This won’t be the first time that I’ve mentioned that new technology like smart glasses and smart watches just aren’t gadgets that I find particularly interesting right now. As more smartwatches get planned and produced, however, I start to wonder whether this technology is really just a “fad” gadget, or if I’m just getting to that point where I’m old and will continue to live in a nostalgic state about the “good ol’ days” of smartphones before they had smartphones for your smartphones and whatnot.
I like to think that I’m pretty open to most new tech ideas. I still get excited about new phones that come out, and new smartphone concepts, but when it comes to these weird sub-smartphone gadgets I just can’t bring myself to really care that much. I go through the motions in my head: Do I need this gadget? Would it really be that useful? Or will it end up in my junk drawer in less than a month’s time? For the most part, I’ve come to the conclusion that I do just fine without a smartwatch or Google Glass; I like only having one gadget to keep track of, to notify me, and to communicate with.
But it’s clear that smartwatches aren’t going away. It’s not like one or two were released and they turned out to be total duds that companies tried to cover up and pretend didn’t exist (like the Kyocera Echo, remember that one? No? Ok.) They’re continuously being made, improved, and pushed. They are the future, and from the looks of it there’s no going back.
It’s kind of like when you hear songs on the radio and you think, “Wow, this music is awful. I’m going to put in some [enter name of some famous band of your teenage generation here] instead because they’re way better.” But if you let any of the teenagers of the modern generation hear that playing, they’ll probably turn their nose up at it because there’s not enough auto-tune or phat beats, or whatever it is kids are into these days. They don’t get it. It’s not what they’re used to. So when I stand on my soap box and preach about how nobody really needs a smartwatch, the up-and-coming generation of youngin’s are probably thinking, “What is she talking about? Smartwatches are the shizzle!” (Do people even say ‘shizzle’ anymore?)
On the other hand, I’m still thoroughly convinced that these gadgets are giving us way too much to focus on. I can see certain situations where smartwatches would be handy, but man, I just cannot wrap my head around the idea of constantly having my phone/watch/life right there in my face. Once upon a time I was attached to my phone, but I’m looking around my desk right now and I couldn’t tell you where it is. It’s not here. And I’m okay with that, I don’t always need to know what’s going on. But if I had a smartwatch on my wrist or smart glasses on my face? I’d probably get pretty distracted by it and always be aware of notifications and what’s going on. Maybe some people like that and want that, or might even need that. But not me.
Which is why I’ve come to the conclusion that I’m probably just becoming an old fuddy duddy. I never thought I’d be a fuddy duddy at 23, but it turns out that it’s entirely possible. I can’t even see why kids love the taste of Cinnamon Toast Crunch anymore - that should have been my first clue.
