The Future of WENA Entrusted to Augmented AI | Why I Don't Choose the Apple Watch

Precisely because so many people wear it, I dare not to.

The Apple Watch is a highly polished product.
I have no intention of denying that.
However, when I see so many people wearing the same black square on their wrists, I can't help but feel turned off.

Perhaps I am a bit of a contrarian.
But that is not all.

I have an ADHD temperament. My attention is easily scattered.
That is why I feel a bit uneasy about wearing a device on my wrist that constantly displays information.

Notifications.
Lights.
Vibrations.

When looking at a display that isn't always on, will I be able to stay calm and collected?
When I'm not looking at it, won't I feel unconscious stress living while worrying about the battery level, wondering if it's properly turned off?

A watch should just tell time.
And if possible, analog rather than digital. I'm not very good at calculating remaining time.

I like the feeling of the second hand moving slowly. Digital displays are accurate, but there is a sense of being 'rushed' somewhere.

And one more thing.
I have a feeling that I don't want the screen display to be seen by those around me.
The content of notifications, fragments of messages. For some reason, I have a resistance to them entering someone else's field of vision, even for a moment.

Is this also an ADHD-like sensitivity?
When there is too much information, my mind feels restless.

That is why I do not choose so-called smartwatches.

Watches are culture. I like Citizen.

What I love using is Citizen Watch's radio-controlled solar titanium model.

Attesa is truly wonderful.
It is light, never goes wrong, and never stops.

No battery replacement needed. No time adjustment needed.

I also use a larger Promaster. It has presence, is a bit rugged, and suits my days off. It's not too pretentious, nor is it cheap-looking.

Furthermore, I also have a unisex XC. Remembering Keiko Kitagawa's advertisements, I feel somewhat glamorous.

Other than Citizen, I also own Casio's Oceanus.
It's blue and cool, also a titanium radio-controlled solar model.

There is no worry about the battery running out. No panicking because I forgot to charge it. (Though it did break once...)

For someone with an ADHD temperament like me, the fact that I 'don't have to worry' is more valuable than anything else.

The reason I was drawn to the philosophy of WENA

That was why I was strongly attracted to the wena 3 in the past.

It was developed by Sony.

Putting the functions on the strap side rather than the watch face. It can coexist with standard wristwatches.

This concept was beautiful.

The look is Citizen. The inside is Sony's technology.

Killing two birds with one stone. You get both the brand and the technology.

However, I never ended up buying it. That's because the reviews on Kakaku.com were inconsistent. The app's level of refinement, connectivity, and battery life—even if the philosophy was excellent, the reliability as a product was shaky.

And the reality was harsh.

The wena series was announced to end its service in December 2024, and all services were terminated on February 28, 2026. The final model was the third-generation 'wena 3' released in November 2020.

There is a deep chasm between philosophy and business.

The difficulty of the wristwatch business

The wristwatch industry is a world of high-mix, low-volume production. The circumstances are different from a massive ecosystem like Apple's.

Hardware is used for a long time. On the other hand, software always requires updates.

Continuous investment is essential to balance both.

Service termination is a break in user experience and also damages the brand. From an investor's perspective, this speaks to the difficulty of model design.

The 'next move' called augment AI

Currently, the WENA brand has moved to augment AI Inc.

Sony is advising users to check 'wena.jp' after March 17. At the moment, a teaser page is live, displaying a visual marked 'wena 20260317'. It is also possible to register for notifications via LINE or email.

Something is beginning.

To be honest, the full picture of augment AI is not yet visible.
However, the fact that they have inherited the brand carries significant weight.

This is not merely a transfer of a trademark.
Is it an inheritance of philosophy, or a reconstruction?

From an investor's perspective,

・How will they handle ongoing support?
・How many years of OS compatibility will they guarantee?
・Is the revenue model hardware-centric, or will it use services as well?

Until these points become clear, I cannot feel at ease.

However, I do have expectations.

I do not want to wear anything on my right wrist.

I do not want to wear anything on my right wrist.
(I don't even wear a wedding ring on the ring finger of my left hand.)

A future where I wear watches on both wrists is not for me.

One on my left wrist.
That is all I want.

That is precisely why the WENA philosophy of hiding functionality in the strap was close to my own values.

If a new WENA is released

If a new WENA is released by augment AI, I will consider it.

What is important is:

・How they will solve battery anxiety
・The approach to always-on displays
・The aesthetics of how notifications are presented
・Collaboration strategies with watch brands
・The promise of long-term support

Is it designed so that even someone with my ADHD tendencies can use it calmly?
Is the design something I can accept as a watch enthusiast?
Can I believe in its continuity as an investor?

I am waiting for technology that works quietly in the background.

March 17, 2026.
augment AIWhat kind of future will they show us?

As a watch enthusiast.
And as a calm investor.