Recently, an article has been making the rounds that has caused the wearable community to worry. Namely, that users of wearable devices tend to stop using them rather quickly.
The Guardian reported up to one-third of users were abandoning their wearable devices, and rather quickly at that.
Depending on who you talk with in the industry, some even estimate that it is more than one-third and more likely half of users stop using these devices.
So what’s going on?
Some have purported that it is a case of no clear benefit for the end-user. A phone makes sense, a user needs it daily, but a wearable could be forgotten with little repercussion. Others will say it is due to just plain forgetfulness, with devices being forgotten in a drawer or thrown into the wash.
I fall into the second camp. At night, I charge my iPhone, iPad, laptop, and I usually end up forgetting to charge my Fitbit. After awhile, it would die, and I would just skip wearing it for the day. Then, I just stopped using it altogether.
It was not that I did not like having a device tell me how active I was, it was a matter of maintaining it. The beauty of wearables is that they are supposed to be useful and unobtrusive. Unfortunately, my little Fitbit was so out of mind until I wanted to sync it, that it was easily forgotten.
My fiancee and I recently got Misfit Shines at the beginning of the new year. Since that time, I have taken my Misfit off only a handful of times, and that was when it got in the way of my work or I feared I would damage it. Otherwise, it has not left my wrist, and I use it as a watch at other points in the day.
This may be the key difference in the wearable market, design of the device itself. Making an aesthetically pleasing piece of technology that is meant to be worn and seen, while also requiring little maintenance is key. Personally, I think it is why the watch had been successful for a long time, as it is a statement of fashion while also serving a set purpose.
What would have happened if the old-fashioned watches required a user to change the battery weekly or daily? Would they have been more likely to be used less or forgotten? That may be a factor that future wearables need to address–how do we power these devices without requiring so much time and outlets? If/when the future Apple iWatch comes out, it will be curious to see what its battery life is and if that will play a factor over its selection versus competitors.
