Series 4: Why The Next Big Thing Is On Your Wrist

THE FUTURE IS SCREENLESS.

Apple’s September Events are a time for the company to show off their latest innovations and get people excited about the next year of products and software. Historically, it’s the iPhone that attracts the most attention. This year’s Gather Round event, however, which saw the launch of the new iPhone XS, XS Max and XR, took a slightly different approach, and for the first time, it was the Apple Watch that was the most well-received.

With Apple having already pushed the envelope with the iPhone and now offering minimal changes between cycles, many now see the Apple Watch as the ‘Next Big Thing’ for the Cupertino firm; a product that can innovate today’s technology through software and hardware engineering.

In a recent interview with the Washington Post, Apple’s Chief Design Officer Jonathan Ive said that “the clues for the future are when you can have a high degree of confidence that you personally are connected to the net — not your phone, you”. Today, we’re delving deeper into Ives’ visions and philosophies, exploring the future of tech, where screens take a backseat.

CUTTING DOWN ON SCREEN TIME

Health specialists have made no secret of the fact that staring at a screen for too long is bad for your health. Although some research that suggests screen time is bad for your eyes has been unfounded in recent years, blue light that is emitted from your smartphone can affect your sleep and potentially cause disease, according to a study from the Harvard Medical School. Indeed, studies show that exposure to blue light suppresses the secretion of melatonin, which makes it harder for us to drop off and sleep at the end of the day. In short, staring at a screen before bed is bad.