What is a technology/gadget you refuse to use and why?

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Smart watches.
Couple of reasons:
I like my mechanical watches. They aren't the expensive flashy ones, but I like the way they look and especially like the mechanical engineering. It's one of the (maybe only?) Item I can think of that I use daily and 'does something' without electricity. Smart watches are nothing like that.
When I want to be offline I can just ignore my phone or flip it upside down. Having notifications on my wrist all day long wouldn't be good for my mental health. It annoys me so much when I see people looking at and using their smartwatch mid conversation because they are so addicted to it. And I know I would be the same once I start using it.
It's expensive and e-waste after a few years.
- Agreed on the watches. I had one smart watch (moto 360) and while cool was very gimmicky for actual functionality and I personally believe that was one of the best looking smart watches. Also the notification reason. My phone is on silent unless my spouse is out somewhere.
  
  I loved my Moto 360 (also agree on best looking) for navigation though. It was great having turn by turn directions right there in my line of sight while driving. I have a Samsung watch now that I mainly just use to see text messages, check the time, or count my steps. Unfortunately, Samsung wanted to push their own crappy map service so GMaps doesn't integrate very well with them.
- Damn, I need my smartwatch at work because the extra notification on my wrist helps me pay attention to my phone. But that is a symptom of me being in IT at a place that doesn't have support tickets 😕
  
  I got a smartwatch early in the pandemic because time stopped having any meaning and I started missing meetings all the time because I'd go do something not at my desk and then forget I had a meeting until I was super late. Also I had to set up reminders to do normal shit (eat lunch, walk dog, feed dog) because otherwise I'd forget. I tried doing it with reminders on my phone but then I'd set my phone down five feet away and forget.
  Basically I have a smartwatch because my brain is broken and I need an electronic device strapped to me to nag me to behave like a human being. :(
  
  Kind of similar situation, I am [sole] IT for a 24/7 business so I am never fully off-duty. Getting Teams notifications routed to my watch saves me from having to look at my phone as much as I otherwise probably would be. It actually reduces my overall phone time, which is a honestly a plus.
  We do have a ticketing system, but execs like to ping me directly to look at the ticket they just submitted.
- When smart watches came about I thought it would be cool to be able to look at your watch when a notification comes in. Never ended up buying one and when I see how some people behave, I'm glad I never did. Some people will just glance mid conversation at their smart watch, which imo is just as bad as grabbing your phone mid conversation.
  I'm happy with my cheap Casio. Looks heaps better too.
- Totally agree with you. I’ve had a couple times where I’m tempted to get one but always talk myself out of it. I’m already addicted to my phone enough as it is. A smart watch would just totally mess me up.
  
  I actually find that I use my phone less when I'm wearing my smartwatch than when I'm not. When notifications come in, I need to make sure it's not work related or something else that requires my immediate attention. If I check a notification on my phone, I'm much more likely to end up doing something else at the same time. Whereas if I check my watch, I don't have any incentive to do anything else.
  
  I'm the same way, I have only a few apps allowed to push to my Garmin, and it's helpful to be able to archive or delete a useless email or know there's something worth taking my phone out for. I find myself leaving my phone in other parts of the house is more focus-friendly since I'm not getting distracted while able to keep my eyes out for work-related items.
- Most smart watches go too far but I love my Garmin Instinct. It feels like a modern digital. Just enough cool tools and features but still black and white. With the o2 sensor on it lasts nearly two weeks, a month with it off, before it needs charging. I can track hikes and bikes. Gives me exact coordinates with a push of a button and no subscription or additional monthly fees to use it. If I could afford a mechanical watch for the price I paid for my Garmin ($130 used) maybe I'd own one.
  
  I love my Instinct Solar. I have never connected it to my phone though — I don’t want notifications or anything. I can manually take the workout results and plug them into my phone.
  The solar part is really nice. I did a three hour hike in Colorado a few weeks ago (GPS off) and added like eight days of estimated battery.
  
  Solar sounds great. I have a Garmin FR55 and linked it to an old phone with no sim and a throw away email account, so it just syncs each time I get back from a run. Lasts a week even with gps during runs. Also turned off all notifications as I hate that. I stopped wearing a watch about 20 years ago but this (after a bit of getting used to) is actually quite useful.

248 comments