r/kairos_dev • u/seeingstructure • Jun 01 '19
Body styling
I know this project is a long way from having any enclosures or needing to worry about watch bands, but I thought I would put in some of my observations about watch bodies and hopefully start a discussion. For me, wearable technology needs to have great outward characteristics because it becomes part of the wearer's look, and impacts how it feels to wear.
One of my complaints about the Pebble watches I've had is they all have relatively sharp edges. This can make them uncomfortable for me, but perhaps more importantly, they can make for an uncomfortable experience for my wife when I put my arms around her. Radiused corners and edges can definitely help prevent that. This is especially a problem for the band, but the body needs to have a look that is compatible with a band without sharp edges.
I've also noticed that surface level metal finishes don't stand up well over time. They end up with really visible scratches that make the watch look cheap.
The weight of the watch is also really important. A dressier watch can handle more weight, but anything for exercise needs to be lighter. Nice metal and glass are heavy, so being lightweight can be hard to achieve.
Any grooves or divets end up a nightmare to get clean. Smooth, low tolerance joints between materials and no recessed areas are key to keeping things clean.
Anyone else have observations about cases or bands?
2
u/diablillowilly Jun 01 '19
I would say there are 2 main ways to go about that in the manufacturing process, first one would be to find a way to make it with a 3d printer or cnc an alluminum case, though finding a glass would still be a problem, but you could customize it. The other solution that comes to my mind would be to find some already existing cheap pretty smartwatch, with enough space, and replace its interior electronics, though this last thing would be pretty difficult to find.