The term smartwatch broadly encompasses a wide range of time

The term smartwatch broadly encompasses a wide range of timepieces that offer more than just the basic timekeeping functions of hours, minutes, and seconds. Features like perpetual calendars and minute repeaters, available for over two centuries, can be considered the precursors to today’s smartwatches.

With the advent of quartz electronic watches in the 1950s and the rapid advancement of electronic technology, complex functions that were difficult or expensive to implement in mechanical watches became straightforward and affordable in electronic watches, laying the groundwork for early smartwatches. The year 1972, mentioned in the question, likely refers to this era.

Narrowly defined, smartwatches as we know them today, particularly post the launch of the Apple Watch by Apple Inc. in 2015, belong to a category of “smart wearable devices.” These devices are characterized by their ability to extend the functionality of smartphones through connectivity and to directly interact with the internet, serving as miniaturized smart terminals – a concept that would have been unimaginable in 1972.

At present, the development of smartwatches faces challenges such as limited battery life, small screen sizes, and functionality that is inferior to smartphones. Moreover, the enduring affection for traditional mechanical watches continues to pose a competitive challenge. The future trajectory of smartwatches remains uncertain as the industry continues to navigate these obstacles.