Yesterday I received the new smart watch that I ordered a couple of weeks ago. I decided that it would make sense for me to get one because I live alone in an apartment building that is more-or-less soundproof. If I fall over and yell for help, no-one will hear me.
So, since I’m not getting any younger and my bones are not getting any stronger, I figured it made sense for me to get a watch that had fall detection. I want my watch to let someone know if I can’t get up, so I ordered a Google Pixel Watch 3 because it would communicate with my Google phone and thereby to someone who could come and help me. I don’t know how they would get into my apartment, but at least someone would try. I hope.
Anyway, it has been less than twenty-four hours since I got it and I already know this watch does far more than I need it to. I think that if Elon has trouble with Starlink I could probably fix it from the watch on my wrist.
It took me an embarrassingly long time to figure out that I needed to type in the security code I use on my phone. Even after I did that, it took even longer for me to interpret all the little tiny logos they use for different application functions. Actually, to be honest, I still haven’t done that for all of them, even while wearing my reading glasses and while holding a magnifying glass over the watch face.
The only conclusion I can reach is that they don’t want me to understand it all. They just want me to use the watch so that the hidden AI spies can follow me around and download all the data about me. That way they can keep on sending me phishing emails and texts. Is it bad that I am more-or-less resigned to letting that happen? For today at least, that is the least of my problems.
Regardless, I have discovered something about this technology that works in my favour. I went for my usual walk along the waterfront this morning and then, after eating a delicious breakfast sandwich from the excellent Javawocky Cafe, I settled in to watch some podcasts and work on my crochet project.
Much to my delight, as I cheerfully relaxed in my recliner, I found that crocheting increases my step count! Isn’t that awesome? Google may have created the perfect fitness gadget for me.
Snowbird of Paradise 
Can’t stop laughing!!
You are welcome! 🙂
Anne: You are a much more high tech person than I am and I admire you for it. I do not have a Smart watch; I have a fairly stupid one, but it plods along and keeps time and that’s what I want it for. In the past I have considered one of those devices you hang around your neck, but my doctor didn’t think it was necessary and my old lady friends say they don’t work when you want them to and they do work when nothing at all has happened, sometimes with ambulances in your driveway. I have had to call an ambulance quite a few times over the last years, and usually it works out. My front door has little panes of glass in it so they (or anyone) could break a pane and reach in to unlock the door. I’m not worrying about it. It is intriguing that crocheting can increase your step count. Maybe it’s something I should learn in my old age. My mother crocheted but never taught me. My left-handedness apparently was too much of an obstacle. Would knitting work, do you think? How about typing? Turning pages? Barb
I have similarly heard varying assessments of the alert devices you hang around your neck. Some only work in the home and some work when you don’t want them to.
I was intrigued by someone I know who walks a lot and told me of her step count, but I noticed she talks with her hands and her step count depended on the movement of her arms. I no longer trust step counts if they are derived from a smart watch! They are a measurement of arm movements, not foot steps! I was surprised, though, that even smaller arm movements as in crocheting, could add to the count so it is quite possible that knitting or page turning could work, too.
Edit to add: Apparently raising a glass of wine does the trick, too!
I too spent my afternoon setting up a Garmin “tracker,” spent a lot of time turning things OFF that it does!
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I wish they would set them up so that they start out simple and then can add features you want instead of providing too much all at once and then we have to turn off the features we don’t need.
Absolutely!
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