Are We Closer to Becoming Cyborgs? Wearable Technology is More Than a Fashion Craze.

Hey, what are you wearing, besides that awesome shirt? Is it a “wearable”?

According to Techhive.com, wearable sales have tripled in a year, and will grow 500 percent by 2018, so there’s a decent chance that you might be wearing one now, but even more likely in the next few years.

Wearables are all the rage right now. Some expect the wearables market to grow faster than the smartphone or tablet market. In fact, Morgan Stanley predicts 70 million wearable shipments worldwide in 2015, growing to 248 million in 2017.

So what is wearable technology anyway?

The terms “wearable technology” or “wearables” refer to electronic technologies (miniature computers) that are incorporated into the items of clothing and accessories which can perform many of the same computing tasks as smartphones or laptop computers (wearabledevices.com).

According to various sources, wearable technology is more sophisticated than hand-held technology because it specializes in providing sensory type features that are not typically seen or available in mobile and laptop devices.

Wearable technology is a catchphrase that includes everything from smart glasses that record video and let you browse the internet, to watches that answer phone calls. Although wearables are not expected to overtake the smartphone this year, tech authorities do say that the wearable market is expected to grow quickly over the next few years.

Rackspace, a U.S. IT hosting company commissioned a study on wearable technology from the Centre for Creative and Social Technology at the University of London. The study involved surveying 4,000 adults in the U.S. and the U.K. for their thoughts on wearable technology. The findings from this study confirm what we already feel and know:

• 82% of Americans/71% of Brits said that “cloud-powered devices have enhanced their lives.”
• 71% of Americans/63 percent of Brits said that “wearable tech has improved their health and fitness.
• 54% of Americans/46% of Brits said “wearable tech has boosted their self-confidence.”

See the entire study at http://www.zdnet.com/article/13-eye-opening-figures-about-wearable-tech/

Wearable technology: Is the smartwatch a threat to the watch industry?

The smartwatch is a watch that you wear on your wrist and its “smart” because it wirelessly connects to the internet and delivers real-time information – just as quickly as a smartphone or a tablet. Just like your smartphone, the typical uses for a smartwatch include reading texts and emails, getting directions, and taking pictures. So why not just use your smartphone instead of buying another device? Well, for one thing, the smartwatch allows you to be “hands-free.”

In order to stay relevant and maintain market share, luxury Swiss watch maker Tag Heuer has stated that it will take on Apple and other smartwatch manufacturers by partnering with some of these companies. Although admitting that smartwatches “represent a challenge to the Swiss watch industry that is comparable to the appearance of quartz technology,” Tag Heuer also openly criticized the Apple Watch’s design, stating it looked like “it was designed by a student in their first trimester” (Read the whole story here: http://qz.com/313886/tag-heuer-decides-the-apple-watch-is-a-threat-after-all/).

For 2015: The Apple Watch

Apple announced in September 2014 that they will debut their first wearable device in the spring 2015. The Apple Watch will work with the iPhone as it relies on the iPhone for functions like notifications and GPS. Available in two sizes (1.6” and 1.4”) the Apple watch is all about fashion as it will be offered in six different materials and with a range of interchangeable band options.

Rumor has it that the Apple Watch will start at $349, but the price of its higher-end models could be closer to $1,000.

So, what could be the tipping point that will put an Apple Watch on every American’s wrist? Recommendations from friends, family, and reviewers will make all the difference. Right now, the price seems to be the consumer’s sticking point.

The smartwatch phenomenon may be analogous to how the Bluetooth technology emerged; once drivers realized that they could talk in their cars instead of holding their phone, people fell in love with it. It’s possible that when users realize that they can be “hands-free” and still enjoy connectivity, they may be more willing to leave their phones at home. Smartwatches can run mobile apps, offer playback of audio and video files, and also make or answer phone calls.

To get a better feel for smartwatch brands, their specifications, display type and resolutions, check out Gizmag’s 2014 Smartwatch Comparison Guide. The Apple Watch is not part of this guide only because it has not been released yet. http://www.gizmag.com/compare-best-smartwatches-2014/34880/

The pedometer: father of the now crazy-popular activity tracker.

People interested in knowing their activity levels will be attracted to the array of fitness and activity trackers that are now available, which are considered wearable technology. It’s not a magic pill, of course, because it can only motivate you to move more because it provides you with information on your activity level.

Today’s fitness trackers can measure more than the steps you take, but also can tell you how many hours you slept, how many calories you’ve consumed, and monitor your heart rate and blood pressure.

For joggers, the Fitbit Charge can accurately track the number of steps taken, the distance traveled, and the floors climbed. For golfers, the Zepp golf sensor was specifically made to analyze and improve one’s golf game. Zepp works by attaching a mount to your glove and inserting its sensor. It connects wirelessly via Bluetooth. Take a few swings with your club and analyze your stats on your mobile device.

Currently, fitness and health devices make up the vast majority of wearables sales today, and that’s likely to continue.

So are we destined to be cyborgs in 2015?

Probably not. Not the scary sci-fi cyborgs, anyway. What is certain, however, is that the interest for wearable technology will continue to increase and devices like smartwatches and fitness trackers will become even more “smarter,” more accurate, and offer more information.

So, next time this year, you may be wearing a smartwatch or an activity tracker around your wrist.