Ambient interaction by smart watches

The availability of new hardware allows new interaction and visualization metaphors for work environment and private life. Smart watches with integrated acceleration sensors and vibration feedback enable a new kind of interaction. In complement with a matrix display and connectivity to the Internet, smart watches provide assistance in ambient surroundings. This work presents challenges and opportunities of smart watches and introduces a concept of non-obtrusive interaction with smart watches by using physical activity recognition. Hereby the paper presents a prototype application of maintenance assistance and shows possible applications for ambient assistant living environments. In combination of information visualization, permanent sensing and notification, the smart watch becomes the next technology step in the row of smart devices for home-consumer and industrial users.