We have entered into a holding period, like the time in which all the boats wait for a lock to open, to go in get filled and move into the big sea. This period is here because the Apple Watch has moved into the “hype” picture. The 3 year technology product is shifting from a wearable for geeks to a wearable with “real” value. It is not there yet, but on it’s way. For years, the Apple Watch has been thrown to the side as a cool gadget with no real value, yet recently with the focus in healthcare and in research, Apple has shifted its value proposition to pushing the iwatch as “an ICU on your wrist.” It is positioned to be the end all, be all of devices to monitor, track, predict and diagnose you remotly.
As a technology nerd, BIG Apple fan, and healthcare entrepreneur, I do not buy all of this hype. I do not believe that the Apple Watch will be everything for everyone and do everything a doctor can do an more. I certainly see a place for wearables and the capability of the Apple Watch, but not sure I see it as a god-like end all be all. I say this now because over the past few weeks the conversations I have been having between investors has swayed from “your on to something with your wearable” to “you are going to get killed by the big guys.” While I understand the perspective in that I am not a big guy and do not have billions to throw at a product, I am still a strong believer that devices who will be successful will be specialized specifically in healthcare. The ones who will drive real value will be the ones that are focused on solving real problems.
Growing up a role model of mine had this idea that you should never buy a video camera from a camera company. Buy a camera from Nikon and a video camera from Cannon. This idea has stuck with me. Although the world has changed significantly and devices have merged, I still believe there is some truth in my role model’s idea. I can not say for sure where the truth is or how it will all play out in the next 10 years, but I do believe there is a place for companies to solve specific problems for specific groups of people.
At CareBand (my company), we are working to solve a specific problem for a specific population of people. Sure, we have big dreams and visions and want to touch our feet into a few ponds but at the core of it, we are mission-driven company with a core set of beliefs about the world and how we fit into it. I am confident in what we are doing and how we are positioned to accomplishing our goals, while staying open-minded to new technology.
I don’t know of a standard or framework to navigate innovation, but I hope that through staying open minded and exploring the co-evolution instead of binary evolution that we will have a place in the future. To go back to the original question of if Apple Watch will take over, I can’t be sure of it. Though I can imagine a world in which every person young and old, sick and healthy is wearing an Apple Watch, yet I do not see this occurring anytime soon. For now, I will continue work within my means to create something that solves a problem and creates value for people in need.