Researchers at a British university believe that technology in smartwatches could help people quit smoking.
A team at the University of Bristol has created software that uses a motion sensor on an Android smartwatch to detect hand movements while smoking.
Once detected, the app sends a vibration alert via text messages created by smokers and quitters, and displays messages on the smartwatch screen to help people quit smoking.
One message says, “Quitting smoking can help you breathe more easily.” While other messages tell you how many cigarettes you’ve smoked and how many puffs you’ve taken in total.
After viewing the message, the user can swipe it or press a button to view the information.
Chris Stone of the University of Bristol said that people who are trying to quit smoking have problems in the early stages and this leads to relapse.
In the study, participants wore smartwatches equipped with this technology and later expressed their views on its usefulness.
66% of people found wearing a smartphone with the technology acceptable, while 61% found the text of the messages relevant to them.
People who gave positive feedback said that the app provided awareness about smoking and encouraged them to quit the habit, while those who gave negative feedback said that the repeated messages had lost their impact.
