Over the years, technology has increasingly become everywhere in our day-to-day lives. Some people try to avoid too much interaction with it, while others can’t seem to get enough. One of the big trends in technology is giving us even more day-to-day tech interaction — and that is wearable tech.
Some of the most popular wearable technology — and something you probably see on yourself or other people every day — are smartwatches. Apple, Samsung, Fossil and Nixon are only a few of the many companies producing this wearable technology. Smartwatches, like the ones made by Samsung, can be connected to either an Android or iOS smartphone and have countless functions.
The Samsung Galaxy watches can all deliver phone notifications such as calls, text messages and other app-push notifications. These watches can change to multiple different digital faces that all look like a regular mechanical watch, so you’re able to keep the old-school watch feel if you’re more traditional.
Higher-end models of the Samsung smartwatches are water-resistant up to 50 meters, have a battery that can last days on a single charge and have a built-in microphone and speakers. At a starting price of $189, these Samsung Galaxy watches offer a high-tech experience at a much more affordable price than Apple’s cheapest model, which runs $399.
Another wearable-tech item that has blown up over the past two years is wireless headphones. The clear leader of this trend is Apple with its AirPods. These fully wireless headphones have become a daily necessity to those who have them. With their industry-leading five hours of listening time and three hours of talk time, users of AirPods are almost never without them hanging in their ears.
AirPods have become more than just headphones; they have become a status symbol for millennials and the younger generations. Apple’s AirPods have become so successful that fashion sites like ASOS are selling non-functioning AirPod look-a-likes. This craze is reflected in Apple Wearable’s most recent third quarter, which had $5.5 billion in net sales. So, while the product itself may not be the most advanced piece of technology, its influence beyond its functions is beyond impressive.
Moving just slightly from the ears to the eyes brings us to the next item of wearable tech — Snapchat spectacles. This wearable technology is sunglasses with high-definition cameras on each side. These spectacles give your Snapchat images and videos an HD first-person view.
The sunglasses can capture images and videos with the push of a button and the content can be stored on the glasses' 4G flash storage. The internal storage can hold up to 150 videos or 3,000 images. You can also export everything directly to your phone and have it easily uploaded to your Snapchat. The sunglasses are water-resistant and can be worn around the beach or pool, capturing all your fun events.
The newest version coming out, Spectacles 3, will feature dual HD cameras capturing depth and dimension, allowing for 3D filters and photos. You’ll be able to record video with 3D filters as well, increasing the creativity opportunity for every Snapchat you take. The glasses aren’t just cameras. Spectacles 3 are built with a four-microphone array. Snapchat Spectacles are made for entertainment and creative use. They are not made for enhancing a work environment or helping employees. Luckily, Google has created some smart glasses that do just that.
Google Glass is basically a hands-free computer that sits on your face like glasses. Every model of Glass has a transparent heads-up display, much like a fighter pilot uses. The Glass Enterprise edition is created to improve the quality of a company’s output by helping its employees work smarter, faster and safer. These smart glasses are voice- and gesture-activated and designed to be worn all day.
Google created these to increase efficiency — and they have done just that. Since implementing Glass Enterprise- edition smart glasses into their production, agricultural equipment manufacturer AGCO has seen a 25 percent reduction in production time on low-volume, complex assemblies. This success story is not unique. Freight company DHL saw 15 percent greater operational efficiency on average, GE had results of 34 percent increased efficiency in its top-box wiring process and doctors at Suttor Health saved an average of two hours per day — all thanks to Google Glass Enterprise smartglasses.
While all of these advancements are impressive, what is really interesting is to look at what wearable tech is and where it came from. Essentially, it is all of the tech we have come to know and use, applied in a more convenient delivery system. For example, Snapchat became an app that everyone is familiar with, then shortly after, wearable tech came out to make it easier to use.
All of this wearable tech is only the beginning. Pretty soon companies like Elon Musk’s Neuralink will be converting wearable tech into tech that can be integrated into the human body. Just like wearable tech took technology and made it easier to use, implantable tech will take wearable tech and, well, implant it.
So, the next time you see some wearable tech, ask yourself, “How is this going to evolve next?”
Bahar Ferguson is president of Wasatch I.T., a Utah provider of outsourced IT services for small and medium-sized businesses.