We’ve been saying this could be the year of smartwatches what with the numerous models from different manufacturers being introduced left and right since last year. Some of the more popular ones are those from Samsung, LG, and Motorola. The Pebble watch was one of the pioneers but was quickly rivalled by the bigger tech companies. As for Apple, Cupertino has yet to enter the market with the Apple watch. It was unveiled last year but the actual hardware will only be ready this year. People are already anticipating that it will be popular, of course, among the iPhone, iPad, and even Mac owners but maybe not enough to take over Android Wear-powered wearables.
As anticipation for the arrival of the Apple Watch, some universities are already banning the use of wearables in schools. Main reason is that smartwatches and any wrist-worn gadgets can easily be used for cheating. This can be true because it is so easy and convenient to use. A smartwatch can receive notifications and messages. It is linked to a smartphone over Bluetooth or Internet which means any type of message can be sent to the user. Right now, it can be hard for teachers to determine if a student is simply looking at his wrist to check the time or is already checking the small screen for possible answers or cheats.
Some schools in Britain like the London’s City University and University of London are imposing bans on such devices. All watches must be removed during exams. It’s gonna be such a hassle for those who own traditional watches and simple just want to look at the time. Oh well right now, you really can’t tell if a watch is already a mini-computer or is just a simple watch.
Personally, I think the policy is okay since use of smartphones is also not allowed in classrooms and during examinations. It only makes sense that smartwatches are banned during those special times only, otherwise it’s okay to use them because they can be very useful. I’m pretty sure that someday, even reading glasses will be checked or banned because you know, Google Glass technology has started.
VIA: SlashGear
If you can have all the worlds knowledge at your fingertips, in this case a watch or better yet, beamed right into your retina from your glasses, what do you need an education for anyway? Of course education is much more than memorizing facts and figures but the real learning is not going to be something you can use a device to cheat on.
It will be interesting to see the transition, at some point devices like these will be not be banned but will be a requirement for learning.
Most people completely misunderstand education. Knowledge is barely half the battle. The most important assest an individual can gain from an education is their “way of thinking”, how to apply knowledge and develope attitudes towards new and different experiences.
No amount of cheating will develope that maturity, and ironically that is the first thing companies look for in employees. Its easy to teach an employee new skills, but its not worth hiring someone who cannot think or is not willing to learn.
These children doom themselves by trying to copy-paste answers from the internet.