We’ve only begun to scratch the surface of potential of smartwatches but traditional watch companies are already nervously looking over their shoulders at the growing threat to their business. It turns out that they are not the only ones who see smartwatches as a potential menace. A number of universities in the UK are now considering or have even implemented bans on these wrist-worn computers at their exam halls. The innocent traditional watches have found itself pulled into this ban as well – because invigilators cannot always tell them apart.
The University of London last year raised the alarm about students bringing smartwatches into exam halls and using them to cheat. The Apple Watch is seen as a particular concern. With standalone connected smartwatches becoming more popular, the problem will only get worse.
Last year, colleagues and invigilators raised the issue of how we would identify a smartwatch in an examination setting. In large exam venues, with over 100 students, it simply wouldn’t be practical to ask invigilators to check each watch.
As a result, both the University of London and City University London are now treating all wristwatches as equivalent to mobile phones and treating them the same when it comes to taking them into exam halls. London’s City University has begun to ask students to place any watch alongside their mobile devices in a plastic wallet under their desk. “Students either don’t wear them to an exam venue, or they remove the watch in the venue and place it in the plastic wallet,” explained a spokesperson.
Students used to rely on their watches to tell the time can ask for a small desk clock. More wall clocks have also been installed in the examination venues.
Students across the world can expect to see similar bans at their schools and universities as smartwatches continue to gain popularity.
Source : Buzzfeed