NewsPronto

 
The Times


.

USA Conversation

The Conversation USA

The Conversation USA

Smartwatches promise all kinds of quality-of-life improvements − here are 5 things users should keep in mind

  • Written by James Gilmore, Associate Professor of Media and Technology Studies, Clemson University
imageThat smarts!Photo by Lorena Sopena/Anadolu via Getty Images

Smartwatches and other wearable devices can feel almost magical. Strap on a Fitbit, Apple Watch or Samsung Gear and you’re suddenly presented with a stream of data generated by – and about – your body: step counts, heart rate, blood oxygen level, calories burned and more.

W...

Read more: Smartwatches promise all kinds of quality-of-life improvements − here are 5 things users should...

More Articles ...

  1. Calorie counts on menus and food labels may not help consumers choose healthier foods, new research shows
  2. Space law doesn’t protect historical sites, mining operations and bases on the Moon – a space lawyer describes a framework that could
  3. In death penalty cases, the quest for justice is not America’s highest value
  4. When does a kid become an adult?
  5. As US doubles down on fossil fuels, communities will have to adapt to the consequences − yet climate adaptation funding is on the chopping block
  6. As US ramps up fossil fuels, communities will have to adapt to the consequences − yet climate adaptation funding is on the chopping block
  7. India-Pakistan ceasefire shouldn’t disguise fact that norms have changed in South Asia, making future de-escalation much harder
  8. From pulpit to pitch: Pope Francis used sport to get his message to a wider world − that could continue with baseball-loving Leo XIV
  9. Science requires ethical oversight – without federal dollars, society’s health and safety are at risk
  10. I’m a business professor who asked dozens of former students how they define success. Here are their lessons for today’s grads
  11. I watched the Kremlin’s new Putin documentary (so you don’t have to) − here’s what it says about how the Russian leader views himself
  12. Nitrous oxide recreational use is linked to brain damage and sudden death − but ‘laughing gas’ is still sold all over the US
  13. Can Trump strip Harvard of its charitable status? Scholars of nonprofit law and accounting describe the obstacles in his way
  14. How William Howard Taft’s approach to government efficiency differed from Elon Musk’s slash-and-burn tactics
  15. Pope Leo XIV: Why the College of Cardinals chose the Chicago native and Augustinian to lead the church after Francis
  16. How the Take It Down Act tackles nonconsensual deepfake porn − and how it falls short
  17. Missile strikes and drone attacks heighten South Asian crisis - 8 questions answered over the role of Pakistan’s military in responding
  18. Pope Leo XIV faces limits on changing the Catholic Church − but Francis made reforms that set the stage for larger changes
  19. FDR united Democrats under the banner of ‘liberalism’ − but today’s Democratic Party has nothing to put on its hat
  20. Basic research advances science, and can also have broader impacts on modern society
  21. Philadelphians will soon choose their next district attorney − so what do DAs actually do?
  22. How proposed changes to higher education accreditation could impact campus diversity efforts
  23. When doctors don’t believe their patients’ pain – experts explain the all-too-common experience of medical gaslighting
  24. Humans are killing helpful insects in hundreds of ways − simple steps can reduce the harm
  25. Trump speaking poorly of other presidents is uncommon, but not unheard of, in American presidential history
  26. Recycling asphalt pavement can help the environment − now scientists are putting the safety of recycled pavement to the test
  27. Decentralized finance is booming − and so are the security risks. My team surveyed nearly 500 crypto investors and uncovered the most common mistakes
  28. ‘Grit’ and relentless perseverance can take a toll on brain health − particularly for people facing social stresses like racism
  29. No matter who the next pope is, US Catholics stand ‘at a crossroads’ − a sociologist explains
  30. Even with Pope Leo XIV in place, US Catholics stand ‘at a crossroads’
  31. India-Pakistan strikes: 5 essential reads on decades of rivalry and tensions over Kashmir
  32. Was it a stone tool or just a rock? An archaeologist explains how scientists can tell the difference
  33. AI isn’t replacing student writing – but it is reshaping it
  34. Spacecraft can ‘brake’ in space using drag − advancing craft agility, space safety and planetary missions
  35. Contaminated milk from one plant in Illinois sickened thousands with ‘Salmonella’ in 1985 − as outbreaks rise in the US, lessons from this one remain true
  36. North Korean spy drama in China may signal Beijing’s unease over growing Pyongyang-Moscow ties
  37. Measles could again become widespread as cases surge worldwide
  38. Repealing the estate tax could create headaches for the rich – as well as worsen inequality
  39. Indonesia’s ‘thousand friends, zero enemies’ approach sees President Subianto courting China and US
  40. How to manage financial stress in uncertain times
  41. Buddha’s foster mother played a key role in the orphaned prince’s life – and is a model for Buddhists on Mother’s Day
  42. Why ‘The Calling of Saint Matthew’ by Caravaggio was Pope Francis’ favorite painting − an art historian explains
  43. From the moment he steps onto the balcony, each pope signals his style of leadership – here’s how Pope Leo XIV’s appearance compares with Pope Francis’ first
  44. A new pope’s first appearance on St. Peter’s balcony is rich with symbols − and Francis’ decision to rein in the pomp spoke volumes
  45. How the US can mine its own critical minerals − without digging new holes
  46. Can learning cursive help kids read better? Some policymakers think it’s worth a try
  47. Religious charter schools threaten to shift more money away from traditional public schools – and the Supreme Court is considering this idea
  48. Even judges appointed by Trump are ruling against him
  49. Trump targets NPR and PBS as public and nonprofit media account for a growing share of local news coverage
  50. Peace Corps isn’t just about helping others − it’s a key part of US public diplomacy