Wearables have become a feasible market since 2012, and numerous leading electronic companies have joined the commercial force. Not only that, the release of Apple Watch has made the industry a massive profile in the market.
Perhaps the most popular wearable type of product available in the market is a smartwatch. Smartwatches cover 70% of wearable products worldwide according to research. This new innovation totally hit the consumer market.
If you’re one of those hype consumers who plan to get a smartwatch, you better know and understand its components. So, let’s get to know its essential parts below.
Sensors
It is the core element of a smartwatch and is where data is being stored. This type of sensor differs from other mobile electronics as it offers distinct features like heart rate monitoring, UV test, pedometer, humidity test, temperature test. Generally, sensors are divided into three different categories:
- Biosensors — These are blood pressure, EMG, ECG, glucose, brain waves, and temperature sensors.
- Environmental sensors — Examples of these sensors are ultraviolet, ambient light, PH, gas, pressure, and dust particles.
- Motion sensors — These are gyroscope, acceleration, atmospheric pressure, and geomagnetic sensors.
A sensor gathers and transmits data to the display processor or CPU. Sensors will surely become smarter, more precise, smaller, consume less energy as technology continues to evolve day by day.
Wireless Chipset
This is another essential component of a smartwatch. The majority of these watches’ data transmission is done through wireless performance, such as GPS, WiFi, Bluetooth, and NFC. Most manufacturers opt for chipsets that incorporate these functions since smartwatches are small. Hence, they need components that will fit into a narrow frame.
Apart from the chipset size, the consumption of electricity is another important thing to consider. Most smartwatches have a synchronization feature that needs a chipset to be activated all the time. Therefore, the power control of this aspect must be a significant consideration.
Screen
A smartwatch screen is the major output and input element of the entire setup. The screen can be divided into two parts: the inductive touch panel and the smart display.
Generally, there are four screen types used in every smartwatch — OLED, E-ink, Traditional LCD, and Sharp memory LCD. Some companies even introduced a smartwatch screen with MEMS technology and “soft screen”. Widely used screens are currently LED and E-ink because they take less power consumption.
Battery
There are two main batteries used in smartwatches — Lithium polymer and Li-ion. When it comes to power capacity, lithium batteries can support higher. Making them an ideal battery choice for smartwatches.
Typical wristwatches can last up to 2-3 years, whilst smartwatches need regular power charging. Some may find it difficult to use a watch that does not last an entire day of use.
Although there are modern charging technologies available for smartwatches like solar power and wireless charging, these are not available for worldwide consumers. That’s why for now, battery capacities are being used even though it is one limiting factor.
Processor
Advanced RISC Machines (ARM) are what most smartwatches use as licensed processors. Even if others offer competing choices. Smartwatches application processors contain lower power consumption compared to processors found in desktops or laptops. They also take up less board space.
There are definitely a lot of good chipset applications available in the consumer market. Just do some research or you can ask an expert on what processor works best for your smartwatch needs.
Layout
Watches can be a fashion accessory or a status symbol. This is how most users see it. Whilst smartwatches are gadgets, both buyers and manufacturers must take this aspect into consideration. It should not be just smart, but stylish too.
Most smartwatches, as well as the functions listed above, are made and commercialized by the electronics industry for consumers. This results in electronic manufacturers to enter the market first, and traditional jewelry manufacturers to join in just recently.
Jewelry suppliers started to realized the wearable electronics trend in the industry and began to hop in and join the bandwagon. They even tend to innovate typical watch parts for sale in the market.
Conclusion
Even though the use of smartwatches has been very mainstream these last couple of years, it will continually grow fast in future years. However, even if the electronics industry has a bigger future for this, it still can’t surpass the massive smartphone and tablet consumer market.
As per analysts, the wearable market can be so full of hype and projections are more positive than what reality can prove. Therefore, it still can’t outmatch smartphone usage because a lot of features are just the same. Still, people are eager to invest in these watches mainly because of personal preference.
References:
https://www.anandtech.com/show/9544/understanding-smartwatch-design
https://www.globalsources.com/gsol/I/Activity-tracking/a/9000000132594.htm
https://www.hotformed.com/portfolio/smartwatch-manufacturers/