Another Kind Of Apple Watch Remote Control
As we eagerly await watchOS 2 and its infinite possibilities of wearable use case expansion, we are — as usual — left to wonder what the future holds, speculating on all the original and unforeseen (and even obvious?) ways that Apple Watch can be used to make our world more interesting and engaging.
However, one aspect of Apple Watch that seems sorely lacking is its entertainment acumen. Sure, I think it’ll make an engaging gaming peripheral for force feedback and second screen functionality, but even that’s a bit limited in nature. It might even be a viable “one-tap” gaming platform for mini-minigames. However, its entertainment factor isn’t necessarily limited to gaming. At least, not in the digital space.
See, I think Apple Watch will make a compelling remote control system for Bluetooth-enabled RC drones and cars, like those made by Sphero and Parrot et al.
Right now, the advanced hobbyist toys designed by these companies use Bluetooth LE — with a reliable range of some 50 feet (though 90 seems achievable under certain conditions) — to control their various mobile-compatible rollers and flyers. These aren’t long range toys, to be sure, but they’re a lot of fun, and they can provide a decent workout as you chase them around the living room, backyard, or local park. Just remember to launch your questionably accurate Fitness app first.
Since the controlling methods for these devices are typically managed via iPhone/Android apps, and since the screen space afforded for special inputs dwarfs anything you can wear on your wrist, Apple Watch’s abilities may seem somewhat limited in comparison. For evidence of why, take a look at Sphero’s Ollie trick panel, albeit that hurdle might be overcome with gestures on the actual screen of the wearable or with advanced motions that I’m not covering at the moment. My goal here is to simply demonstrate the basics of how I think such an Apple Watch control mechanism might work.
For drones (a term I personally find silly, since RC helicopters have been around for forever without garnering such needlessly militarized, baggage-laden terminology, but the industry has spoken), here’s the basic idea:
The above should be pretty self-explanatory, but in case it isn’t, here’s the general gist:
- Arm down: Drone is at rest. This is the starting point of Apple Watch interaction.
- Raise arm: Drone ascends.
- Raise arm higher: Drone ascends higher. (Note: The illustration is exaggerated. You wouldn’t have to be quite so uncomfortable to get the desired response, the parameters of which ought to be adjustable within the requisite app.)
- Lower arm: Drone descends.
- Arm down: Drone lands.
- Move arm left or right: Drone strafes/turns left or right.
- Digital Crown: Trim adjustment to straighten drone along x-axis.
- Free walk mode: Simply walk around as the drone leads you, much like walking a very well-behaved dog. In the illustration, the user has his arm extended, but if this mode is a simple toggle, there would be no need for any such extra interaction. You could literally just go where you want as your flying companion cooperates fully at a predetermined, user-defined height and distance.
The other class of popular remote controlled toy is the classic RC car (and by extension, wholly new ideas like the aforementioned Sphero products, especially their wonderfully absurd new BB-8, my disdain for new Star Wars notwithstanding). Apple Watch control of such devices might work thus:
Much like the discussed drone control, this isn’t a complex idea (on the user’s end, anyway):
- Arm down: Car is at rest (or slows down/stops once in motion).
- Raise arm: Car moves forward.
- Raise arm higher: Car accelerates accordingly.
- Move arm left or right: Car turns left or right.
- Digital Crown: Alternate turn control mechanism (as suggested by Abdel in the upcoming WatchAware Podcast; I’m still kicking myself for missing this one).
- Free walk mode: As with the drone control, simply walk around as the car leads you at a user-selected, constant distance.
So that’s the long and short of it (within BT range, at least). I really think using gestures instead of traditional remote mechanisms to play with RC devices would be a lot of fun and take some of the inherent complexity out of the equation. As such, it’s just one more unique, real-world way that Apple Watch can make non-essential trivialities into much more entertaining, pressing propositions. I ordered an Ollie Darkside — again, Star Wars notwithstanding — pretty much solely on the hope that my Apple Watch dreams come to fruition. Of course, I’m sure to enjoy it regardless, because it rules.
(Note: I emailed Sphero about what their Apple Watch plans might be, and their PR representative replied that the company was indeed just starting to investigate the possibilities now that watchOS 2 dev kits are out. I attempted to email Parrot, but I can’t find their Press contact to save my life. I’ll sic a more social associate on that wild goose chase, and when either company — or others in the industry — puts out any Apple Watch information, you’ll be the first to know.)