Samsung rolls out Universal Gestures feature for Galaxy Watch

Samsung is highlighting the Universal Gestures feature, which provides innovative accessibility solutions on its Galaxy Watch smartwatches. Designed with the goal of offering touch-free experiences through easy and intuitive hand gestures, Universal Gestures was introduced as part of the One UI 5 Watch update.

Universal Gestures offers users an alternative to using the device without having to touch the watch face or press a button with their fingers. It becomes possible to use Galaxy Watches according to one's needs with four different hand gestures: "Clench Fist," "Double Clench Fist," "Pinch," and "Double Pinch."

SELECTING AND OPENING ITEMS BECOMES EASIER WITH THE FIST GESTURE

When the Universal Gestures feature on the Galaxy Watch is activated, the Galaxy Watch displays it with a customizable colored frame. Thus, this intuitive mode is made available to provide a special and accessible experience.

The "Clench Fist" gesture, one of the Universal Gestures, makes selecting and opening items on the Galaxy Watch easier.

When the user clenches their fist twice in succession, the Action Menu opens, which contains a series of useful options accessible directly from the wrist. This menu works like a toolkit that is always by the user's side, offering essential tools such as opening the list of applications, going to the previous screen, and viewing recent apps.

The dynamic Action Menu adjusts its content based on whichever screen is currently open when activated by the user. When a decision is made to select an item, a single clench of the fist is sufficient.

The "Pinch" (joining the thumb and index finger) and "Double Pinch" gestures on the Galaxy Watch offer new, non-touch-mandatory ways that provide benefits, especially to users with movement limitations regarding interacting with their Galaxy Watches.

Thanks to these two gestures, it is possible to move from one item to another or return to the previous item. Actions such as navigating through messages, browsing calendar items, and looking at photo albums can all be performed with pinching gestures.

The goal of accessibility features is to remove barriers and provide seamless experiences for everyone. For this reason, Universal Gestures offers users intuitive control over their Galaxy Watches. For example, Samsung Galaxy users can easily change the action targeted by these four gestures and personalize their devices to more effectively meet their own needs.

The gestures feature, located within the Advanced Features in the Galaxy Watch menu, stands out as a different solution that offers access to actions via convenient shortcuts. Actions such as answering incoming calls, dismissing alerts and calls, and quickly launching applications can all be performed with simple hand and arm movements.