How Wearable Tech is Evolving into the Coolest Gadgets Today

With the proliferation of Smartphones and the accompanying drop in prices of data, you can be connected to anyone, anywhere, at any time. Middle school children are demanding iPhones so they are able to text and connect with friends and social media networks, and Baby Boomers share Facetime with grandchildren across the country. A large portion of our society expects to be connected, and they are willing to pay the costs necessary to do so quickly and conveniently. Demand is such that innovators and entrepreneurs have moved into developing ways to connect without the inconvenience of having to hold a Smartphone in your hand. Welcome to the new and ever-expanding world of wearable technology.

Easier Than Simple

The idea behind wearable technology is straightforward: People want to be able to access information while on the go, without having to use their hands or take attention away from their activity. They want to be able to access crucial data without, let’s say, having to take their hands off the car wheel and their eyes of the road. The promise of wearable technology is to take the information off your Smartphone screen and to put it closer to your line of vision. We are looking towards a market influx of smart watches, gesture-controlled armbands, transmitting rings, and notification bracelets along with crazy-looking glasses. Society is on the verge of a technological revolution. Just as the desktop computer was replaced by laptops, which was replaced by tablets, the Smartphone is about to be pushed aside for smaller, more easily accessible devices.

Important Features

In order to compete and thrive, wearable gadgets will need to take into consideration a few key accessibility features. Here are a few tips on how to find the coolest gadgets perfect for you.

1. Interface: Immersive technology has long been imagined in fiction, and its time is now. Virtual reality technologies, such as Oculus Rift, are looking to expand online interfaces to be immersive spaces while watches or head-mounted devices might reduce interface to a single line of text. Is this a case of VHS and Betamax, in which the better technology will win? Or will both have a place in this brave new world?
2. Interaction: With touch screens now too cumbersome, the new technology will need to rely on control mechanisms such as voice, hand gestures, movement and eye tracking.
3. Immediacy: We want it all, and we want it now. Wearable devices will need to fulfill our needs faster. Retail, for example, will need to take shipping from online to eye line, allowing users to buy as they look. Curation and editing will become more important than before.
4. Platform ownership: Watches, virtual reality, and head-mounted devices are not going to be able to depend on current browsers. Proprietary interfaces will be developed, and more than likely one of the current major players will take the lead. The rise of iOS and Chrome for Google and Apple’s ability to intermediate shipping activities have already taken consumers steps beyond what was imagined just a few years ago.

The Latest Wearable Gadgets

There are a number of wearable gadgets that have already created buzz and are being touted as the Next Big Thing. Which devices should you keep an eye out for? There are a few devices that have consistently generated the most positive buzz.

Google Glass

Wondering what all the fuss is about? Google Glass allows users to record videos, talked photographs, make telephone calls, and search maps. There is big money being toured into development of applications for this device. Funded and backed by the Google name, look for this gadget to explode.

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Pebble

Pebble is a wristwatch that alerts users to call, voicemail, and texts. It doubles as a GPS and tracks outdoor activity stats for running and hiking. This Android- and iOS-compatible device is set to rival Apple’s iWatch.

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Filip

The answer to this mother’s prayers, Filip is another wristwatch device that allows parents to call or message their children while keeping track of their whereabouts. It can set up “safe zones” and alert users when children stray past that area. It also will hold up to five pre-programmed phone numbers for children to call.

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Jawbone UP

Forget about heart rate monitors. This gadget will track a user’s sleeping habits, movements and diet. Syncing with Smartphones for updates, user will be able to monitor their daily routines and behaviors. Competitors include Lark and Fitbit’s Flex but the Jawbone UP was recently gifted to 1K Yahoo! Employees.

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BearTEK Gloves

Bluetooth-enabled gloves allow users to interact with portable devices with the swish of a finger. Control an action camera or a Smartphone with these gloves, with each finger triggering a different command, such an answer calls, playing music, or locking functionality.