I'm not looking for a moral debate on how driving and using a device are dangerous and/or illegal, or whether people should or should not be doing it. And I'm not condoning the behavior or suggest people do/try it.
The topic of discussion I was looking to start is mostly on people's experience with driving with an Apple Watch. Do you find you are distracted less or more? Do you think it will be safer alternative and ultimately reduce distraction time, or do you think because of the smaller screen size it will actually take more of an effort to view what is on the watch and you are distracted for longer?
I am in sales so I'm in the car for most of the day and I get lots of activity on my phone. In my current form, I have my iPhone mounted to a modified case that is attached right above my right knee. So for dismissing texts/emails, plugging in directions, or pressing the dictation button to send a text or reply to an email, the phone is about 6 inches from where my hand is (usually on my knee or on the shift knob) and it does not take much effort. It's also less conspicuous. I have my phone connected in to the bluetooth that comes through my radio as well. So I was very curious to see how the Apple Watch changed that experience. Here has been my experience so far:
Overall impression: The watch is not an iPhone, so it can't do the same things. This I know. The watch is very good for receiving a notification and being able to dismiss it while driving, but that's about it. I did leave my phone in my bag on one trip - I couldn't achieve the same tasks as I could with the phone, but overall that is probably a good thing because it meant less time distracted while accomplishing those tasks. On the other hand, the road is sometimes the only time I have to do that and I have a system in which I can accomplish quite a bit while on the road. So for me, it's not a game changer while driving (even though I like watch for what it is), but it's not terrible.
Checking notifications: This is kind of a wash. The Pros: the watch is on my wrist which is on the steering wheel, so when I get a notification I can just turn my wrist and see what it is. And my vision is still focused straight ahead, so everything I should be focusing on is in my peripheral. Dismissing the notification is easily done by either swiping down or hitting the crown. If it is already in the Notification section (so not after the immediate notification), then you can swipe to the left to clear it and that is just easy as with the phone. The Cons: You kind of have to use both hands. Since the watch is attached to one arm, you have to bring both your wrists together to do anything. This is as oppose to the phone on a mount where you are really only utilizing one hand while the other has full motion control of the steering wheel. Erasing or Mark As Read is a lot easier on the iPhone. One swipe and you can achieve your goal. With the watch, I have to scroll all the way to the bottom in order to do that. And because the screen is so much smaller, you have to scroll for longer to get through all the content. In order to have easy swipe options, you have to get rid of the notification, go in to the actual Mail or Message App on the watch, and do it from the list of messages you have, which requires a lot more function. I would love it if there was an easier option on the watch to Mark As Read or Delete rather than scrolling (perhaps a hard press on the notification, for example, or opening the message in it's dedicated app when you click on it in the notifications section).
Responding to a text/email: This is pretty close, with a slight favor toward the phone. Quick reply on the watch is great. I definitely have a handful of responses I usually use and to have those in as options saves time. Replying is about the same between the watch and the phone. Both require you to scroll (or swipe) to reply, then hit the dictation button. The iPhone allows of you to correct a wrong word, however, whereas the watch requires you to ditch the whole message. As far as dictation cuing up, there is a lag with both. With the phone, I have to wait for it to switch over in bluetooth from the radio to the phone. With the watch, there is a slight delay because it has to connect to the phone. Also, you do have to mute the radio when dictating on the watch, but the watch tends to more clearly understand what you say because you are speaking right in to it (as oppose to speaking through the radio, where there is a lot of back noise). By mere fact that the watch forces you to dictate a respond means it will likely be a better option for replying to texts for your average consumer. Hopefully safer as well.
Directions: Hands down, iPhone is better. The delay between the notification from the phone to the watch means that you do not get the notification to take a turn until you are literally at the turn. I did this on a route I was familiar with so I didn't need to rely on the notifications, but with each turn I did not get the notification on my watch until I was already taking the turn. Also, the taps on your wrist are easy to miss while driving since there is usually some vibration from the steering wheel. With the phone, you can have audio navigation through the radio or you can see a map overview to prep you for what you need to do. I think the watch will best be used for directions while walking.
Playing Music: If you happen to be in a situation where your car has bluetooth capabilities but you do not have steering wheel controls for music, then the watch may make it easier to switch songs, especially if your phone is mounted to the windshield. If you hard press when you're in the music app on the Watch it give you the option to switch sources. The car is not listed as a source. The car is listed as a source, however, if you hit the option to airplay. In both scenarios, the watch did not successfully get the phone to play music through the radio and I had to initiate the music directly from my iPhone. For those who play music by plugging a cord in to an audio jack, then you may find that you can switch songs easier on the watch (and you don't have to pull your phone out of the cup holder).
Calls: With bluetooth, much easier with the phone. The watch is connected to your phone via bluetooth, but not your car. So when you make or take a call from the watch it only goes through the watch and there is no option to switch sources. With no bluetooth in your car, the watch will be better for calls because you don't have to hold a phone to your ear and your hands can remain on the steering wheel.
That has been my general observations. If you have any that may help a prospective buyer or if you just have your own experience you want to share go for it.
The topic of discussion I was looking to start is mostly on people's experience with driving with an Apple Watch. Do you find you are distracted less or more? Do you think it will be safer alternative and ultimately reduce distraction time, or do you think because of the smaller screen size it will actually take more of an effort to view what is on the watch and you are distracted for longer?
I am in sales so I'm in the car for most of the day and I get lots of activity on my phone. In my current form, I have my iPhone mounted to a modified case that is attached right above my right knee. So for dismissing texts/emails, plugging in directions, or pressing the dictation button to send a text or reply to an email, the phone is about 6 inches from where my hand is (usually on my knee or on the shift knob) and it does not take much effort. It's also less conspicuous. I have my phone connected in to the bluetooth that comes through my radio as well. So I was very curious to see how the Apple Watch changed that experience. Here has been my experience so far:
Overall impression: The watch is not an iPhone, so it can't do the same things. This I know. The watch is very good for receiving a notification and being able to dismiss it while driving, but that's about it. I did leave my phone in my bag on one trip - I couldn't achieve the same tasks as I could with the phone, but overall that is probably a good thing because it meant less time distracted while accomplishing those tasks. On the other hand, the road is sometimes the only time I have to do that and I have a system in which I can accomplish quite a bit while on the road. So for me, it's not a game changer while driving (even though I like watch for what it is), but it's not terrible.
Checking notifications: This is kind of a wash. The Pros: the watch is on my wrist which is on the steering wheel, so when I get a notification I can just turn my wrist and see what it is. And my vision is still focused straight ahead, so everything I should be focusing on is in my peripheral. Dismissing the notification is easily done by either swiping down or hitting the crown. If it is already in the Notification section (so not after the immediate notification), then you can swipe to the left to clear it and that is just easy as with the phone. The Cons: You kind of have to use both hands. Since the watch is attached to one arm, you have to bring both your wrists together to do anything. This is as oppose to the phone on a mount where you are really only utilizing one hand while the other has full motion control of the steering wheel. Erasing or Mark As Read is a lot easier on the iPhone. One swipe and you can achieve your goal. With the watch, I have to scroll all the way to the bottom in order to do that. And because the screen is so much smaller, you have to scroll for longer to get through all the content. In order to have easy swipe options, you have to get rid of the notification, go in to the actual Mail or Message App on the watch, and do it from the list of messages you have, which requires a lot more function. I would love it if there was an easier option on the watch to Mark As Read or Delete rather than scrolling (perhaps a hard press on the notification, for example, or opening the message in it's dedicated app when you click on it in the notifications section).
Responding to a text/email: This is pretty close, with a slight favor toward the phone. Quick reply on the watch is great. I definitely have a handful of responses I usually use and to have those in as options saves time. Replying is about the same between the watch and the phone. Both require you to scroll (or swipe) to reply, then hit the dictation button. The iPhone allows of you to correct a wrong word, however, whereas the watch requires you to ditch the whole message. As far as dictation cuing up, there is a lag with both. With the phone, I have to wait for it to switch over in bluetooth from the radio to the phone. With the watch, there is a slight delay because it has to connect to the phone. Also, you do have to mute the radio when dictating on the watch, but the watch tends to more clearly understand what you say because you are speaking right in to it (as oppose to speaking through the radio, where there is a lot of back noise). By mere fact that the watch forces you to dictate a respond means it will likely be a better option for replying to texts for your average consumer. Hopefully safer as well.
Directions: Hands down, iPhone is better. The delay between the notification from the phone to the watch means that you do not get the notification to take a turn until you are literally at the turn. I did this on a route I was familiar with so I didn't need to rely on the notifications, but with each turn I did not get the notification on my watch until I was already taking the turn. Also, the taps on your wrist are easy to miss while driving since there is usually some vibration from the steering wheel. With the phone, you can have audio navigation through the radio or you can see a map overview to prep you for what you need to do. I think the watch will best be used for directions while walking.
Playing Music: If you happen to be in a situation where your car has bluetooth capabilities but you do not have steering wheel controls for music, then the watch may make it easier to switch songs, especially if your phone is mounted to the windshield. If you hard press when you're in the music app on the Watch it give you the option to switch sources. The car is not listed as a source. The car is listed as a source, however, if you hit the option to airplay. In both scenarios, the watch did not successfully get the phone to play music through the radio and I had to initiate the music directly from my iPhone. For those who play music by plugging a cord in to an audio jack, then you may find that you can switch songs easier on the watch (and you don't have to pull your phone out of the cup holder).
Calls: With bluetooth, much easier with the phone. The watch is connected to your phone via bluetooth, but not your car. So when you make or take a call from the watch it only goes through the watch and there is no option to switch sources. With no bluetooth in your car, the watch will be better for calls because you don't have to hold a phone to your ear and your hands can remain on the steering wheel.
That has been my general observations. If you have any that may help a prospective buyer or if you just have your own experience you want to share go for it.