Tag: smartwatches

Wearables could soon be worn on the ear, not the wrist

| January 5, 2015

Although smartwatches and augmented reality glasses have appeared to be a promising category, new players are coming.

Wearables have been appearing on the market in many different forms, with several devices coming in the form of smartwatches, as well as smart clothing, headsets, and other types that can be attached to the body in some way.

Some predictions, however, are now starting to say that wearable technology worn on the ear will be the next wave.

According to the IDC Asia Pacific associate vice president for big data, analytics, and software, Craig Stires, “There’s some interesting information you can capture through the ear. We’ve been looking at things like wrist wearables, but the ear can capture things like oxygen levels, electrocardiograms, and body temperature.” This has opened up the opportunity to develop wearable technology that would be able to perform at a very impressive level. It would also mean that an entirely new sub-category of these devices would open up.

It has been predicted that hearable technology wearables could be worth $5 billion by 2018.

Wearable technology may be worn on the earThat forecast was made by the Wifore Consulting chief technology officer and founder, Nick Nunn. The prediction of this U.K. firm would mean that the hearable category of wearable technology would be worth the same amount as the entire industry of these devices at its present level.

Fans of wearable tech enjoy the ability to use these devices in a kind of “synced lifestyle”, where their devices integrate perfectly into their daily life. According to the PSFK research firm’s “Future of Wearable Tech” report, which was issued in 2014, that mentality has helped in the development of devices that can be worn on just about every body part. Moreover, it has also brought the worlds of technology and fashion into the same environment.

However, Hunn has stated that there is one primary factor which may be overlooked by brands offering wearables, so far. That is that “Sound drives the bulk of our technology use.” Moreover, the only type of wearable technology that has already fully gained social acceptance and mainstream use is earbuds. As a result, he feels that it is those devices that will soon be experiencing a “revolution in capability”.

Are wearables safe for user health?

| December 31, 2014

These mobile devices are certainly becoming more popular, but many consumers wonder if they come with medical risks.

The last several months has represented an extremely important time for the release of various types of wearables as well as for the very beginning of consumer adoption, but as was the case with the penetration of cell phones and smartphones, consumers are now wondering if these devices will be safe for their health.

Unlike traditional smartphones, wearable technology is worn on the clothing or body all the time.

Tech companies and fashion brands, alike, have been stretching their creativity to the outer extent in the hopes of coming up with a type of wearables that would truly appeal to consumers and that they would want to be able to purchase so that they can wear them all the time. Many predictions have showed that this industry has tremendous potential, as the market will grow to about $50 billion over the next three to five years. That would represent a market increase of about ten times where it was in 2014. The release of the Apple Watch in the first quarter of 2015 expected to drive that growth quite powerfully.

Wearables may present a technology and financial opportunity, but the health consequences have not yet been thoroughly examined.

Surprising Wearables Technology NewsRecently, at the New York Times International Luxury Conference session on wearable technology, there was a great deal of repetition when it came to the main topics surrounding these gadgets, but the only one on a considerable panel of participants to discuss the actual safety of the devices was Diane von Furstenburg, the fashion designer. She was the only one to raise that topic throughout the entire event.

As much as is it is important to discuss its opportunity as a product, whether or not it is useful, if it is affordable for the average consumer, and whether or not it is stylish, knowing if it is safe to actually wear these mobile devices on our bodies at all times is an important consideration. After all, many smartwatches and health trackers are worn at all times, including throughout sleep. Augmented reality headset wearables are worn throughout the day right on the head. This is a great deal more exposure than a smartphone, which is often put down, when it is not in use.

As wearables become increasingly popular throughout this year and become mainstream in the near future, it is more than likely that health and safety risks will become a rising topic of discussion and an important trend to watch.