Ed, I agree with you about TMI, a source if stress in many aspects of this modern world. Believe me, I've thought many times of throwing the watch in the garbage and following your way.
donate it to a person that would like to keep informed everyday....about their stats....then...do a little jig and don't worry....and may the song of a beautiful little sparrow wake you up every morning
I don't like those big watches at all. They do not look good on a small wrist. If I wish to track my health, I can do so by downloading apps from Google Play Store on my phone. I have a step counter on it. I carry a oximeter in my pocket and I have a thumb sphygomanometer as well. Just a plain old time piece is what I wear on my wrist.
Here's a different take on this, Connie. I just got my first Apple Phone Watch last July to have as a "Life Alert" type of device. I live alone and remote so wanted a smart watch for fall detection (with automatic 911 calling if I do not respond) and to have one-touch 911 with me at all times. All of these watches communicate through your cell phone, and I paid a little extra (maybe $25) to get one that talks directly to the cell towers if my phone is not nearby, meaning I can leave my phone in my house as I'm outside doing work (or even at the store), and not only receive/make regular phone calls on it, but I can call 911. I've been doing dishes and prepping meals and working in my garage and walking by my creek with my cell phone left on my bedroom dresser and not missed a call...just tap the Pickup icon and speak into your watch! You also send/receive texts, although sending texts without a keyboard is a little clumsy. Life Alert costs about $30/month as I recall. I added my watch to my cell plan as a "Use Anywhere Without The Phone" extension to my existing number for $5/month. I'm making monthly watch payments of about $30, and it will be paid off in less than a year. After that, the watch saves $300/year over Life Alert, plus you get all the cool Apple Watch features. I love having a phone (with Caller ID) right on my wrist, and I am not a tech guy. I do not use any of the health tracking stuff, but I use a lot of the phone's other features. It is on my wrist every waking moment. Only the Apple Watches have one touch 911. The watches for the Android phones (Samsung Galaxy) have a one touch emergency feature, but they only call someone from your Contacts List. I'm not certain if they have fall detection. I only mention this because you don't see this aspect of these watches marketed very often...I doubt that Apple wants to be known as a geriatric device. So you can have a cost-saving Like Alert device PLUS a phone on your wrist PLUS the health tracking stuff (that you do not have to enable.) If you don't like the health tracking stuff, you have not wasted your money...just turn it off and still enjoy the other benefits. Others here could advise you on specific Apple Watch models better than I. Some models even have a basic EKG monitor built in.
My Apple 6 Watch has ECG as well as oxygen check . I’ve mentioned before that my husband slipped in the doorway of his shed after after accidentally stepping on a peach that had fallen off the tree that’s close to the shed , his watch that’s the same of mine, wanted to call ..000 (that’s the Aussie emergency number ) but he dismissed it and called me from his watch ,I was in the house . His fall resulted in a full hip replacement.
Life alert systems have indeed come a long way. I've read about the Lifeline System from this article and not only does it have a fall detector, but it also has a voice-activated system, which is great. It can be an alternative for those who live alone, although it's still best to have someone care for them. Especially for seniors, they usually need the most care, so it's better to have someone check on them from time to time. If no one is available, the safest way, in my opinion, is to place them in a retirement home where they'll have some look after them.