Wearables and the productivity revolution

Join the productivity revolution

image credit: Tyler Olson / shutterstock.com

2015 will be remembered as the year wearables crossed into the mainstream.

Of course, last year’s wearables weren’t the first. But the Apple Watch, and much improved Android devices, have meant they’ve broken out of the tech community and into popular culture in a big way for the first time.

Reactions have been broadly positive – these devices look better and have far better battery life than their predecessors. But one question hangs over all of the reviews – why do we need them?

  • Less time staring at smartphone screens?
  • Better health?
  • Quicker communications?

Perhaps.

I have a different idea, and it goes against a lot of what’s been written about the new wave of wearables so far. Reviews of the Apple Watch earlier this year suggested that the constant stream of notifications on your wrist was distracting, taking you out of the moment to attend to the buzzing on your wrist, rather than focusing on the task or conversation at hand and ignoring the phone in your pocket.

Perhaps these reviewers had a point, but they’re missing the wood for the trees. They’re overlooking the huge potential these devices offer — rather than distracting us, I believe wearables have the potential to usher in a productivity revolution.

Imagine if ten years ago someone said you’d be able to have something on your wrist that could track your personal data e.g. your health stats, where you’ve been and what you’ve been doing. That would have seemed revolutionary then but now it is reality.

As technology improves and user numbers grow, the potential of these devices increases.
The data wouldn’t just be useful to prompt you in the moment – it could be securely collected and analysed. And then off the back of that, you could use that data to see where you could improve your productivity, using it to make positive changes in your life.  To get specific about this, check out my productivity-focussed reviews of wearables, starting with the Apple Watch and FitBit (more coming soon).

The technology is here but the productivity revolution is only just beginning.

What next?

Are you a proud owner of a new wave wearable and already found ways to use it to improve your productivity? I’d love to hear your stories; add them in the comments below or join the discussion on Facebook.

And, if you’ve already got your hands on one of these devices and want to find out how to collect its data with minimum fuss, sign-up below and I will send you my quick guide on IFTTT to learn how to make the internet of things complete tasks for you automatically.

Please note: I reserve the right to delete comments that are offensive or off-topic.

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14 thoughts on “Wearables and the productivity revolution

  1. This idea of focussed thought and support to daily productivity is extremely valuable and the connection to ‘wearables’ technology makes it very accessible. Thanks for the opportunity to explore and learn.

  2. thanks Nick
    these are useful blogs for me, JCA are looking at how to use this technology for making emotional intelligence more accessible and simple to practice on a day to day basis.
    I imagine recording and monitoring feelings will be more common place and habitual as we all adopt this technology.

  3. Nick
    Very helpful comments and suggestions. As always this highlights it might be common sense but not always common practice. Every gentle reminder gets us closer to the goal – thank you!

    • You’re welcome Jean! Your comment reminds me of the following quotation from Amelia Earhart, “The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity.”

    • Q: “What data typically do you measure/collect?”
      A: Using micro-surveys and automatically via wearables, data is captured on:
      ⁃ physical, mental and emotional states (sleep quality and quantity, heart rate, breathing, vigorous exercise, sugar, caffeine, alcohol consumption)
      ⁃ purpose (self-reported via a bi-weekly survey)

      Q: “To improve specifically what? Quality of living? Is this the primary aim?”
      A: This data, in conjunction with the analytical input from our team of accredited coaches, fulfils our primary aim: to help people transform their personal performance and impact the world around them, through improved mindset, enhanced productivity, a greater handle of their emotions (and how better to respond to others’) and clearer purpose. So yes, quality of life is certainly improved!