When Samsung introduced the Galaxy Gear on September 5th, 2013, many industry pundits said the company’s innovative new smart watch signaled the beginning of a new era in wearable technology. At first glance, the Galaxy Gear certainly is impressive. The 2.6 ounce smart watch can make phone calls, surf the web, and even take picture with a built-in 1.9 megapixel camera. A built-in speaker and voice activated operation allows users to make hands free calls directly from their wrist.

Galaxy Gear Smart Watch by Samsung

Will Smart Watches Catch On?
The unanswered question is whether there is a market for devices like the Galaxy Gear. It is clear that many people think there is. Sony has already introduced a smart watch that syncs with Android phones and will soon introduce another smart watch that can be used as a second screen for its Xperia Z1 smart phone. Tech giant Qualcomm has developed a new connected wristwatch called the Toq. And startup Pebble is already taking orders for it’s innovative e-paper watch, funded entirely through the popular crowdsourcing site Kickstarter.

The Europeans have entered the smart watch arena as well, with the fashionable Italian designed I’m Watch. The latest entry into the smart watch race is automaker Nissan, who recently introduced their Nismo watch, which can capture the wearer’s biometric data and even monitor vehicle performance, at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

The elephant in the room, of course, is the long rumored iWatch from Apple. All these new devices have the potential to revolutionize personal communications. Just imagine a device you could wear on your wrist that could establish your identity and eliminate the need for passcodes. Or how about paying for gas just by waving your watch at the pump? A smart watch could easily track your workouts and monitor your physical activity. Of course, all these innovative watches would also tell the time with near perfect accuracy.

How Will Smart Watches Affect Your Favorite Watch Brand?
Is all this innovation enough to motivate watch aficionados to abandon their favorite Fortis, Rolex and Versace timepieces? Probably not. Watches have become an important fashion accessory for both men and women and it is unlikely that technology will trump fashion any time soon. Since the market for fine timepieces continues to expand, it is very likely that there is a market for traditional timepieces and smart watches. The growing popularity of wristwatches as a fashion accessory will probably ensure that there is a market for Samsung’s new Galaxy Gear and a host of other innovative smart watches that will appear in the near future.

Source: John Sealander / Gevril Group

Video: SamsungMobile Channel on YouTube