What Does GPS Do In a Smartwatch?
Smartwatches are unique products that serve numerous functions. You can answer phone calls, send texts, check your schedule, and more. One of the most significant and unique functions is its use of the Global Positioning System (GPS). Your smartwatch uses GPS in a different way than most devices, so in this blog, we’ll answer the following question: what does GPS do in a smartwatch?
Understanding GPS and Triangulation
Like we mentioned above, GPS stands for Global Positioning System. When a device uses GPS, it finds an exact location through what's called triangulation. That's how your smartwatch can know where you are at all times.
Triangulation determines the difference between two signals. One is the signal your watch receives, and the other is the signal that was sent to your watch. The discrepancy between these two signals determines your exact location. In other words, the satellites can track you by sending signals to your smartwatch.
Functions of GPS In a Smartwatch
Thanks to tracking technology, you can perform some fantastic functions with your smartwatch. One of the most common ones is to use your smartwatch as a fitness watch.
GPS for Fitness
The GPS technology in your smartwatch is invaluable for monitoring your fitness. Your watch can monitor metrics such as distance, speed, and pace; if you’re running to keep yourself fit, that’s valuable information. Your smartwatch will help you improve your running performance through its accurate metrics. Lots of users enjoy competing with themselves to improve their speed and distance.
GPS for Safety
If you want to know where your children are during the day, you can equip each of them with a smartwatch. You'll be able to track their movements in real-time to ensure their safety. Some devices even let you set “geo-fences,” which send you notifications any time your children leave a predefined safe area, such as school. Other devices—like our kid's cell phone watch—feature an SOS button that allows children to contact their parents.
Other Functions
It doesn't end there. You can use GPS on your phone to perform the following functions:
- Tracking your sleep
- Monitoring your heart rate
- Counting the number of steps you take during the day
There are various apps you can download for smartwatches that allow you to perform these functions. Application designers are finding new capabilities for GPS every single day.
So, what does GPS do in a smartwatch? It allows the device to offer us ample functionality. As you can see, there’s a ton that smartwatches can provide us, and we hope that we've adequately answered the question for you.
