CHAPTER 2

The Connect IQ Platform

Connect IQ is a platform for third-party apps that run on Garmin

devices. If you’re developing a system that runs on the wearable
device, either working with existing data fields or talking to an
entirely new accessory that you are developing, you’ll start with
Connect IQ. There are several different things you can create with
Connect IQ:
Watch faces
These aren’t just a pretty picture to look at, but they can be that,
too. You can create custom watch faces for your company or
organization. But you can also incorporate data into a watch
face, and display progress toward specific goals the user has set.
Data fields
As described in Chapter 1, these are data points that can be
incorporated elsewhere into the Connect IQ platform full circle.
A data field can come from a sensor accessory that you manu‐
facture, or could be derived from other data fields.
Widgets
These are mini apps that appear as users scroll through the car‐
ousel of widgets installed on their device. Widgets provide at-a-
glance information but can also communicate with phone apps
and web services, and also can pull in activity, location, and sen‐
sor data.