A new method in creating graphene has now been found by the manufacturer and a university.
The scientists at Samsung have now announced tremendous technology news in that they have come up with a new way of developing graphene, which is a silicon alternative that is only one atom thick and that could change the way the wearables industry develops now that it can be manufactured on a commercial scale.
This is an achievement that the industry has been seeking to achieve for a decade.
The Samsung scientists made their achievement as a part of a partnership with Sungkyunkwan University. This new method that has been discovered could completely reshape the wearables industry – quite literally, as it brings flexibility in a material that is still more conductive than silicon. Now it could provide flexible and very strong touchscreens, among other uses.
That said, the research isn’t quite ready for wearables and mobile gadgets, just yet.
While this is a breakthrough, the discovery is not yet to the point that it is ready to hit the manufacturing plants. The research is still in its early stages and there are still limitations to the size of the graphene particles that can be created through the current techniques. Currently the sole method of synthesizing a usable amount of graphene is to bring a number of its crystals together. But in that form it reduces its ability to conduct electricity.
Silicon is used in today’s semiconductors, but graphene can conduct more heat and electrical charge. Equally, graphene is a substance that has greater strength than steel but is still flexible. This would be the perfect option for the wearable technology industry if it could be produced on a commercial scale. In Samsung’s own words, it is the “perfect material for use in flexible displays, wearables and other next generation electronic devices.”
Two men in Manchester, England, Sir Kostya Novoselov and Sir Andre Geim first isolated graphene in 2004 and received the Nobel prize for doing it. It is unlikely that they had any idea that the wearables industry would reach the point that it has today and that their discovery could one day prove to revolutionize its shape and nature.
If these mobile gadgets ware going to be as popular as predicted, they will soon be in the workplace.
Wearable technology is moving ahead with leaps and bounds as smartwatches and other types of devices that can be worn on the body make their way onto the market shelves and are being scooped up by consumers.
It won’t take long before workplaces will need to come up with policies to manage their use.
Whether in the form of smartwatches, wristbands, pendants, belt clips, or even glasses, wearable technology is starting to become popular and the industry is predicting that it will be mainstream sooner rather than later. At a time in which businesses are only just starting to be able to come up with the right kinds of policies to safely implement bring your own device (BYOD) programs, a whole new form of mobile tech is now making its way into the space.
Wearable technology is different because it isn’t always clear what it is or when it’s on.
Now that Google has announced its Android Wear operating system for wearables, it is likely that the number of manufacturers will start to jump into the mix and base their gadgets on this OS. These devices will be piled on top of the large number that are already in existence, including Google Glass, Samsung Gear , Pebble, and others, as well as a range of different types of jewelry such as rings and pendants, and fitness bands that also come in a spectrum of shapes and brands.
Depending on the wearable technology, the gadget could provide biometrics, internet access, or smartphone access, among other features. While workplaces will need to keep additional distractions in mind to keep employees focused on their tasks, this will be more challenging than it is with smartphones because it is difficult to recognize some forms of wearables and it is exceptionally hard to know when they are active. This means that it is possible that texts could be sent, recordings could be made, or the net could be surfed without any outward signs that it is occurring.
Next, there is also an issue of security. Mobile security is already a major concern for companies with a BYOD program, and many find it to be a considerable challenge to enforce the policies when they do have them. Connected wearables adds an entirely new layer of tech and of risk that needs to be considered and protected.
