@LukeSz

Smart Watches Changes in User Behaviour

and Popular Use Cases

My thoughts on user behaviour after three months with Gear Fit & Samsung S5 mini.

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@LukeSz

Fascinating world of smart devices

Smart watches will disrupt how we use mobile devices, whilst mobile phones offer little innovation.

Nearly all mobile phone manufactures have released smart watch devices and Samsung definitely leads the way with a number of product launches.

I’ve been testing Gear Fit from Samsung and I found it fascinating how my interaction with the mobile phone changed and how it will impacts user behaviour.

@LukeSz

@LukeSz

After nearly 60 years from the 2-way wrist radio watch, smart watches are

finally taking off

@LukeSz

Dick TracySource: Google Trends

@LukeSz

What can Samsung Gear Fit do?

Notifications of Emails, SMS, calls, apps, particularly useful when configured.

Simple interaction with your phone, e.g. reject calls, quick reply to messages using templates.

Fitness tracking, pedometer, sleep tracker

Heart rate monitor

Control media (e.g. Spotify on your phone)

And more… but the above are the main features.

@LukeSz

Observation #1 Keep the phone in your bag

Once configured you can receive SMS, Email, various app and call notifications to your watch. You can stay connected without carrying your phone everywhere and checking it all the time. It’s important to set your watch to only receive certain notifications, you don’t want your phone to vibrate every time someone likes your post on Facebook.

@LukeSz

Observation #2 Work starts as soon as you wear it

Four out of five people check their phones within the first 15 min of waking up.

Think about the old days when sitting at your desk was the official start of the day, recently it was opening your emails on your mobile device.

Putting the watch on felt like starting my work day. I was immediately connected to my calendar, emails and notifications.

@LukeSz

Observation #3 Finally a solid use case for “voice to

text” recognition

85% of iOS users don’t use Siri. Voice recognition’s never really taken off, simply because typing is more efficient when you have a keyboard.

But, with the smart watch there is no keyboard and it would be useful to dictate messages. Users will be much more likely to use “voice to text” service. Currently, Gear Fit can only send pre-defined messages.

@LukeSz

Observation #4 Bluetooth is finally essential

Bluetooth was announced 16 years ago, it’s useful but you could live without it, unless of course you drive a cab!

Pairing Gear Fit with my phone was the first time Bluetooth felt essential. It doesn't drain the battery, it’s good enough for data synchronisation and its range is adequate.

Here’s one surprising use case…with Gear Fit you are less likely to lose your phone, or leave home without it. Your watch vibrates when it disconnects from the phone (i.e. you are too far from the device) and you know that your device is not in your range.

@LukeSz

Observation #5 Smart watch is the way forward

Gear Fit can be described as a “remote control” of your phone.

Smart watch makes the communication easier and more accessible. The interaction with your phone is more subtle.

It completely changed the way I use my mobile, more then any other innovation in my new Samsung S5 mini.

@LukeSz

Observation #6 New digital touchpoints

Smart watches will fragment the user behaviour further and change the way businesses communicate with customers. I can see that there will be a lot of innovation in the following areas:

In-store opportunities to provide additional information to customers via smart watch apps. [offline and online experience]

Micropayments will be possible using smart watch apps, much more convenient than paying with card or phone. [new payment methods]

Users will be connected with the device all the time. This adds another dimension to localised advertising. Advertisers will be able to send messages to smart watches or use vibrating alerts, as opposed to e.g. smartphone notifications that are often ignored. [local ads]

@LukeSz

Observation #7 New health features

Gear fit can measure your heart rate, it syncs with your phone where you can input all of your daily nutritional info.

The new S Health app is good and I believe the intention is to use it as a central point for your health data in the future.

The health features are still relatively basic, I found the heart rate monitor useful, but I wear my watch quite loose and it doesn’t work unless the watch is tightly strapped to your wrist.

@LukeSz

Observation #8 Two factor authentication and security

Two factor authentication is easier with Gear Fit. I use the smart watch to receive various access codes (e.g. from my Google Account) it’s much easier to access codes without reaching for the phone. It opens up some interesting opportunities for security apps.

Electronic access cards (e.g. companies with door security etc.) can be easily replaced with a smart watch app. Smart watch would provide much more scope to make to add new features and are probably cheaper to run too.

@LukeSz

Gear Fit Look into the future

This is what I’d like to see in the future releases

Voice to text integration

Accepting calls and perhaps mic in the device

Better integration with GPS and navigation apps

Integration with more Android and iOS

Perhaps more gesture based actions, currently only supports “wake up” gesture, i.e. the screen turns on when you raise your arm

@LukeSz

Thanks for taking the time to look at the presentation.

If you have any comments please get in touch via Twitter @LukeSz, LinkedIn or email me directly

luke.szkudlarek@gmail.com.