Apple Watch can be controlled with hand gestures
Engadget explains how AssistiveTouch lets you use an Apple Watch through hand and finger movements, without touching the screen.
The facts
- According to Engadget, AssistiveTouch is built into Apple Watch models running the latest watchOS. It was designed for people with motor disabilities.
- It combines data from the gyroscope, accelerometer and optical heart rate sensor to detect small movements of the arm, hand and fingers. No extra hardware is needed.
- To switch it on, go to Settings, then Accessibility, then AssistiveTouch, and turn on Hand Gestures. Each gesture's action can be customised.
- Turning it on disables Apple's universal double tap gesture, which is normally used to answer calls or scroll through widgets.
Case notes · Danny's take
Why it matters
Accessibility features are often the most practical ideas on a device. This one started as a tool for people with motor disabilities. It also helps anyone with full hands or gloves on. Good design for the edge case tends to improve things for everyone else.
For builders
Gesture control here comes purely from sensors already in the watch, with no new hardware. If you build for wearables, treat accessibility as a core input method, not an afterthought. Note the trade-off: switching it on turns off the double tap gesture.
Not financial advice. Do your own investigation.
This story was summarised with AI from Engadget's reporting and checked against our editorial policy. Danny's take reflects his views. Disclaimer.
Danny Walter
Founder of Moon Republic, Volt Terminal and Moon Republic Academy. Author of The Market Is a Crime Scene and After the Applause.