An In-Depth Look at TimeBuzz; an Apple Watch App that Allows You to Tell the Time Using the Taptic Engine
Summary: <p>In this podcast, David Woodbridge takes an in-depth look at <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/timebuzz/id993285729?mt=8&uo=8&at=11l4LS">TimeBuzz</a>, a new Apple Watch app that makes it possible to feel the current time through vibrations of the Taptic Engine on the Apple Watch.</p> <p>When <a href="http://www.applevis.com/forum/apple-watch/introducing-timebuzz-apple-watch-app-allows-you-tell-time-using-taptic-engine">introducing TimeBuzz to the AppleVis community</a>, the developer offered the following description of how it works:</p> <blockquote> <p>The app is designed especially for blind and low vision users to allow them to discretely get to know the current time without the need for the time to be pronounced.</p> <p>If you open the app on the Apple Watch there will be a large button with the text 'Tap to buzz the time'. When you tap this button the app will start buzzing the current time. It will translate the time into a pattern of long and short vibrations whereby it will first buzz the hours and then the minutes. In between every sequence of vibrations there will be a short pause to be able to separate the hours and minutes from each other. You will feel a distinctive vibrating buzz when opening the app and when you start the buzzing of the current time so that you know when you opened the TimeBuzz app or tapped the button on the screen. To make it easier to start the app you can select a TimeBuzz complication on your watch face so you can start the app directly from the watch face.</p> <p>The patterns of the vibrations can be chosen by selecting a buzz pattern which are named after famous clocks around the world. They range from simple to understand to more advanced shortened vibrations.</p> </blockquote> <p><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/timebuzz/id993285729?mt=8&uo=8&at=11l4LS">TimeBuzz is a US$0.99 download from the iTunes App Store</a></p>
