+x I'm still trying to work out what functions need two hands pre-start, when using a checklist, and if you need those two hands, how do you scroll down on your watch?I think there's a fair amount of straw-grasping going on here to justify developing SD for a watch. I have to admit to having looked at the Garmin D2 and became an instant cynic, so my view is very biased and I recognise that. However, maybe that is the counter-argument attitude needed to answer some of the suggestions to develop, to me, a gimmick.
Of all the suggestions I've seen so far in this thread, I think the alert vibration does have some merit. I do not agree the audio is over-saturated but the vibration would be a nice option if you didn't want more audio inputs and preferred to just stick with your radio and intercom. I literally have no idea how the watch's vibration would compare to the various vibrations in piston aircraft but I'm sure it is able to do its job in that regard.
The radar display may also be an option worthy of consideration, since that is a clean and uncluttered screen but I'm pretty sure it wouldn't justify the development for such a niche market.
Maybe the stop/start functions would be a useable, if not essential, function but the rest of the suggestions I find somewhat silly. A checklist? Come on, how much of a checklist are you really going to display on an Apple Watch? How are you going to advance the checklist? I'm still trying to work out what functions need two hands pre-start, when using a checklist, and if you need those two hands, how do you scroll down on your watch? The map suggestion is laughable. Justifying a tiny watch screen, so you don't have to look down at a larger map display, I think you must be joking. Squinting at a tiny screen and trying to discern any useful navigation function just because it's level with your eyeline is ridiculous and trying to say that you're maintaining more eyes-outside is just nonsense, when you're busy focusing on a watch in front of your face instead of at infinity. I'm not saying that looking down at a kneeboard etc is any better but it is not any worse and certainly does not support the hypothesis that this is a good idea.
One day I'm sure the accelerometers etc will be useful in pointing us towards intruding traffic etc but by then we'll have much more useful HUDs on glasses, so that will make the Apple Watch's traffic alerts nigh on useless.
It is my opinion (and I realise that it is only that) that too many people are desperately seeking to justify a reason for buying a bit of kit that does little more than tell the time and alert you to other devices. To suggest you display a moving map on it that is viewed in a dynamic environment is really quite bizarre.
Hi Paul, I tend to agree with you on your comments re moving map on Watch.
Checklist: I think you will be surprised how all the e-checklist vendors will jump on this! Just that SD so far doesn't play in this segment.
how much of a checklist are you really going to display on an Apple Watch? How are you going to advance the checklist? I
The nature of a checklist is that it wants you to focus on doing one step at a time. So one, two or max 3 steps need to be displayed. Bezel turn to scroll through. Bezel click to "check" item. It is actually straight forward.
Have a look at Gyronimo, an app developer that focuses on e-checklists and a/c specific performance apps. They don't even have a dedicated tablet version, and what they show on the Phone screen can easily be condensed into a much smaller screen:
I'm still trying to work out what functions need two hands pre-start, when using a checklist, and if you need those two hands, how do you scroll down on your watch?
I think the spirit of this forum is to do brainstorming. Therefore we try to build on the suggestions of others. It is not my intention to present a detailed technical design here. Pls also note that I was talking about pre-fligth checks, which are done outside the a/c, not pre-startup check. There is a whole case for bringing start-up and emergency checklists onto tab of the SD navigation screen, but this is subject to another thread in this Forum.
Preflight checks certainly differ between a/c types. In my case, I mainly have to turn things, move links against each other to check for freedom of movement and absence of play, climb up the a/c, opening valves while collecting fuel sample in a container, etc.
On a wearable device, you effortlessly tick off the checklist item after you have done the checks. On a phone you always have to switch it off and put it back into your pocket before doing the next check. Then retrieve it from your pocket and open the phone again to tick off the item. With some 50 odd preflight steps, this becomes cumbersome. I have also had on occasion my phone falling out of my pocket when climbing under the a/c for some checks. So there is 'pain', and where there is pain, there is room for innovation.