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Some Tattoos Found to Interfere With Apple Watch's Sensors

bchreng said:
Based on what I've seen so far, seems mostly like people with tattoos defending themselves against non-existent accusers and some troll who just learned of the word "apologist."
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LOLOLOL This pretty much sums it up. I actually wanted to get an apple logo tattoo a while back. Never did. But I could care less about having/not having ink. But yes, the troll needs to go find a dictionary app on his Apple Watch, which is on his inked wrist, and get back to me. he's still a midget though.
 
teejaysyke said:
Like I said in my first post, for me, it wouldn't be a big deal, I mean I would never buy an Apple Watch to use the heart rate monitor.

I might use it once for sh**s and giggles, but after that it'd be a feature in the background.

It still should work on everyone regardless though, despite if it's not a big deal for me.

I mean Apple employees have tattoos, it'd be kind of embarrassing to see a demo on an employee and it doesn't work right. That would kind of leave a bad taste in your mouth.
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I think the issue is that when the heart rate monitor doesn't work properly, other features don't work as well. For example, it apparently causes some apps to not function properly because they rely on the "Wrist Detection" feature. This feature can be turned off, but then Apple Pay via the watch is disabled. So it affects more than purely the explicit "heart rate monitor" functionality.

Seems unfortunate that it wasn't even mentioned at some point in Apple's literature. Aside from having full sleeves, many people have tattoos on their wrists.
 
Wiesenlooser said:
what is wrong with all these ******** tattoo-defenders?

i am 99% sure Apple did not cross out tattoo wearers on PURPOSE. but the sensors work by emitting a green light - if you are having a green skin (by tattooing it) then it should be expected that the function of the sensors is to be compromised. The last time I checked 99% of the people dont have green or colored wrists. Should apple just drop the product because it does not work for the smallest subset of people?

And stop comparing it to race. It doesnt matter if you are white or black - you are still on the same (red-ish) spectrum of skin colors. Which race in the world has green skin?
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Only if you're Vulcan or Romulan, I suppose. ;)
 
Huh?

AppleScruff1 said:
Maybe they should issue a disclaimer that it won't work on tattooed skin.
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And people with tattoos shouldn't assume that their body modifications might prevent technology from properly interacting with them?

People with piercings need to take them out before using some medical machines, this seems similar.
 
w00master said:
I place same blame on those other manufacturers then. I even called it out on the Verge article you posted. My point was that Apple (being a fan of this company) is supposed to "Think Different" and go on a mantra of "It just works."

It just "didn't" work in this case.

Yes, I am calling out Apple on this. Tattoos are a common thing. No, not everyone has it, but enough of the population does, and the fact that Apple, Fit Bit, MS, etc. didn't think through of this is pathetic. Pure and simple.

w00master
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How about you stop trying to "blame" anyone. It's an issue, how the company reacts to it might be worth some blame. I'm sure the company you should be looking at is the one that makes this sensor, none of these do.

And yeah, on behalf of ALL of these companies, I apologize that your sleeve tattoo does not work with current technology. Maybe you shouldn't have proprietary skin coloring that only works with one kind of sensor.
 
This thread has provided me with a lot of enjoyment. Specifically, I'm really proud of the two or three users in this thread that learned a new word today: "apologist".

I urge the rest of us to be considerate of these people over the next day or so, as the best way to figure out proper usage of a word is to practice using it in various sentences. Let's be supportive of their endeavors!
 
After reading this thread, I feel like tattoos are a code that says to other people "I'm not going to judge you based on how you look. I'm not going to criticize you because you made a personal decision I disagree with, even though it doesn't affect me in the slightest."

I've seen grandmas with sleeves (I live in Portland OR) and I think its great. If you wouldn't get a tattoo yourself that's also great, but to go out of your way to make comments about someones intelligence, financial status or place in society because of their decision to adorn their skin with art (or piercings for that matter) is so beyond ignorant I don't even know what to say.

Making nasty comments like that says way more about you as a person than it does about the person you're trying to insult. You think you're taking the high road by not having tattoos, then you drown every ounce of dignity espousing ignorant and judgemental comments about other people because they choose to live on their own terms. I prefer acceptance over divisiveness.
 
bchreng said:
Based on what I've seen so far, seems mostly like people with tattoos defending themselves against non-existent accusers and some troll who just learned of the word "apologist."

I don't see anything wrong with having tattoos, so long as it doesn't incite any sort of violence near me. It sucks that they can get in the way of fitness sensors.
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I don't have tattoos nor do I judge people who do. People here should give it a try and can the holier than thou attitude.
 
If you're stupid enough to have a tramp stamp plastered all over your body, this is not the product for you. Walk on.
 
This will likely be an issue for under 1% of Apple watch users, so we should definitely make a big deal about it. I can already see a Samsung ad talking about how their smart watches work on someone with tatted up arms.
 
Gasu E. said:
No, seriously, elective tattoos are symptomatic of short-term thinking.
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Or it just indicates a lower priority on conformity. Not everyone has your level of desire to fit in.

No one who chooses to get a highly visible tattoo has seriously considered the implications down the road.
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Yeah, they may not be able to enjoy the latest iFad fashion accessory? ;)
 
Uhhh...

acedout said:
If you're stupid enough to have a tramp stamp plastered all over your body, this is not the product for you. Walk on.
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Do you really think a tramp stamp is literally a tattoo?

You know that tramp stamps are tattoos just above the ass, right?
 
ajlei said:
I think the issue is that when the heart rate monitor doesn't work properly, other features don't work as well. For example, it apparently causes some apps to not function properly because they rely on the "Wrist Detection" feature. This feature can be turned off, but then Apple Pay via the watch is disabled. So it affects more than purely the explicit "heart rate monitor" functionality.

Seems unfortunate that it wasn't even mentioned at some point in Apple's literature. Aside from having full sleeves, many people have tattoos on their wrists.
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Jeez, I didn't know it went that deep, and if it affects a lot of the watch, it is Apple's fault.

I mean Apple's own employees in their retail stores have tattoos...
 
Gasu E. said:
Great suggestion. I hope Apple does that if it's true.

But why is it horrible whether Apple anticipated and publicized this edge case as part of their launch? Seriously, don't people think that maybe they had other priorities?
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I think they should issue a disclaimer if this claim is true. I also see lots of people with tattoos every day, so it would be common enough that some potential customers should be forewarned.
 
bluush said:
Apple is a company that should be inclusive of all people, not just the majority. Seeing all the snide, vulgar remarks in this thread only reminds me humans in general have a long way to go.
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Expecting a company to serve the whim of particular public over all others is being entitled and arrogant; that's what I see here. I've got four tattoos myself that I got in the 1980s to early 90s; none big and and two visible. One on my wrist, just above the watch, other larger one on the shoulder.

I'm a senior engineer/director and those tasteful visible tattoos have always been conversation pieces rather than a detriment. I understand that more garish, larger tattoos may be an issue in certain workplaces.

If by chance mine would have been bigger and under the band, I wouldn't be whining like some of the people with their tiny violins that I've heard. I'd assume my choices and move on; if I really wanted to get the watch, there is always laser to remove just this small sport...
 
Iconoclysm said:
How about you stop trying to "blame" anyone. It's an issue, how the company reacts to it might be worth some blame. I'm sure the company you should be looking at is the one that makes this sensor, none of these do.

And yeah, on behalf of ALL of these companies, I apologize that your sleeve tattoo does not work with current technology. Maybe you shouldn't have proprietary skin coloring that only works with one kind of sensor.
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Wow... just wow.

Sorry, I don't accept this at all. How long did Apple test this again?

Yeah....

w00master
 
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