Comparison between Smart Watches and Smart Phones

This paper provides a critical analysis of smart watches and smart phones, comparing their advantages and disadvantages. It discusses the potential of smart watches in the market and concludes that they have the potential to become the next big thing in technology.

Running head: CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Comparison between Smart Watches and Smart Phones:
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2Running head: CRITICAL ANALYSIS
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ABSTRACT
In this paper, we have done a critical analysis by drawing a
comparison between the smart watch and smart phone. In recent
times, the Smart watch does make to the wish list of many people
and every now and then we do get information about the
introduction of a newer smart watch. In spite of this there exist
various skeptics who wonder whether smart watch has become a
vital part of the technological lives that individuals lead and keep
wondering about the actual purpose of the smart watch. Similar to
the fact that the Smart watch has been blown up it is also a fact
that they did not yet take over the Smartphone. However, the
question remains in whether the Smart watch can ever take over
Smart phones. In this paper, a comparison has been drawn
between them in order to provide a better understanding.
Keywords
Smart phones; Smart watch
1. INTRODUCTION
The paper tries to portray that when it comes to the
debate over the Smart watch and Smart phone, before making a
choice it is important to understand that Smart phones and Smart
Watch represent complementary technologies that are crucial to
one another. This connection is drawn since the smart watches
rely on the smart phones for powering their connection to cellular
networks. A Smart watch is defined as the watch that does more
than just keeping time [1]. The common features of a smart watch
includes apps support, ability of receiving and sending messages
and built in cameras. However, the limitations of Smart Watches
lie in the requirement of a smart phone connection for its
complete functioning. Instead of storing data on watch, smart
watches acts as additional sensor that relays information to the
smart phone. On the other hand, smart phone represents a cellular
connection that remains integrated with the computer and the
other features, comprises of an operating system, web browsing
and ability of running software applications [2]. However, the non
denying fact is that Smart watches can be lot of fun. There are
quite a number of them possessing their own games and apps that
seems interesting but the real use of the smart watch does not lie
in the fun factor. This is because one might just claim that there is
a lot more fun in using a Smart Phone with bigger screen and high
end hardware capabilities. The paper tries drawing in a
comparison between the two and identifies which of the two is
more effective
2. SMART WATCH VS SMARTPHONE
According to Kim et al. [3], the real use of the Smart watch
lies in the accessibility. To access a smart watch an individual do
not have to reach the pockets similar to accessing a Smart phone.
An individual can check notifications and time from looking at
his/her wrist. It is not only easier and less time consuming but it
also helps in the elimination of the old habits of continuously
checking the phone for keeping track of notifications and time.
This prevents people in becoming obsessed with the cyber life and
thereby concentrates on other vital things. Besides, the Smart
watch is also easier to access and do not get lost easily since they
remain tied to the wrist [4]. In addition to this, the Smart watch is
water resistant and has various advantages over the Smart phones.
Smart watches have various advantages over the Smart phones.
Some of the advantages are as follows [5]:
 Checking Notifications: Helps in keeping a track of
notifications without even checking the phone which
helps in saving time.
 Maintenance of Social Etiquette: Helps in checking out
notifications even in place where usage of phone
remains restricted
 Controlling Sound: With few taps on the wristwatch,
individuals can control sound as well as the hue light.
 Aid for Travelling: Nowadays, the advanced Smart
watch also helps in travelling. For instance, the Apple
Smart watch helps individuals in getting through the
security check in airport simply by showing the
boarding pass directly on the watch [6].
 Answering Calls: Allows the users in accepting and
declining calls and also connect to the headphone. It
also allows users in carrying conversation directly from
watch [7]
 Tracking Fitness: It also have compatibility with various
fitness apps like Strava and Endomondo and helps in
effectively tracking the fitness levels
 Tracking User Activity and Posture: The Smart watch is
also able to track human activity as well as posture

3Running head: CRITICAL ANALYSIS
 Easily Customizable: The face of the Smart watch is
easily customizable at any day of the week. For
instance, on Monday an individual can set more
professional wallpaper while on Friday, the wallpaper
could be fancier [8].
 Aids in Navigation Facility: The Smart watch helps
individuals with directions thereby instructing where
and when to take the next turn.
Chuah et al. [9] stated that although Smart watches represent
little computers running on Operating System (OS) that rests on
the wrist instead of the pockets, they however come with number
of disadvantages compared to the smart phones. The
disadvantages include:
 Smaller Screen Size: One of biggest disadvantage of
smart watch over the smart phone lies in the screen size.
Smart watches have comparatively smaller screen size
which makes it difficult in surfing web and playing
games.
 Limited Hardware: Smart watches also have limitation
in hardware capabilities due to their size in comparison
to the smart phones.
 Limited Battery Life: Another challenge could be the
battery life of the Smart watch. A bigger battery is
required due to the presence of the cellular antennas and
radios.
 Limited Possibilities of Styling: There are many
individuals who compare the smart watches to the
wristwatches there by making the question of styling
paramount. Therefore, more attention is required in
terms of styling a smart watch.
Nevertheless, the advances in the technology prove to be
greater for smart watch companies and more advanced Smart
watch technologies are released on a frequent basis [10]. On the
other hand, there has been advancement in the Smart phone
technology as well and it would be quite surprising if the Smart
Watch technology reaches the same level as the Smart phone
technology. However, for the average user, the power provided by
the Smart watches is sufficient for their requirement.
Pahlavan, Krishnamurthy and Geng [11] put across that the
problem with the present smart watch is that they don’t run as the
standalone devices. It has been observed more often that the smart
watches works in full potential in conjunction with the smart
phone. Most often the smart watch cannot be used for making
calls but few of them are designed for making calls through the
Bluetooth connectivity of the smart phone. This gives rise to the
question whether an individual should use smart phone or smart
watch or both.
Nevertheless, it can be said that Smart watches are primarily
used for enhancing the usage of the smart phones thereby
allowing the people in receiving notifications in the most efficient
manner [12]. However, it is not impossible for the smart watches
to be not only used as independent devices in near future capable
of making calls and taking photos.
3. ASSOCIATED WORK
The discussion in this section of the paper relates to the
posture and activity tracking and how the smart watches provides
required tools for providing assistance to posture tracking within a
particular setting.
3.1 Activity Recognition
According to Choi and Kim [13], Monitoring of activity
with the smart phone or wearable sensors has been quite accurate.
Particularly, they ensure activity tracking and guarantees users in
performance of the desired activity. The smart watch helps in
recognizing transition between the standing, sitting and postures
of lying along with identification of all the wrist movement. The
levels of accuracy obtained through the devices portrays that
Smart watches are capable of replacing the smart phones.
2.2 Wearable Activity Trackers
Mukhopadhyay [14] stated that the paper investigates
use of the wearable trackers for identifying activities and
challenges presented. Particularly, they help in evaluating the user
experience while using wearable sensor and the accuracy of the
algorithm in addressing the challenges put forward. Here, a wrist
mounted sensor was used for the real time recognition of gestures
and reduced the consumption of power through calibration of
sensor and provided motivation for thinking that Smart watches
can be configured for lasting entire day. However, it has been
found that they do not put forward accuracy of measurements for
the tracking system. For accurately detecting the postures
involving the present state as well as the transition between states
various wearable sensors has been used accurately. Similar
accuracy has been achieved on the posture tracking by using the
platform of smart watch
2.3 Activity Recognition of Smart watch
Smart watches provide plenty of activities in tracking up
to date applications. The Smart watch helped in providing
accurate results for providing tracking facilities similar to Smart
phone or a custom sensing environment or interface for
application.
3. SMART WATCH MARKET VS SMART
PHONE MARKET
According to Cecere, Corrocher and Battaglia [15], the smart
phone market in Europe and in Asia is on the way of reaching
complete saturation. With close to 73 percent rate of penetration
South Korea has first hit the penetration followed by Norway,
Australia, UK and Singapore with rate of penetration varying
between 62 percent and 68 percent. The United States on the other
hand has the level penetration standing at 56 percent thereby
representing close to 27 percent growth within a year. The
scenario for the original equipment manufacturers has been at the

4Running head: CRITICAL ANALYSIS
greater risk since they had a zero rate of growth and grabbed the
remaining narrow percentage of market share thereby making it
costly.
.
Figure 1: Samsung Galaxy Gear
In this regard, Wright and Keith [16] put forward a
question whether Smart watch will be able to breathe newer life
into market. No longer considered a useless gadget since the
entire hardware digitalized ecosystem gradually moved towards
uncharted territory of the Smart watch market. Samsung
contributed to the new exploration through the launch of the Gear
Fit and Gear in the year 2014. This followed suit by the
introduction of the Smart watch by companies like Motorola,
Sony, HTC and Apple. In the present day’s scenario, it has been
found that smart watch however does not portray relevant features
without connecting it to the smart phone. This makes the Smart
watch a limited took that attracted only the early adopters and the
tech savvy show offs. Nevertheless, the barrier to the adoption in
the mass market will soon disappear.
There has been a convergence between the Smart watch
and the Smart phone [17]. Analysis of Samsung Gear 2 hardware
portrayed that it was always able to support GSM module that led
to the assumption that the Smart watch will overpower the Smart
phone market in the near future. In other words, it can be said that
with all features of Smart phone compiled within a wrist watch is
not only a revolutionary design but is also a game changer across
the world. The breakdown presented below shows why the Smart
watch will act as the next big thing in the technology (18).
 Installation base: The smart watch represented a
wearable mobile with all the basic functions of the
smart phone. It is not only easily wearable but at the
same time useful, fashionable and trendy.
 Usage Frequency: On an average the user accesses his
Smartphone closer to 150 times in a particular day [19].
It is however totally unpredictable as to how often will
he check the smart watch when a slight movement of
the wrist allows the user in accessing the content.
 Presence of Carriers: The opportunity of the carrier in
selling additional subscription will act as a great
incentive in promoting and distributing the smart
watches.
 Monetization and Publishers: The absence of the
immediate business model will not provide an hindrance
to the publishers in dealing with the new device
provided there is usage [20].
4. CONCLUSIONS
On a concluding note, it can be said that the smart watch
is the next big thing in the near future. This paper portrayed that it
not only available with some advanced features but also acted as
an useful tool in tracking postures of users through a wrist worn
platform. This paper ensured the identification of the feasibility in
developing a system that could be worn during the entire day and
removed only in the night for the purposes of charging. The paper
discussed about the various Smart Watch including the Samsung
Galaxy Gear that in addition to activity tracking allowed the
execution of the customized android applications. Besides, the
selected features were put forward to act as the guide for the
future development of the smart watch applications that
represented an emerging field with the advent of the increasing
number of wrist wearable devices. The paper tries to portray the
capabilities of such device in tracking the human posture thereby
enabling the future development and the trials in the increasingly
complicated environment with varied number of the user
populations.
6. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The author likes to acknowledge each of the individuals who
contributed in successful completion of the paper.
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