Leading analytical agencies have repeatedly reported a gradual decrease in demand for such a category of devices as smart watches. Due to a number of limitations in functionality, this product simply seems boring to the average user. And the developers of the University of the American Carnegie University (Pennsylvania) have found a way by which you can significantly increase the «intellectual abilities» of smart watches.

By default, wearable accessories have an accelerometer that operates at a frequency of 100 Hz. It is enough to determine several elementary activities of its owner: running, swimming, walking, cycling. By increasing the frequency of the sensor to 4 kHz, the scientists found a significant increase in the sensitivity of the accelerometer.

A modified version of the clock with increased sensor sensitivity made it possible to determine an order of magnitude more bioacoustic commands. Snapping fingers, clapping, touching a certain part of the hand, rubbing the palms, the position of the hands — all this is easily detected by an accelerometer operating at a frequency of 4 kHz.

Moreover, by programming the smart watch, the scientists were able to teach them to even determine what object is in the hands of the owner. The watch easily determines which tool you are using: a saw for metal, a hacksaw, a drill, a screwdriver, a mixer or a glue gun — due to the characteristic vibrations emitted by the object, you can transform the functionality of the device.

The potential for using a more sensitive accelerometer is very high. You can control the heating temperature of a specific instrument, control your TV and appliances, and customize hundreds of scenarios for each unique gesture.

Hopefully, wearable accessories developers will take on board Carnegie University research, and smartwatches will learn to do much more than just show notifications and track the number of steps taken. [GM]