The Power of Smart Devices (Insight 031)

Almost everybody has become used to the power of the smartphone in their pocket. Yet many people could benefit even more from using a smart watch alongside it, if they only knew how much it can help — particularly those coping with disabilities or recovering from brain injury.

For me, the combination of iPhone and Apple Watch has been revolutionary. Together, they help me several times every hour, every day.

If the list below feels overwhelming, remember — you’re in control. When you first start using a watch, its interface is simple and friendly. You can grow into the advanced features at your own pace.

I’ll provide detail on all of the things below over time.

Everyday Management

• Remembering and monitoring medication
• Reminding me to do things
• Helping with my sense of direction
• Avoiding those “what was I doing?” moments
• Keeping me on track with the current task in hand
• Providing quick access to my calendar
• Dealing with unexpected interruptions

Communication

• Being timely with communications
• Giving quick access to my calendar and contacts
• Making and receiving calls hands-free
• Notifying me of messages and alerts

Health and Wellbeing

• Managing my medication
• Keeping active and fit
• Tracking fitness workouts
• Promoting sleep health
• Performing an ECG
• Tracking my outings

Navigation and Orientation

• Navigating streets and open spaces
• Getting to a known place (e.g., where the car was parked)
• Returning to the place I started a journey
• Exploring the countryside
• Hands-free navigation with audio and wrist haptics

Capture and Creativity

• Making quick voice recordings (with transcriptions)
• Quickly noting ideas
• Making instructional videos
• Remote controlling the phone camera

Comfort and Safety

• Lighting my way or providing gentle light at night
• Finding my phone
• Fall detection and alerting emergency contacts
• Avoiding annoying others in quiet environments (theatre, cinema, etc.)

These examples show how my smart device has become more than just a convenience — it is a partner in independence and confidence.

Here are some of the watch faces I switch between on a day to day basis.

In future posts I’ll tell you all about the challenges, scenarios, and strategies that relate to using my smart devices. In particular how I use the “focus” features of my phone to automatically switch between these watch faces and phone home screens , in sync with what I’m doing at the time. (this will be St027).