Ask Slashdot: What Can I Really Do With a Smart Watch?

kwelch007 writes I commonly work in a clean-room (CR.) As such, I commonly need access to my smart-phone for various reasons while inside the CR...but, I commonly keep it in my front pocket INSIDE my clean-suit. Therefore, to get my phone out of my pocket, I have to leave the room, get my phone out of my pocket, and because I have a one track mind, commonly leave it sitting on a table or something in the CR, so I then have to either have someone bring it to me, or suit back up and go get it myself...a real pain. I have been looking in to getting a 'Smart Watch' (I'm preferential to Android, but I know Apple has similar smart-watches.) I would use a smart-watch as a convenient, easy to transport and access method to access basic communications (email alerts, text, weather maps, etc.) The problem I'm finding while researching these devices is, I'm not finding many apps. Sure, they can look like a nice digital watch, but I can spend $10 for that...not the several hundred or whatever to buy a smart-watch. What are some apps I can get? (don't care about platform, don't care if they're free) I just want to know what's the best out there, and what it can do? I couldn't care less about it being a watch...we have these things called clocks all over the place. I need various sorts of data access. I don't care if it has to pair with my smart-phone using Bluetooth or whatever, and it won't have to be a 100% solution...it would be more of a convenience that is worth the several hundred dollars to me. My phone will never be more than 5 feet away, it's just inconvenient to physically access it. Further, I am also a developer...what is the best platform to develop for these wearable devices on, and why? Maybe I could make my own apps? Is it worth waiting for the next generation of smart-watches?

Comments

Let people know you are a douche

[Anonymous Coward]

Without even opening your mouth.

One year too early

[Faizdog]

This article is about 1 year too early at least. Considering that one of the most highly anticipated smart watches, the Apple Watch, isn't even commercially available yet, it's too premature to comment.

I know, I know there are other watches out there. However, given how Apple revolutionized portable MP3 players, and phones, and pretty much jump started the whole mobile apps thing, I anticipate that if anyone was going to be able to do any thing with it, it would be them. Note, not that it's guaranteed they will, but they have the best odds.

So ask again once the Apple Watch has been out for 6 months.