It was only last year that smart wearables slowly became less of a “must have” for the Techno Geek and more of a desirable accessory for anyone who wanted to “Keep ahead of the Joneses” or possibly increase their productivity in the workplace.
Smartwatches really gathered momentum throughout the year and prices began to drop to more reasonable levels as well as being more aesthetically pleasing. Yes, you do need to use them with a smartphone and for some reason this put some people off, although there are on the market today, smart watches that have 3G built in so you can receive and make calls without the watch being connected to your mobile. Will a completely autonomous smartwatch capture the imagination of the public? I’m guessing not!
This year will see the launch of the eagerly awaited Apple Watch (note, not iWatch) which promises to be a technological marvel. Of course, this depends on how much you are expected to pay. Rumours are abound that the entry level model will retail for around £300.00. Will this tempt iPhone users to spend their hard earned cast? Watch this space.
For all you foodies out there there is hope. The Belty is a belt that has a number of motors and sensors with an accelerator and gyroscope, will adjust itself based on the amount you eat and the exercise you’ve done, if any. The data is recorded on your linked smartphone. Prices are expected to be ”Outrageous”.
Google Glass came to the UK last year and if you were very lucky to lay your hands on a pair you have either worn them at every opportunity in the safety of your own home or suffered being beaten up in a pub for inadvertently taking discrete photos of the local rugby team by winking. They are going to court controversy when they are worn in public in their present guise. My feelings are that they’re a work in progress and the design and operation needs to change before they are accepted by the public, if ever. There is no doubt though that Google Glass will be extremely useful in both industry and the military.
So, where next will wearable technology take us? Well, probably the wearable with the most potential this year will be smartclothes. The medical profession was the first to realise the advantages of incorporating sensors integrated into clothing to monitor conditions such as epilepsy. A great forward leap in this sector. We will also soon start seeing sales of such things as smartbras which will monitor health and fitness and other garments that can send data to a smartphone or similar device. Smartclothes will become the norm in the next few years and as they get more popular, prices will tumble.
If you have decided that that smart technology is definitely not for you, then you may be forced to think again. Many companies are planning to increase employee’s productivity by embracing this tech. Smartwatches can replace mobile phones in the office with notifications and calls flashing up on your wrist. Engineers may wear Google Glass to instantly relay information to head office or colleagues, the same can be said about surgeons carrying out pioneering operations. There really is no limit on how we will interact with wearables in the near future.
