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Wearables offer people exactly what they need – a gadget that processes requests similar to smartphones without blurring the interface between the user and the device.
Earlier this year, Gartner said that worldwide sales of wearable technologies will grow by 18.4% this year and will generate $28.7 billion in revenue.
While smartwatches have been around on the market for some time now, its adoption is some way behind smartphones as many consider them as more of an accessory than a necessity.
“Though the sales of smartwatches are the one of the strongest types of wearables, their adoption will remain much below sales of smartphones,” said Angela McIntyre, research director at Gartner.
However, the next wave of wearables is set to change the industry, as new technologies offer far better ways of collecting data and heightened processing power than recent devices. Read on below to find out more about the next generation of wearables.
Focused On Specific Health Needs
The next wave of wearable devices will be focused on assisting users with specific medical needs. Today’s smartwatches and fitness bands are able to read user’s real-time basic health details, but soon, these gadgets will be able to offer more in-depth medical data that can assist specific patients and physicians. Google has been working on their smart lens that can monitor blood sugar levels and correct user’s vision. There is also a crowdfunded wearable called ‘Empatica’ that assists people with epilepsy by informing their family when the user is having a seizure while monitoring their condition through a paired mobile app. Data taken from these devices will be vital for doctors, as it makes the patient observation process efficient and effective.
Rugged and Water-resistant
One feature that is expected on the next wave of wearables is waterproofing. While many fitness bands are already built with this characteristic, the rugged feature will be extended to other kinds of wearables, too. Even the latest smartphones are now adding this layer of protection, such as the iPhone 7 with its IP67 splash-proof certification, according to O2. Its paired wearable, the Apple Watch Series 2, has been tested to withstand 50-meters of water exposure and has been dubbed “swim proof.”
The Bragi Dash earbuds are also creating buzz, as these are the world’s first wireless smart earphones. IFL Science! reported that users can wear them while they are swimming.
Implanted Technology
We are aware that this sounds like something straight out of a sci-fi film, but implantable wearable technology has been tested by experts to see its full potential. There are different possible forms of embedded technology currently out there, from chips implanted in skin to 3D smart organs. So far, the ‘cyber pill’ has been well documented online. It is made from sensors that track user’s vitals and provide more medical needs to patients. Proteus has been testing the idea of cyber pills with microprocessors that send a text message to doctors to inform them about the patient’s health status. There is also PillCam that can track the patient’s health and by being able to navigate through their intestinal track. The technology received clearance in 2014, so it is still relatively new.
Photo Credit: Pixabay
