In the impossible scenarioя, that a person who died in the mid-20th century comes back to life, they would be dumbfounded if you told them that people now wear watches whose primary function isn’t just telling time. Outside the good-ole functionality of telling time, watches or smartwatches, to be more specific, today serve as smaller versions of smartphones or tablets thanks to their advanced processing power.
Smartwatches can make and receive calls, send texts and emails, schedule appointments, and, more importantly, offer a variety of incredible health and fitness-related apps. What’s more, the mobile games that many of us enjoy on smartphones and tablets, from role-playing games to iGaming games like Big Bass Splash featured on licensed sites like Vegas Casino, have also gained popularity on smartwatches. That’s why the world of wearable technology is so interesting, and it doesn’t just end with smartwatches.
Wearable devices have now become the norm and have taken up integral positions in our day-to-day lives. From fitness trackers to Google Glass and Microsoft’s HoloLens, the future is indeed bright when it comes to wearable tech. And with this technology poised to make greater strides, here are some of the most incredible innovations in the wearable gadgets scene.
Augmented Reality Devices
Augmented reality (AR) devices are really taking off and are finally getting the recognition that their older siblings, virtual reality devices, have been receiving. These devices enable the overlay of digital information from the digital world to the real world in a seamless manner.
And even though AR technology probably has more potential than VR, it is less understood by many. Augmented reality devices feature sensors such as lidars and cameras that help users access the wealth of information in real time, enhancing their everyday experiences. Some of the most popular types of AR devices currently on the market include:
- Holographic Display Headsets: These overlay three-dimensional holograms to the real-world environment of a user to project a mixed-reality image via light diffraction. E.g., Microsoft HoloLens;
- Heads-up Displays (HUDs): Transparent displays presenting data to a screen before a user’s eyes to prevent users from looking away from the current viewpoint. HUDs are common in modern car windshields to display routes and locations;
- Smart Glasses: They are computerized glasses that introduce additional information, often 3D images and animation to overlay the real-world scene of the wearer. E.g., Vuzix M100, Lenovo ThinkReality A3, and Google Glass Explorer Edition;
- Handheld AR: Incorporates installed apps on devices such as smartphones and tablets to assist in accessing AR environments. E.g., playing Pokémon Go and interacting with virtual furniture models on the IKEA app;
- AR/VR Headsets/Glasses: Like handheld AR, these give users access to AR environments via a wired or wireless connection to mobile devices, computers, and gaming consoles. E.g., Oculus Quest 2, HTC Vive Cosmos Elite, and Sony PlayStation VR.
Biometric Sensors
With advancements in technology related to wearable technology, biometric sensors are stepping up to take the forefront, especially when it comes to the medical field. There are biometric sensors in the market that can monitor heart rates and blood pressure and even monitor the quality of sleep you have.
As the biometric sensor constantly monitors these and more physical parameters, users will get an overall understanding of their well-being and vital health conditions. This data is not only useful to the users of the sensor but it can also be shared with medical experts who can offer vital medical advice based on the data obtained from biometric sensors.
Smart Jewelry
In the age of technological advancement, jewelry doesn’t merely serve the purpose of aesthetics. Rather, there is smart jewelry that serves many interesting purposes. For example, a smart earring could track your heart rate, body temperature, and blood oxygen levels to provide vital health statistics. The concept of mood rings has also been employed, where a ring studies your physiology and based on these findings, will inform the world of your mood.
Smart Clothing
Besides smartwatches and jewelry, the range of options available when it comes to wearable tech is constantly expanding. Wearable clothes are already under development, but they still aren’t as advanced as other types of wearable technology. That said, smart clothing can be used in cases such as:
- Monitoring pilot or driver fatigue;
- Acquiring data in sports training;
- Kevlar vests to monitor a bullet’s impact on the wearer;
- Keep tabs on the vitals of persons working with hazardous materials;
- General health and fitness applications for wearers.
What Does the Future Hold?
The future of wearable technology holds incredible promise. Rather than just looking cool and fashionable, gadgets are expected to transform our lives more than they have already done today. However, as fantastic as they are, developers must be mindful enough not to cross any boundaries that may jeopardize a user’s privacy. Policymakers should also be on high alert to ensure user protection and privacy are a priority in all these incredible applications.
