What has happened in the digital world that is of note during our mid-term break?

Apple has moved to register “iWatch” as a trademark Japan, and in several other countries.

This has fueled speculations that Apple is working on a gadget to be worn on the wrist, what reviewers are calling the desirable truly wearable communication technology.

Many have talked about the possible functions of the iWatch aside from telling the time – maps, health monitoring, mp3 / watching videos (with wireless earpods) and how it could “talk” to your phone so you view updates of (Twitter / messages) on your wrist instead of flipping out the phone.

Many have also done mock ups of how the iWatch may look like and its possible functions…

Several questions you may ask…

What does this mean for the watch industry?

Watches running on quartz / mechanical technology may soon be a thing of the past unless they catch up – like how the typewriter lost to the desktop computer. Casio probably needs to press the panic button now!

What does this mean for Apple’s existing iPod series?

The iPod series may eventually be phased out since the iWatch could potentially take over its functions.

Remember that the previous generation of iPod nano already allowed users to wear it as a watch with the use of a wristband.

Are there other companies who have given a shot at such gadgets?

Several companies have already manufactured such gadgets. For example, Sony introduced the SmartWatch last year, which lets users play games, check Facebook pages or send text messages simply by tapping their wrists. But sales have been sluggish.

So what next?

- We could be looking at the next “thing” that everyone think they need to own – the iWatch, after the tablet boom. Since the adoption of the mobile phone as a device that one needs to have, many now look at the time via their phones instead of their watches. With a watch that now provides more functions, interacting with the watch may seem like the next most natural thing to do.

 

- Apps will also be further simplified for usage on a watch. The challenge? User design interface on a smaller gadget.

 

- For the visually impaired however, the iWatch may be most useful in navigation.

How about new modes of advertising?

Perhaps the next most irritating ads after desktop and mobile phone pop-up ads will be ads on our watches. Imagine having to close location-based ads that pop up, or text ads that take up half of the watch’s screen when we access apps or even the time.

To the next wave of technology advancement!