The Czech online magazine “Letem Svetem Applem,” which translates approximately as “Apple at a Glance,” has run an article suggesting that Apple Inc.’s (NASDAQ:AAPL) iWatch may not be just a health monitor, but also a key component of controlling devices using HomeKit, Apple’s system for integrating the “Internet of Things.” In a piece by Jaromir Miko (translated here), Letem Svetem Applem speculates that the iWatch will prove to be a voice-activated interface for homes outfitted with the latest in Internet-enabled appliances and fixtures.
The article, which due to the gendered nouns of most languages refers to the Cupertino company as “she,” first notes that HomeKit is being aggressively developed and will be made an integral part of the iOS ecosystem. It also describes how Google’s Android smartwatches will be compatible with the Nest smart thermostat, among other “Internet of Things” items.
Mr. Miko also points out that Apple is developing and focusing on voice control, and that Tim Cook himself has elaborated on the need for greater use of verbal communication. Added to the ongoing development of Siri, these facts are highly suggestive in themselves.
Above all else, the iWatch would seem an ideal interface for the Internet of Things and HomeKit thanks to its portability. While smartphones are highly portable also, taking a phone out of one’s pocket, activating it, and inputting information in order to carry out a simple task like starting the coffee maker or switching on the outside lights before guests arrive would be clumsy and annoying, especially after repeated uses.
However, raising the wrist toward the mouth and speaking a few command words is far easier and less troublesome. The iWatch will be strapped onto the user’s wrist, meaning it is always present while leaving the hands free. Even if it only serves as a transmission point that sends the command on to the user’s iPhone for execution, the gains in convenience and comfort would be immense.
Though the Czech tech writer’s speculation is nothing more than educated guesswork, adding such additional functionality to the iWatch could boost its sales much higher as the Internet of Things continues to emerge as the next step in technology applied to daily life. Apple Inc. (AAPL) may expect to sell tens of millions of iWatches not only to exercise enthusiasts and diabetics, but also to tech-savvy homeowners across the globe.
