Wearable Technology: transforming the nature of communication & the future
Wearable technology, also known as wearables, is a category of electronic devices that can be worn in different ways. Over the years these wearable devices have become very popular and the industry has increasingly grown. Most wearables are worn as accessories around the wrist, attached to clothing, implanted in the body, or even worn around the chest area. There are some very common wearable technologies such as smart watches or Virtual Reality gaming systems but there are multiple wearable devices used in the healthcare industry as well. This new industry of technology has transformed the way we communicate and changed the idea of what our future lives can look like as these devices advance.
Smart watches are probably the most common wearable technology devices on the market right now. These devices have changed the way we communicate, some say they allow us to not communicate at all. Smart watches allow you to reply to text messages, answer phone calls, access apps, and receive notifications without even touching or looking at your smartphone. Due to easy accessibility the time to complete these simple tasks is significantly decreasing. Some believe that these wearable devices are causing an increase in less time being spent to communicate face to face. However, wearables are providing a new kind of community connection by allowing people to support one another through their devices. Fitbit and Apple Watches record fitness progress and allow users to share their activity or fitness goals with each other. There are ways in which this technology is causing a negative impact on communication with people decreasing their face to face communication but wearables are also allowing groups and communities to come together and with this new form of “easier” communication it allows people to respond and interact faster.
In addition, it is predicted that wearable technology will only continue to grow and populate more than it already has. GFC global states that companies are naturally finding new and innovative ways to apply wearables to our everyday lives. There is also belief that wearable technology will begin to become less visible as the industry continues to grow. Instead of smartwatches having the “fitness” look to them devices will start to look more like jewelry and have a classier “look”. One of the main issues/concerns with wearables, smartwatches specifically, is the battery life. The battery life on these wearable devices is not long so developers are beginning to try to find an alternative to this concern. One method that has been mentioned is energy harvesting, which allows one’s body heat, solar energy, or even movement to be converted into power. If this issue is eliminated, it allows wearables to become even more popular than they already are. Fitbits and Apple Watches have gained a lot of popularity because of their usage in the fitness industry, but a lot of companies and developers are trying to create wearable devices that monitor or even solve medical problems. Safety is also a huge consideration in the future of wearable technology. Developers are finding new innovative ways to not only create amazing technology but also include safety as a factor. There has been one development of smart glasses created by Dan Eisenhardt specifically for cyclists to wear when riding. These smart glasses allow cyclists to receive incoming notifications, view the map, voice text, and answer phone calls without taking their hands of the handle bars. When wearing these glasses all you must do when trying to activate the device is look upwards and a screen pops up, when you are done you look back down and the screen disappears so you have a clearer view of the road or trail in front of you.
One of the craziest wearable devices that has been created and intrigues me about the future for this technology is microchip implants. People are beginning to get “chips” implanted into the skin around their hand that allows them to unlock doors into and in their home. There is even a new development in smart tattoos. You can get a tattoo of a QR code and scan it with your smart phone to open the link or site. The future of wearable technology is scary yet exciting.
Wearable devices are changing the way we communicate in both positive and negative ways. With the ability to communicate to someone, who is not physically with you, in seconds can allow people to increase their communication but could also decrease their face-to-face social interactions. The future of this technology is very intriguing. With technology in general continuing to grow, it makes it difficult to not use some kind of technology everyday especially technology like wearables.
