What to Consider When Building Apps for Wearables

Wearable technology has exploded in recent years, with devices like smartwatches, fitness trackers, and smart glasses becoming essential parts of daily life for millions of users. As the market for wearables grows, so does the demand for apps tailored to these devices. However, building apps for wearables requires a different approach than developing for smartphones or tablets. Wearable devices have unique constraints, features, and user interaction methods that app developers must take into account.

In this blog, we’ll explore key considerations for building apps for wearables, including design principles, functionality, performance, and user experience (UX).

1. Understanding the Wearable Device Landscape

Before jumping into development, it’s important to understand the types of wearable devices available and their capabilities. The most common types of wearables include:

a) Smartwatches
Smartwatches, such as the Apple Watch, Samsung Galaxy Watch, and Wear OS devices, are some of the most popular wearables. They typically offer functionality like notifications, fitness tracking, messaging, and even mobile payments.

b) Fitness Trackers
Fitness trackers, such as Fitbit and Garmin devices, focus primarily on health-related data, including step tracking, heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, and activity monitoring. These devices often have limited display capabilities but are highly specialized for health and fitness applications.

c) Smart Glasses
Smart glasses, such as Google Glass or Microsoft HoloLens, overlay digital information onto the real world. These devices are used for augmented reality (AR), hands-free interactions, and in some cases, enterprise solutions.

d) Wearable Medical Devices
Devices like continuous glucose monitors, heart rate monitors, and other medical wearables provide real-time health monitoring and alert users and healthcare providers of any abnormalities.

e) VR and AR Headsets
Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) headsets (e.g., Oculus, Magic Leap) are growing in popularity for both gaming and enterprise applications. These devices offer immersive experiences and require apps with unique interaction methods.

Each of these device categories has its own technical limitations and design considerations, which are essential to keep in mind during app development.

2. Designing for Small Screens

Wearables typically have small screens compared to smartphones, so designing a user interface (UI) that’s intuitive and functional on a limited display is a major challenge. Here are some key considerations:

a) Simplicity is Key
With limited space, the UI needs to be minimalistic and focus on core functionalities. Avoid cluttering the screen with too much information or too many interactive elements. Use large, easy-to-read fonts, and simple icons to make navigation straightforward.

b) Single-Action Interactions
Unlike mobile apps, where users can navigate with multiple taps and gestures, wearable apps should be designed around single-action interactions. This makes it easier for users to complete tasks quickly without navigating through several screens. For example, instead of presenting a complex menu, provide options that can be accessed with a single swipe or tap.

c) Focus on Glanceable Information
Wearables are typically used for quick, at-a-glance interactions. This means that the most critical information should be front and center, whether it’s the time, a notification, or a fitness goal. Avoid displaying unnecessary information that could overwhelm the user.

d) Responsive Design
Your app should adapt to the screen size and shape of the wearable. For instance, smartwatches come in different shapes—round, square, and rectangular. Ensure that your design works seamlessly across these variations and provides a consistent experience.

3. Prioritizing Essential Features

Unlike mobile apps that can support a wide range of features, wearable apps should focus on delivering only the most essential functionalities. Users are not looking to spend long periods interacting with a wearable app—they want quick access to relevant information or actions.

a) Core Use Cases
Identify the primary use case of your app and design around it. For example, if you’re building a fitness app, prioritize real-time tracking, notifications for goals or achievements, and basic health data. Anything beyond the core functionality can be handled on a smartphone app.

b) Seamless Interaction with Smartphones
Wearables often work in tandem with smartphones, allowing for a seamless transition between the two devices. For example, a notification might appear on the smartwatch, but if the user wants to take further action, the app could direct them to their phone. Avoid trying to pack every smartphone feature into the wearable version—focus on complementing the smartphone experience.

c) Offline Functionality
While many wearables are dependent on being connected to a smartphone, some devices (e.g., GPS-enabled smartwatches) can function independently. If your app needs to work offline, ensure that key functionalities—like fitness tracking or navigation—are still available without constant connectivity.

4. Battery Efficiency

One of the biggest challenges with wearable devices is battery life. These devices have small batteries and are expected to last throughout the day or even longer. As a result, optimizing your app for energy efficiency is crucial.

a) Optimize Background Processes
Minimize the use of background processes, as they can quickly drain the device’s battery. For example, only collect sensor data (such as heart rate or GPS location) when absolutely necessary, and avoid constant updates.

b) Use Low-Power APIs
Take advantage of low-power APIs that are designed to perform specific tasks with minimal energy consumption. Many wearable platforms, such as Wear OS and watchOS, offer APIs that help manage battery use and trigger actions only when needed (e.g., wake-up screens only when the user raises their wrist).

c) Efficient Use of Sensors
Wearable devices come equipped with various sensors (e.g., accelerometer, gyroscope, heart rate monitor), but overusing these sensors can significantly impact battery life. Be selective about how and when your app uses these sensors and implement strategies to minimize sensor activity when the app is in the background or inactive.

5. Interactivity and User Input

User input methods on wearables differ significantly from smartphones, and designing for these unique interaction models is critical for creating a successful app.

a) Voice Commands
Many wearables support voice input, such as Siri on the Apple Watch or Google Assistant on Wear OS. Voice commands allow users to interact with the app hands-free, which is especially important for wearables where typing or touching the screen may not be practical. Ensure that your app supports voice interactions for common tasks.

b) Gestures
Gesture-based controls, such as swiping or tapping, are standard on wearables. Some wearables also support more advanced gestures, such as wrist movements. Design your app to respond intuitively to these gestures, and avoid requiring complicated or unnatural movements.

c) Haptic Feedback
Haptic feedback (vibrations) is often used in wearable devices to notify users without requiring them to look at the screen. Integrate subtle vibrations or haptic feedback to alert users of important notifications or actions, such as reaching a fitness goal or receiving a message.

6. Health and Fitness Features

Health and fitness apps are among the most popular categories for wearables, especially on smartwatches and fitness trackers. If your app falls into this category, consider integrating health-focused features.

a) Health Data Integration
Most wearable platforms provide access to health data APIs, such as Apple’s HealthKit and Google Fit. These APIs allow developers to read and write health-related data, including step counts, heart rate, and workout statistics. Use these APIs to integrate your app’s data with the user’s overall health tracking system.

b) Real-Time Monitoring
Wearable apps are often used for real-time health monitoring, such as heart rate tracking or sleep analysis. Ensure that your app can provide accurate, up-to-date information and notify users of any anomalies (e.g., elevated heart rate or lack of movement).

c) User Privacy and Data Security
Health data is highly sensitive, so it’s essential to prioritize user privacy and data security. Comply with relevant regulations, such as HIPAA in the U.S., and implement encryption and secure authentication to protect user information.

7. Platform-Specific Considerations

Different wearable platforms have their own guidelines, tools, and development environments. Before building your app, familiarize yourself with the specific platform you’re targeting:

a) Apple watchOS
Apple Watch apps are built using Swift and watchOS, Apple’s platform for wearable devices. Apple offers a robust development environment, including HealthKit, WatchKit, and Core Motion APIs. Follow Apple’s human interface guidelines for watchOS to ensure a consistent and user-friendly experience.

b) Wear OS by Google
Wear OS apps are developed using Android tools, and developers can leverage the Wearable Data Layer API to sync data between wearables and smartphones. Google’s Material Design guidelines for wearables should be adhered to when designing the UI.

c) Fitbit SDK
The Fitbit SDK provides tools to build apps and clock faces for Fitbit devices. Given that these devices are heavily focused on fitness and health, your app should integrate seamlessly with the Fitbit ecosystem and prioritize battery efficiency.

d) Samsung Tizen OS
Samsung’s Galaxy Watch uses the Tizen OS, and developers can build apps using the Tizen Studio IDE. Samsung offers its own set of APIs for fitness tracking, heart rate monitoring, and more, making it a great platform for health-focused apps.

Conclusion

Building apps for wearables presents unique challenges and opportunities. The small screen size, limited battery life, and different user interactions require a tailored approach to design and development. By focusing on simplicity, essential functionality, battery optimization, and seamless interaction with other devices, you can create an app that enhances the wearable experience.

As wearables continue to evolve, so will the possibilities for app developers. Understanding the nuances of these devices and keeping up with platform-specific updates will ensure that your wearable app stays relevant and valuable to users in the ever-expanding wearable ecosystem.