army in 1996. The very first thing I did was throw my watch away. I am totally similated into Apple: MBA, 2 iMacs, iPhone, iPad and a Nano for my workouts. I have survived 17 years without a watch on my wrist and I will survive another 17; even if the iWatch is awesome ... Well maybe if my kids buy as a gift I'll wear it :-)

[arldi2]

Those comments discrediting the idea of the smart watch are just not thinking "BIG" enough. The iWatch will happen. The display, however, will not be on the face of the watch but instead on the inner surfaces of our own blue-tooth (like) glasses/sunglasses, or a 3-D hologram screen hovering just above the watch or some other location.

And as to intrusion? We all have a responsibility and the choice to live our lives in as mindful ways as possible. Most will not. Most will unsuccessfully fight their addiction as many losers do in front of the omnipresent, always-on TV screen. Nothing disgusts me more than to see a couple in a restaurant or out for a walk and one or more talking-texting to the exclusion of their partner. Yet, the availability of technology is not the problem.....the challenge will remain the core values of the masses, or lack thereof. I say....GREAT bring it on........makes it easier for the rest of us to triumph in our chosen endeavors while the most passively numb their brains with their screen of choice. Yes, I will have whatever new technology that comes along, but....I will know when to turn it OFF.

[Atma]

I've had a number of watches but don't wear them anymore (Ok, it's because the batteries died yet again), thing is, I don't really miss them much. There always seems to be a clock where I need one, or someone to ask (that social thing), or I just don't need to know. And actually it's healthier without, those little atomic ticks going on really do have an effect on body rhythms even if you don't notice. I feel better without.
I've never had a cell phone, don't care for one, although I might if someone gave me one, just for the convenience. But I wouldn't carry it around all the time turned on. Not interested in frying my body with microwaves for the sake of trivial conversations. It can wait until I get back to the office.

[pjonescet2]

Shades of Dick Tracy!!

For those people less than 40. Dick Tracy Is a Sunday Paper Comic strip about Police detective called Dick Tracy one of his gee whiz devices was a Watch that had two way video/audio radio communications. He would talk into it and a video picture of who he was talking to would appear. This comic strip started in 40's and the Two way video watch was put in in the 50's.

[PugetBill]

I think melvinwalker's analogy with the history of pocket watches is apt, "...Pocket watches existed, ...Then for a brief time, wrist watches took over..." but my conclusion from that comparison is very different. Once reliable, affordable wrist watches became available, nobody ever went back to pocket watches (except those doing it as an intentional affectation). I believe there is a very bright future for any company that can produce a viable cell phone that fits comfortably on your wrist. This by no means needs to be a "smart phone" loaded with all of the features that word currently implies. Nor should it be. A simple, reliable, and good looking 'dumb' phone that fits on my wrist would be highly desirable - to me and to many others I suspect. I'd buy one for each of my children.

This is exactly the kind of thing that Apple often 'gets right.' Most of the currently available wrist-phones are unappealing primarily because they do a poor job of implementing the most important phone features elegantly into this form factor. They try to cram too many 'nice-to-have' features into this form factor while simultaneously under-delivering on the 'must have' features. That, together with almost universally mediocre-to-hideous industrial designs so far.

The key to a successful wrist phone is identifying those few key "must have" features and ensuring the wrist-phone delivers well on those - and eliminating those features that are impractical or just don't work well in that form factor. e.g. Ensure the wrist-phone is light weight; has long battery life; a user-friendly / functional user interface (for phoning); and good cell reception. If there were a wrist phone that could deliver (only) those things today, I would buy one - and I'd be willing to pay more than what I just paid for an unlocked iPhone. I suspect such a wrist phone could also provide (only rudimentary versions of) some 'nice-to-have' features - like texting capability - and that would be OK for me. Instead of a virtual keyboard, it might rely on touch screen 'writing' (like the old Palm Pilot's 'Graffiti'). To maximize battery life, use an e-ink type display (no backlight). Color display? Black and white is fine. E-ink's slow refresh rate? May not be an issue. Integrate antenna(s) into wrist strap;... etc.; etc.

Such a wrist-phone could be the central piece of a product 'cluster' that could include options like a headphone / mic / 'project glass' type display/headset or an iPod touch-like device that could connect directly to the wrist-phone or use the wrist-phone as a 'hotspot' for connecting to the internet when no WiFi was available. But the key (to me) is that the wrist phone work well AS A PHONE without relying on anything external - Bluetooth headset NOT required. external display NOT required, etc.

[Sportymonk]

Atma is right on the target. Read an article a while back about how young people today Gen x or Y or W??? don't wear wrist watches anymore; they have digital clocks all around them. My son almost got into trouble at work for pulling out his phone. The boss thought he was texting or something. Son explained all he was doing was checking the time and showed him his are arm. Watches are a dying thing, mostly for show but I grew up with one on and feel naked without it.

[mtdoonmeister]

I have spent thousands of dollars on watches–mechanical watches, I hate electronics and LCD readouts...

Unfortunately, now, I don't even know where any of my watches are.

I have to have an iOS device, a computer or the clock in my car to tell time. I don't even have an alarm clock anymore.

A long with fountain pens, (another thing I collect), watches are becoming hard to come by... It's sad...

[gregedwards69]

Quote

Wrist watches are going the way of the dodo. Pocket watches existed, and if you wanted to know the time, you carried one around. Then for a brief time, wrist watches took over. Now pocket watches are back, but they also make phone calls, keep your calendar, and etc.

I respectively disagree. A wrist watch is a lot more convenient to tell the time than delving in to your pockets, opening a case (if it has one), turning it on, to find out the time. This is why wrist watches took over pocket watches. I don't think I know a single person who prefers to tell the time by their phone over a watch.

PS, pocket watches, and proper mechanical wrist watches are experiencing a somewhat renaissance period at the moment - by stylish people who long for a simpler, classier time.

[neutrino23]

I've ordered a Pebble watch but haven't received it yet. I don't anticipate using it all the time. In special situations it could be really convenient. At first, I anticipate putting it on my bicycle to view speed and distance while riding. I'm also curious about using this with the internet site "If this then that"

ifttt.com

This web site lets you set up a condition and an action, if A happens then do B. For example, you can track a package with Fed Ex or UPS. If the status of a package changes you get an alert. I can see this being useful for being notified of rare, but important events.

[romad]

Quote

A long with fountain pens, (another thing I collect), watches are becoming hard to come by... It's sad...

Just go to your local mall; any jewelry store has watches, as do the jewelry departments of Sears, Pennys, etc. My mall even has a store devoted to watches only. Oh for fountain pens go to your local Office Depot or Staples.