You may laugh at friends who are pretentious (and rich) enough to flaunt Google Glass, but Forbes
has already proclaimed 2014 as The Year of Wearable Technology. The
sensors and computing power we've become accustomed to in our
smartphones has finally shifted to body-worn devices. Wearable tech has
changed the way we work, play and socialize; in many ways, its enhanced
every aspect of society.
A recent survey
by Rackspace and CAST revealed that half of the British public has
privacy concerns with wearable technology such as Google Glass, but 71%
of those already wearing similar gadgets feel that they have enhanced
their life. Early adopters of wearable tech remain overwhelmingly
positive about them.
What’s powering the wearable technology revolution? Cloud computing.
It allows the data generated by such devices to be captured, analysed
and made readily accessible whenever users need it. From stretchable
microchip "tattoos" and fitness-tracking bracelets to computerized wigs
that can lead the blind – here’s our top ten of the most cutting-edge
wearable gadgets around today.
GOOGLE GLASS
No matter how much you might hate ‘em, Google did
it first. At its most basic level, Glass syncs with email, text
messages, Facebook, Twitter, as well as taking photos, recording movies,
and providing location info and directions. At its most advanced, there
are applications in the works that include medical diagnostics and
augmented reality gaming. There’ve already been surgeries streamed from
Glass to medical students for educational purposes. That said, Glass
needs a lot more apps before it earns its hefty $1,500 price. Remember,
the real utility of the iPhone comes from its apps, not its slick
exterior.
SONY SMARTWIG
Don’t be surprised if you spot a SmartWig on
the runway soon. Or the high streets, for that matter. Marketed as an
"inconspicuous" smartgadget and a hair accessory in one, it's basically a
wearable computing device that includes a laser pointer, shock device,
and an interface that is able to communicate with and transmit info from
other devices. Besides potentially revolutionizing Fashion Week,
SmartWigs might also help the blind to navigate their way via GPS and
wi-fi "vibration commands." The gaming industry is also interested in
the hairpiece as a virtual reality type of appliance. Just think of
daily "wig-to-wig communications" with your besties, in an endless
choice of horse hair, human hair, wool, feathers, yak hair, buffalo hair
or any kind of synthetic material. We can’t wait to see what Lady
Gaga’s will look like.
MC10 BIOSTAMP
The BioStamp is start-up MC10’s
first flexible computing prototype – "flexible" being the operative
word. It’s a collection of sensors that can be applied to the skin like a
Band-Aid or, because it’s even thinner than that, a temporary tattoo. MC10’s
BioStamp could be used to verify a person’s identity to a computer or
mobile device. Users now rely on key chain fobs or credit-card-size
displays that authenticate a user’s access. Even better, the BioStamp can
be worn constantly (each lasts about two weeks), which changes the
nature of medical diagnosis. The sensors within collect data such as
body temperature, heart rate, brain activity, and exposure to
ultraviolet radiation.
The Biostamp can be applied to skin like a Band-Aid
NIKE FUELBAND SE
You’re probably already familiar with the stylish easy-to-use FuelBand, Nike's break-through foray in fitness trackers. So how is the new FuelBand SE better? Well, it can’t make you
go for a run or swim, but besides providing water-resistance, with more
accurate sensors this time round, it might motivate you to burn more
fuel points on your lo-fi LED display. There’s also the niftily added
Bluetooth LE, which enables the band to constantly sync with your
iPhone, rather than having to manually update it – which everyone knows,
can be like, such a pain.
STICK N FIND
When tech gets slap-sticker-happy with pets and children, you know
it's gone mainstream. And that's precisely the case with the
conveniently (if not somewhat cheesily) branded Stick N Find – circular
stickers about the width of a few 10p coins, that send you an alert
just in case your tagged cat or child wanders off. Designed to be used
with a smartphone app which shows a radar image covering a 200ft (61m)
radius, Stick N Find contains
a Bluetooth chip, temperature sensor and battery. Co-founder Jimmy
Buchheim claims the innovation was inspired by an incident involving his
eldest daughter.
SKULLY P1 HELMET
Strictly for those who live life in the fast lane, Skully P1 is
also the world’s most intelligent heads-up display (HUD) motorcycle
helmet with GPS navigation, a Bluetooth chip and a 180° rearview camera.
This vertically-integrated device was built on the belief that
intuitive wearable technology design could not only make people safer,
but also enhance their experience of the world. So feel free to slip on
a Skully, and let 'er rip, Easy Rider-style.
JAWBONE
In our self-obsessed age, there’s something terribly seductive about
using your body like a computer, complete with live biometric feed. And
that’s exactly what Jawbone promises, with its tagline "the app that’s all about you." Its latest UP24 wristbands
are designed to wirelessly track your movement and sleep, and sync your
data in the background using Bluetooth. The app itself displays your
data, lets you add things like mood and meals ("You’re hydrated!"),
while delivering insights ("1,000 steps!") that keep you moving
forward.
Jawbone tracks your sleep and movement
RECONJET SPORTS GLASSES
Giving Google Glass a run for its money, Canada-based ReconInstruments has revealed the Recon Jet,
which combines sunglasses with a heads-up display designed specifically
for sports. Recon Jet is essentially an upgraded model of the alpine
goggle technology that's been fixed to a pair of polarized sports
sunglasses. The Jet's onboard GPS, accelerometer, gyroscope,
magnetometer, thermometer, altimeter and barometer together can put
together a ton of information, but it can also pair with other wireless
sensors to report heart rate, power meters and cadence for cyclists.
SMARTWATCHES
While Samsung Galaxy Gear’s
is probably the most publically visible smartwatch, Pebble is the real
crowd favorite. It set a new Kickstarter record while still in the
concept phase, and its popularity has not waned a tad since. And why
not? Water-resistant Pebble is clever enough to tap into your day-to-day activities such as Gmail and track your footsteps. While both Galaxy Gear and Pebble act as wearable info companions to your smartphone, Italy’s Exetech XS-3 seeks
to pack everything into one watch-like device. Thanks to an included
touchscreen, GPS, and Wi-Fi, you too can enjoy a 007-worthy moment, and
make and take calls from your XS-3-strapped wrist.
The Galaxy Gear is the best-known smartwatch around
SCREENEYE X SPORTS VISOR
Is German engineering in decline? O-synce, the team behind Screeneye X,
don’t think so. Their sports visor flaunts a built-in display that
shows two numbers in green in the style of a digital watch. These can be
set to represent a runner's speed, heart rate, lap time, distance
travelled, or other data measured by sensors connected to the visor by a
radio link. You can then use this data to compare your performance to
your friends' and anyone who has done the same routes.
0 Reviews