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Information Underload

For the holidays, I bought my wife a Samsung Gear Fit.  She is training for a 10k run and a half marathon next year, so she wants to track her progress prepare for these events.  When the Gear Fit arrived in the mail, my wife asked that I set it up for her while she was putting our son to sleep.  I got right to work playing with yet another piece of wearable tech, fumbling with it as I got it ready.  It was at the first stages that I was face to face with a crazy scenario.

Additional Software Required

In order for the device to work, you need to download a specific app for Gear Fit.  This app comes directly from Samsung’s app manager.

Now, I like to think I am good at following directions, but I messed up.  I went straight to the Google Play Store looking for the app.  I found an app from ZERO Labs named “Gear Fit File Manager,” but it wasn’t free; it cost $1.48.  My eyebrows were raised.

I started reading reviews.  I would say I read 5 star reviews, but they lacked any text, just a 5 star rating.  I did find plenty of 1 star reviews though.  “It doesn’t work with my device,” “It does nothing,” and “I want a refund” were everywhere.  This app shows ten thousand downloads, and was one of, if not the top result for the search “Samsung Gear Fit.”  I was even more curious how this could possibly happen.

Check the app’s permissions

The permissions for the app sealed the deal for me on avoiding the Samsung Gear Fit File Manager.  All the app wanted was access to the SD card, but I knew already the Gear was Bluetooth.  So, I read the instructions again.

You need to go to a specific site, written out in the instructions, for the app specific to the watch.  I had to laugh at myself a bit, seeing as it was my failure to read the entire instruction that led to this.  I still wondered why others had downloaded this with their reviews reflecting their similar confusion.

I read the description of the Gear Fit File Manager app again, and if you click “read more” in the store page you find the fact that you need to have the Samsung app mentioned in the instructions for the device already installed in order to make Gear Fit File Manager work.  How could this happen and more importantly how can companies avoid this with their devices?

Clarity

It is important to be clear in your instructions.  Not providing clear direction may lead to other company’s riding your coat tails and obtaining personal information from your customers. Of course, negative experiences will be your responsibility, even if they are caused by the user’s own confusion or lack of understanding.  This can also be applied to any policy, such as your privacy notice, as well.  When you are unclear, you leave room for human error and misinterpretation.  When that interpretation, no matter how off base or wrong it is, is made by a judge or regulator, it is then that you will feel the full weight of this mistake.