Moto 360, Samsung Gear S2, Pebble, Apple Watch, LG G Watch R, Huawei Watch. Connected watches are everywhere. Objects of the future for some, completely useless for others, the smartwatch is the new star of high-tech. But she questions. What is its real use? Is it really a revolution? To try it is to adopt it ?
- Read also: Our test of the Moto 360 edition 2021
Not being the owner of a connected watch, I was curious to know what created this craze around this product. Without a priori I therefore bought a Moto 360 that I wore every day. If the beginnings were rather attractive, the experience quickly became frightening. Here is my testimony.
Seductive beginnings
Before getting to the heart of the matter, a little point on the context is in order. As an editor, I see you scrolling by and reading us many articles on connected watches. I obviously saw the media hype about the Apple Watch but I never took the plunge. Watch lover, I have 5 or 6 that I change according to my desires. I have fairly common models and a few timepieces.
Connected watches inevitably aroused my interest. A geek who loves watches, it was obvious somewhere. I waited a few months to see the prices drop. If I spent more than 200 euros on a watch it was for a classic model. So I waited to see the first Moto 360 of the name display an affordable price. Why the Moto 360? Because it is round and I have always liked its design.
So I ordered the watch. I was impatiently waiting to see the experience that these connected objects could offer. What is attractive about the Moto 360 is that everything is neat. The packaging is elegant, the watch is elegant and the charger is just as pretty.
I pass the pairing and synchronization steps which are quite fast and I come to use. The first few days it was a real pleasure to use this Moto 360. It is beautiful, light and not as big as you might imagine. We have fun looking for different dials to personalize its model, we tweak a little to see what is in the stomach. And then we move on to daily use.
Here again the experience is pleasant. The big advantage of the connected watch is that it allows you to be productive. It is a powerful filter of notifications. Usually when I get a notification on my Nexus 5 it's a good excuse to waste time. Let me explain: I receive an SMS, I read it, I take this opportunity to go to the networks, post a few comments etc. etc. Enough to waste a few minutes for nothing.
With the watch I was really more productive at the beginning. With each notification, I filtered, sweeping away unnecessary notifications with the back of my finger. No unnecessary consultation. Everything is on the dial. Moreover, the readability on the dial surprised me, I thought I was suffering more at eye level but it is rather clear.
One use that particularly appealed to me is GPS. Not by car, of course, but by motorbike. I travel on two wheels and I must say that the watch has done me a great service. Having a GPS on your wrist, on a motorbike, is really nice. Please note, I should point out that I did not consult it while driving but after each step of the route. Really a good point this GPS.
To be honest, the connected watch is very intriguing. My entourage was surprised and often enthusiastic. Sometimes scared. To these I answered sincerely “I was really skeptical at the beginning but in the end it's really great”. Yes I thought it was great during the first two weeks. But then I was also scared of this object around my wrist.
An intrusive or even frightening object
After the excitement and the attraction of novelty the experience turned out to be less pleasant. After two weeks the watch had become unbearable. For several reasons. First, because it vibrates all day long on the wrist. It is possible not to activate the vibrations, but then what is it for?
These incessant vibrations really annoyed me on a daily basis. Usually with my smartphone, I manage myself very well. I answer when I feel like it, if I prefer to leave it on the desk, it stays there, I don't run as soon as it rings. In short, I'm not a super addict and it suits me very well.
With the watch I kinda felt trapped. I had no choice but to process the information. If I didn't, it vibrated tirelessly. And that's really what scared me. By the way, the watch does not last the day with all these vibrations and at 22h maximum more of its more image. It's still a shame not to be able to read the time with your watch, isn't it?
Still, this connected watch gave me the feeling that I was no longer in control of the situation. And rather than being a practical tool, it has become overwhelming. I no longer had control over the technology, it was she who was taking control over me. I was acting on the information she was giving me. It no longer served me to be more productive, it literally polluted my space. It affected my concentration.
The scariest part of all of this is that I absolutely didn't use the health data. And it is not worse. I had a long discussion with a doctor friend about the dangers of connected health and it's really amazing.
Because the data collected by the manufacturers will be resold to insurance companies and mutuals. And with this data we will be hunted down and multi-speed health will gradually kick in. For example, if you have hereditary heart problems in your family and the data from your watch or connected bracelet will be transmitted to your mutual insurance company.
And if you do not do enough sport or and you are too often geolocated in fast food restaurants, your mutual insurance company will be entitled to not cover you or to make you pay more. Doesn't that scare you? I do.
My super professional conscience (didn't it?) Kept me going for the last two weeks. But honestly it is with relief that I get rid of it and put my mechanical watch back on.
