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Smartphones and smart devices have appeared and penetrated deeply into our everyday lives. One can’t move without a smartphone, headphones, and smartwatches. We love comfort and everything that makes our lives easier. 

It is interesting why the wearable market showed a significant increase in past years. Smartwatches, health monitors, wristbands, and other wearables are projected to boost in the future. The number of globally connected wearable devices has already exceeded one billion this year.

Wearable app development

Wearables app development solutions are smart devices users wear as accessories or to match their outfits. These intelligent gadgets normally link smartphones and exchange data between the network and the wearable device.

Wearable apps are programs that collect data from wearable devices. These apps have access to the hardware and OS of the device. Their sensors collect the data and deliver it to the app programmed for the desirable outcome.

The wearable market is full of different feasible efficient solutions. Smartwatches, activity monitors, fitness trackers, wristbands, and even smart glasses have already found a considerable place in our everyday lives. Their popularity is projected to sharply boost in the coming years.

Wearable app types

There are fewer possible solutions for apps you can build for wearable devices. These solutions or apps are different in terms of operations, functionalities, and scope from a mobile device app. Businesses or firms can develop companion and standalone applications for wearables in most cases. 

Such applications feature a satisfactory level of sovereignty from mobile devices and can perform multiple tasks. You will now take a review some of these solutions:

  • Standalone app:
    The app is a wearable application that typically runs on a wearable device itself. These types of apps traditionally utilize a direct internet connection over a Wi-Fi device. Standalone apps for wearables are entirely independent of mobile devices.
  • Companion app:
    These wearable apps supplement mobile applications. They feature limited functionalities and need constant or persistent data exchange with a mobile app.
  • Notifications:
    These wearable app solutions are limited to just showing push notifications from smartphones on the screens of wearable devices.

Difference between wearable and mobile apps

Meanwhile, wearable apps are very similar to mobile applications but there are a few differences that set them separate:

  • Wearable apps feature limited functionality compared to mobile applications.
  • These apps require fewer user interactions and inputs.
  • The background shows the happening of a lot of processes.
  • Wearable apps are not multi-platform as they use device-specific APIs.

Key wearable platforms

  • Smartwatches
    They are one of the most popular wearable devices around the world. Smartwatches remove the requirement to always keep a smartphone with you. Such devices endeavor multiple tasks such as sending and receiving messages, showing notifications, launching alarms, and monitoring physical activities.
  • Fitness trackers
    Such devices are used for monitoring physical activities. They track the number of steps taken, burned calories, heartbeat, sleep timing, and many others. Fitness trackers today offer a series of more beneficial features using smartphones such as displaying notifications.
  • Head-mounted displays
    VR glasses are the most manifest example of such devices. These devices can be used as monitors or provide information using AR (Augmented Reality) and VR (Virtual Reality) to their users.

The most successful wearable applications

Wearable technology has already become a consequential part of our lives. Wearable applications serve different purposes such as helping users plan their days, monitor sleep, track physical activities, and many others. 

Here are the most prominent examples of wearable apps with millions of users globally.

  • Calm
    This application is designed for Android Wear and WatchOS supporting platforms to help users relax and have better sleep. This wearable app solution provides calming music, images, and breathing exercises for contemplation purposes.
  • Spotify
    This popular music application supports Android Wear and WatchOS platforms. It has a specific version for wearable devices. Users can leave their smartphones at home and listen to their favorite music when they go for a walk or a jog. This wearable version contains many options for creating playlists, sharing them with friends, exploring new music, and controlling it right from their smartwatches or wristbands.
  • 7 minute workout
    This application is a timesaver among users who don’t want to spend hours on their workouts. 7 minute workout app provides 12 powerful exercises with calculated workout timing and rest period. Users are able to work out at their homes and select a specific workout schedule designed for their personal physical requirements and abilities.
  • Google keep
    It is available on different platforms including wearables. This app enables users to create notes on a smartwatch without pulling smartphones from their pockets. Users can also set up reminders, create shopping lists, and many other tasks.
  • Uber
    Uber offers a dedicated application for wearable device users. They can book a cab, check the status, and call emergency services using their smartwatch.

The most promising industries to create wearable apps

  1. Healthcare
    Wearable devices are important and valuable assets for the healthcare industry. They help doctors monitor the health of patients and diagnose diseases. The key objective of such applications is to boost the quality of healthcare services and timely diagnose even critical diseases. The main examples are VeriSense, Aira Tech, Quardio, and Hexoskin.
  2. Fitness
    Wearable devices include fitness applications that enable users to track the state of their health or fitness. Smartwatches include fitness trackers as essential tools to keep track of their physical activities during workouts, jogging, and essential daily tasks. Users can calculate their calories, measure covered distance, and various other fitness related tasks.
  3. Education
    Wearable applications are not just created for smartwatches and smartphones. Developers can create applications for augmented and virtual reality glasses such as Google Glass and others. Wearable applications are created to fulfill educational requirements. Students can use wearable applications using AR or VR glasses to improve their study.
  4. Entertainment
    Wearable applications are used for different reasons; One reason is to listen to music and podcasts while traveling, commuting, exercising, or even running. You can advance towards building the next Spotify for your smartwatch.
  5. Insurance
    Insurance companies can benefit from wearable devices if they can gather data from smartwatches and fitness trackers. Such solutions already exist such as the cooperation between UnitedHealthcare (an insurance company), and Fitbit (a company) behind a fitness tracker.

How can Arhamsoft help?

You can unfold a new wearable app. Collaboration with a reliable software development partner can provide effective mobile application development. ArhamSoft can provide significant help in creating wearable solutions to your existing mobile applications. Use our offshore Android development services to efficiently make essential changes.

ArhamSoft’s UI/UX design and development experts have experience in harmonizing mobile applications with smartwatches. You can learn how to build a wearable app for devices from scratch. The firm also offers flexible payment options and free consulting. We are among the best software firms offering the best app development services.