My task was to create a future possible realistic app, made specifically for a smart watch. My requirements was to choose a face screen of any size, and create it using Figma. The deliverables for this project are to have a minimum of 3 visual mockups, as well as a style guide if possible for the brand and the app.
Beginning my return to second year of this course, I was tasked with looking into competitors of smart watch products. First coming to mind with my own knowledge of the purpose and use of smart watches, due to me having my own. I believe they were designed in a way for easy access and convince for users. For example, the first watch I remember coming out was the Fitbit, which was a watch designed for sports and mostly cardio based workouts. The features it had were mainly to track someone's calories burnt, heart rate, and other forms of work out. All contained on a small device on their wrist.
I then decided to take this further and simply Google what the purpose of a smart watch is, more so a generalisation of them. The reason I needed to understand is why people would use them and what for, if they already carry a device that doesn't just do the same but more that what a simple smart watch can offer.
I took this into three different parts. Looking at three different competitors that are well known such as, Apple, Garmen, and the Google Pixel watch.
Starting this project I knew it was going to be urgent as 2 weeks is a pretty small window to create a pretty fleshed out prototype. Beginning my development of an idea, during week 1 in class, I really liked the idea of creating an app that could be used within the medical field. I thought a lot about how much manual handling goes into those jobs and how staff are taught to be careful of moving patients. This made me think about how they’re always taught to look after the patients but who Is looking after the safety of the medical staff?
Therefore, I wanted to create an app that is based around posture correction especially within manual handling. When coming up with this idea, I do try to design it in a way that it can be used in more than just medical sectors and can be used in other labour based jobs, but my main audience are the likes of Nurses and healthcare assistants.
Now having an idea on what my app is going to be about this would help me narrow down specifically what to look into within my chosen competitors, their health apps.
Looking into the apple health watch app, I noticed that it already does a fairly realistic imitation of what I want my app to do, which is mostly motion tracking as well as blood pressure, sweat and stress.
I noticed when looking for evidence that it a screenshot, shown here shows how the app recommended resting your arms or legs, which is fantastic to see. The reason I say this is that I thought finding already existing competitors for what I want my app to do was going to be next to impossible.
Get started with health features on Apple Watch
Apple Watch Series 4: Time to Develop That Health App?
Here’s another screenshot I found of how the Apple health app works. Looking here It already is possible for the watch alone to be able to track someone's heart rate with ease. Another is the layout of the notification, the only issue I have is the amount of information displayed on such a small screen.
I plane on learning for this and when it comes to implementing similar content onto my app I plan on focusing on more visual information such as, icons, images, videos, with minimal text.
When it comes to looking into the Garmen watch, there isn't anything I found that is specifically to do with Health tracking, as the apps used mainly cover sports and all body sports such as weight lifting, running and swimming.
I did find out that you can't really use or download any content on the smart watch directly without using the smart phone companion app. Another thing I have noticed is how much information is displayed on the watch face itself. Comparing it with the Apple Watch, its not inherently detailed but it still seems fairly cramped on the screen but with more visual images than straight text.
Another thing I noticed about the Garmen watch is its use of colour. Particularly its use of ‘Electric’ based colours. The reason I believe they chose this style was to fit it’s sport based branding, almost making the watch become more ‘Energised.’ I really liked this and thought it would be important to my idea considering my watch already as an aim and audience, it would be more fitting to come across as more health and medical feel to it, meaning I don't think gradient based colours would suit me.