While Apple loyalists wait patiently for the rumored iWatch to be announced, Dew Motion is kicking the tires on the whole smartwatch thing with the Dew Motion iStick Playtime. The curiously named iStick Playtime is actually a sports watch that connects to your smartphone using Bluetooth. It is designed to stat track your runs, hikes and swims. However, it also reads text messages, helps you write them and can take calls.
The Dew Motion iStick Playtime gets the "stick" in its name from the joystick-like control used to operate it. In addition to the aforementioned functions, the iStick Playtime can also play music and comes with sports apps. Dew Motion has taken to Indiegogo to seek $250,000 of funding to help take the iStick from concept to reality.
Pseudo Smartphone Sports Watches
The Dew Motion iStick Playtime Can Take Calls and Send Texts
Trend Themes
1. Smartwatch Technology - The creation of pseudo smartphone sports watches indicate a trend towards integrating smartwatch technology into a variety of industries.
2. Bluetooth Integration - The use of Bluetooth to connect the iStick Playtime to a smartphone highlights a trend towards increased Bluetooth integration in wearable technology.
3. Multi-functionality - The iStick Playtime's ability to perform multiple functions such as reading texts, taking calls, and playing music indicates a trend towards multi-functionality in wearable technology.
Industry Implications
1. Fitness Industry - The iStick Playtime's sports apps and ability to track runs, hikes, and swims presents disruptive innovation opportunities for the fitness industry.
2. Consumer Electronics Industry - The trend towards integrating smartwatch technology and increased Bluetooth integration presents an opportunity for the consumer electronics industry to expand their wearable technology offerings.
3. Mobile Phone Industry - The iStick Playtime's ability to read texts and take calls highlights a potential disruption in the mobile phone industry as wearable technology becomes more integrated with daily communication functions.