Apple Watch - My Time Machine

I always had an aspiration to get myself an Apple product due to its reliability and amazing accessibility features, but heavy price tag constantly held me back. Finally, In October 2022 after convincing myself I made the most expensive shopping in my life and became a proud owner of Apple iPhone 13 and Apple Watch SE 2nd Generation.

 

In India, Apple products were once considered to be extremely rare and expensive. However, in the last couple of years, that picture has changed. Thanks to the heavy discounts provided by e-commerce platforms on Apple products and also the high brand aspiration amongst Indian millennials. Although an iPhone is an extremely well-known device, an Apple watch still holds a special place in the range of high-tech gadgets and it was always on my radar. After tying it on my wrist for more than six months I can honestly say that it is an amazing piece of technology available in the market.

 

This blog is to share my wonderful experiences with the readers as a visually impaired user of the product.

 

Small and sturdy

I bought an Apple Watch SE 2nd gen with GPS + cellular connectivity and got it paired with my iPhone 13.

 

Apple watch SE comes in two different variants, 41 MM and 44 MM. I opted for the 44 due to its larger size and it fits well on my wrist.

 

In terms of hardware, it runs on the same processor on which Apples most expensive watch Ultra runs. Mine has got 32 gigs of storage along with all the important health sensors except E.C.G. and SPO2.

 

It was a very conscious decision to go for this variant to save some money without compromising on high end features. It has got a rectangle dial having a crisp display with ION-X protection. On the right side of the watch, it has got a digital crown and one button. Both these controls are highly responsive and give the tactile effect. It is especially important for a user like me who has blindness.

 

It is equipped with multiple noise cancelling microphones and they work exceptionally well. I often make calls on my watch and the person on the other end never realizes that I picked up the call on my watch and not on the phone. People who have difficulty in accessing touch screen can use the digital crown navigation and even side button for most of the features including settings, app docker, watch face and home screen. Digital crown can be pushed to invoke apple’s voice assistance SIRI.

 

Many times we get scared taking our phone out during the rains as water might tamper the device but I can comfortably use my watch for calls and other stuff even in heavy rains as it is water resistant for 50 meters. That means I can take that long deep in a pool while wearing my watch. In my opinion it is a very safe and sturdy wearable product I’ve ever used.

 

Easy and intuitive

Main reason behind getting this expensive Watch is that it runs on Watch OS, and it supports the voiceover, the most advanced and popular screen reading software developed by Apple. From the initial set-up everything was exceptionally smooth, I could configure all the desired features using Voice Over without any difficulty. All the on-line reviews and customer testimonies strongly recommended the cellular version hence I’ve decided to shell out those extra Rs. 4000 to get myself the Cellular enabled watch. For those who are unfamiliar with this concept, it is nothing but a smart watch with e-sim capability. In short, this watch can make calls, send/receive SMS, and access the internet independently. Watches without cellular connectivity cannot perform all these tasks stand alone.

 

In terms of E-SIM installation process was a cakewalk, I have configured my Jio E-Sim on my watch within few taps. In India most of the mobile operators provides this service free of cost hence it didn’t add any cost burden on me. Watch faces provided by Apple are extremely smooth and responsive. Adding a variety of widgets or complications in Apple’s language is a super straightforward process. I have created different watch faces to suit my requirements and made most of my watch. Accessing advanced features of watch, reading mobile notifications, attending calls and replying to text and instant messages is extremely fast and responsive. I can perform all these tasks using voiceover without any issues.

 

Health and utility

Almost every day, we read news that how an apple watch has saved someone’s life cause of to its highly accurate on-board sensors and bucket of interesting apps. Right from alerting about my noisy environment to showing me valuable information about my cardio fitness, Apple watch is on the job always. It supports mainstream iOS apps along with numerous third-party offerings. You can easily search and install the compatible watch app using your watch or iPhone.

 

I was amazed when I started using my watch to navigate my music apps. Right from skipping next and previous track, loading favorite playlist, tagging track as liked/ loved everything is possible directly from your watch. Presently YouTube music has only controller app on Apple watch, which means it won’t work without your phone. However, Apple music can stream songs directly using the data from Watch e-sim. In short you can leave your phone at home and still enjoy your favorite music during your morning walks using Apple music on your watch.

 

For me it is really handy that I don’t have to take out my phone in crowded places to perform those basic tasks related to my music playback. Overall, it is a superb experience to manage all your music needs right from your wrist. Apart from music  Using the Google maps on my watch during navigation is an out of this world experience. It is incredibly user friendly to receive all the navigational alerts directly on your wrist. It is truly an amazing utility through which I can focus on my walk or ride without taking out my phone frequently. It is especially useful whenever I walk using my white cane.

 

I must mention that I’ve stopped using my phone for all the regular interactions such as attending quick calls, replying to those WhatsApp and text messages, checking my calendar entries, viewing the day/date and tapping on weather info. Everything is so smooth on my Apple watch. It is obvious that typing experience on such a tiny screen is not at all pleasant, but dictation works very well most of the time. Some higher end apple watches do support QWERT keyboard but in my opinion typing on such a small display with screen reader would be little challenging. It is exceedingly difficult to document all the apps and their features in this blog, but I can assure you that the app eco system of Apple watch is growing rapidly, and it is enhancing overall utility of this device.

 

Times Have Changed

I remember watching one advertisement by Samsung back in early 2000 in which they had depicted the future by showing one man making call through his wristwatch. I’m so overwhelmed that after two decades I became that man. Invoking SIRI, replying to mails, managing health including exercise, keeping track of calory count and medicines, all the phone related interactions like calls, SMS, accessing music, controlling map navigation, setting up timer, reminders, remotely accessing phone, creating voice notes, receiving all notifications from my phone and so on. My watch is capable of doing almost everything. Due to its cellular connectivity, it has become truly smart, I am not dependent on my phone, can simply leave my phone behind and manage many important tasks directly on my watch.  It is not only a smart watch, but a small computer tied to my wrist. Apple watch is not only taking care of my health needs but also ensures my safety with its crash and fall detection mechanism. During the car crash or bad fall it can immediately alert the emergency services automatically.

 

Although it is a most expensive watch, I’ve ever purchased but it gives me the required freedom and makes my daily life super convenient. Within such a brief time span this gadget became my great companion at home and even during my office time. In my six months of use I never experienced a laggy interface and frozen apps. It is not only robust but also a reliable product. I am incredibly happy with my Apple Watch. It is an essential part of my daily life and has made my life much easier and more convenient. It is worth the investment, especially for people who are looking for a reliable and accessible smartwatch.

 

Being a person with blindness, I find the Apple Watch to be one of the most intuitive and high-tech assistive technologies I have ever used. It has made my life much more independent and has allowed me to do things that I never thought possible before.

 

I would highly recommend the Apple Watch to anyone who is looking for a smartwatch that is both powerful and accessible.

 

While my friends may laugh at me for owning such an expensive watch, I take pride in flaunting it on my wrist and delighting in its remarkable features.