Apple Watch Series 8

I am a gadget lover - ever since I can remember. When the iPad was launched in 2010 I waited eagerly by the window waiting for it to be delivered. Apple products are my dream! We only use iPhones and iPads, and earlier an iPod. But I never got in to the Watch. I didn’t see any need for it. Plus, I wear an Embr wave in my left wrist to manage heat and cold. But the last iteration of the Watch caught my attention for all of the health reasons. I have a strong familial history with cardiac problems and I have been hypertensive for over forty years. Lately it’s also been difficult getting a good night’s sleep. So the idea of monitoring sleep, getting EKG readings, blood oxygen levels and all the monitoring of heart rate variances was appealing. After researching all of the options I decided to get an 8series Watch and it arrived yesterday. Since I have never had a watch I really know nothing about it. So I read up on the set up and basics beforehand. As always the packaging is such a treat and putting the wrist band on the Watch was simple enough. The set up was really easy. I don’t have enough time in the day to discover all of the features. Just selecting the clock face is daunting. So far I really like controlling Apple TV from the Watch, asking Siri questions - primarily for my husband while we are on walks, the hand washing timer, the simplicity of use (although it’s far from second nature), and all of the heart tracking. It knew we were walking this morning and started to monitor everything about the walk. So now I’m wearing the Watch on my left arm and the Embr wave on my right arm. Too bad they couldn’t be combined in to one. The Embr wave is great at night when I’m restless and need to “cool down.” I’ve always loved data and trends having worked in critical care units and eventually managing productivity and efficiency using data and charts. It will be interesting to see the trends in my health. Hopefully we won’t need it for emergencies and falls but it has the capability of tracking that too and getting resources to you. One can only imagine what the future holds. 

First Street Atomic Talking Watch

I always look at First Street products for my mom. If there is anything I can do to make her life and living surroundings more comfortable I will. She recently asked if I could find and send her a watch with a large dial, so she could easily see it. There was a really nice watch that not only had a big face, but it talks to you. If you press a button, it not only tells you the time, but it also tells you the date, the day of the week, and the year. I'm beginning to think I could use something like that. Since I retired this month, I really need to think hard about what day it is - and then need to remind and pinch myself that I don't have to go to work anymore. It still hasn't registered. Anyway, this watch has four buttons and they all do something different. There is an alarm, an hourly chime, and it resets itself for daylight savings. The only problem was is that it was difficult to get it going. The neighbors needed to take it home, study the directions, and set it up for her. So I asked her how it was working. She said the band was too large and some of the links needed to be removed. Nothing is ever easy anymore. But as long as it works, I guess it will do.