We can all say that
wearable technology is here for good. Whether it be because of the buzz behind
a ridiculous collection of shoes that can detect radiation and record
conversations or Will.i.am's second wearable tech which is a voice-activated smartwatch,
wearable tech is definitely making a splash.
What
exactly is wearable tech?
Wearable technology is
clearly gadgets you wear, but there are important distinctions from each other.
Wearable tech isn't a trendy pair of headphones, for example, or a digital
watch. The new age of wearables tap into the connected self -- they're laden
with smart sensors, and make use of a web connection, usually using Bluetooth
to connect wirelessly to your smartphone. They use these sensors to connect to
you as a person, and they help you to achieve goals such as staying fit,
active, losing weight or being more organised.
How
do you wear them?
Most wearables are
wrist worn, but an increasing number can be clipped to the body and hung around
the neck. Wearables are quickly blending with jewellery, and are worn in the
same way. Watches, rings, pendants -- you name it, there's a wearable that does
it.
So what are the
advantages and the disadvantages of using wearables techs?
PROS:
1.
Hands-free user experience
Most consumer and enterprise wearables can receive messages,
communicate with others and provide visual aids, all the while the user's hands
remain free for use. Part of the advantages lie in the ability to better filter
messages, alleviating users from the need to constantly draw their smartphone
and check. Moreover, this gives users the opportunity to receive visual
assistance in real-time while performing a certain action. This hands-free
concept is very lucrative in the enterprise setting, especially for hands-on industries
such as manufacturing and the oil and gas industries.
2.
Personalized information
Many wearables today have the ability to retrieve different
physiological parameters about you as a user. This gives way to drawing
personalized health and fitness information that can revolutionize the health
& fitness industries by allowing individuals to be better aware of
themselves and possibly keep better track of possible ailments.
3.
Personal assistant
Wearables on many levels were created in an attempt to simplify
our daily functions. The idea is that analyzed data and critical information
will be at the user's immediate disposal, simplifying daily functions
dramatically and making us more productive and efficient than ever before.
4.
The gateway to the Internet of Things (IoT) world
Wearables are set to become one of the more integral devices in
the IoT vision. The idea of connected devices will be ever more realistic and
necessary once individuals will have a "personal assistant" that will
be able to speak with the surrounding environment and devices. This
"personal assistant" will be able to help the user remotely control
other devices and therefore will become that much more essential.
CONS:
1.
Data accuracy
One aspect that needs to be better developed in many wearables
is the actual accuracy of the physiological measurements. It seems that
wearables in general and smartwatches in particular, just haven't been able to
retrieve and measure the data with sufficient accuracy. Sensors will need to be
better positioned or used and data better analyzed.
2.
Usability barriers
Since many wearables are still very much a concept in
development and fairly new to the market, usability drawbacks are a natural
part of the process. These drawbacks include uncomfortable design of the device
and a user experience or user interface that isn't as intuitive as expected.
However, since wearables are such a personalized and frequently used instrument
in the nature, device manufacturers will have to learn quickly how to adjust
any usability issues since this parameter is undoubtedly key for adoption.
Users do not want to feel that their wearable is an intrusive alien object on
their body, but should be an extension of themselves.
3.
Charging
The wearable charging mechanism and battery life are one of the
more critical challenges for various wearable devices. Device manufacturers are
aware of this and therefore should search for new ways on how to prolong their
device's battery life on one hand, while providing a natural charging solution
on the other. Currently, many wearables are coupled with uncomfortable dongles
and other charging cables that are irritating for users to handle. Wireless
charging for wearables is becoming the inevitable reality as users are becoming
impatient to other alternatives (cables, dongles, and other weird attempts)
that are simply impractical. With wireless charging, device manufacturers will
also be able to create a truly waterproof wearable by getting rid of the need
for a USB port altogether.
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