Wearable Technology

What is Wearable Technology?

The terms “wearable technology”, “wearable devices”, and “wearables” all refer to electronic technologies or computers that are incorporated into items of clothing and accessories which can comfortably be worn on the body.

So wearable technology can perform many of the same computing tasks as mobile phones and laptop computers. In some cases, wearable technology can outperform these hand-held devices entirely. Wearable technology tends to be more sophisticated than hand-held technology on the market today because it can provide sensory and scanning features such as biofeedback and tracking of physiological function. Examples of wearable Technology: watches, glasses, contact lenses, e-textiles and smart fabrics, headbands, jewellery such as rings, bracelets, and hearing aid-like devices that are designed to look like earrings.

Wearable Technology characteristics

Has some form of communications capability.

Will allow the wearer access to information in real time.

Has data-input capabilities.

Has local storage capabilities.

What is Wearable Technology?

More invasive versions of the concept are implanted devices such as micro-chips or even smart tattoos. The purpose of wearable technology is to create constant, convenient, seamless, portable, and mostly hands-free access to electronics and computers.

Benefits of Wearable Technology

Recent surveys suggest that the perceived benefits are:

Improved safety: Ninety percent of consumers expressed that the ability for parents to keep children safe via wearable technology is important.

Healthier living: More than 80 percent of consumers listed eating healthier, exercising smarter and accessing more convenient medical care as important benefits of wearable technology.

Simplicity & ease of use: Eighty-three [percent] of respondents cited simplification and improved ease of technology as a key benefit of wearable technology.

Wearable Tech a Timeline (1961 to 1989)
Wearable Tech a Timeline (1990 – 2014)
Uses of Wearable Technology Applications

Wearable technology can be embedded in smart glasses and can used in many ways, for example:

Google Glass have begun shipping.

Pebble Smart Watch begins shipping.

Sony, Samsung, Apple and Qualcomm launch new smart watches.

Microsoft files patent for smart glass technology.

Continuous, light-based heart rate monitoring enters sports market.

Uses of Wearable Tech

Fitness and Wellness

Devices which pass the two tests of wearable technology and are used in the monitoring of activity and emotions.

Healthcare and Medical

Devices which pass the two tests of wearable technology and require FDA or equivalent approval. They are used in monitoring of vital signs, as well as for augmenting senses.

Industrial and Military

Devices that pass the two tests of wearable technology and receive/transmit real-time data in military and/or industrial environments.

Infotainment

Devices that pass the two tests of wearable technology and are used to receive and transmit real-time information for entertainment or enhanced lifestyle purposes.
Uses of Wearable Tech trends

Wearable Tech: Key Enabling Technology

Components of MEMS

Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems, or MEMS, is a technology that in its most general form can be defined as miniaturized mechanical and electro-mechanical elements (i.e., devices and structures) that are made using the techniques of microfabrication.

🔗 http://www.memsnet.org/mems/what_is.html

Uses of Wearable Tech – Application vs Product Categories
Application	Product Categories
Healthcare and Medical	Blood Pressure MonitorsInsulin Pumps Continuous Glucose MonitoringSmart Glasses DefibrillatorsPatches Drug Delivery ProductsPers ECG MonitorsPulse Oximetry Hearing Aids
Fitness and Wellness	Activity Monitors Sleep Sensors Emotional MeasurementSmart Glasses Fitness & Heart Rate Monitors Smart Clothing Foot Pods & PedometersSmart Watches Heads-up DisplaysOther, Audio Earbuds
Infotainment	Bluetooth Headsets Heads-up Displays Imaging Products Smart Glasses Smart Watches
Industrial	Hand-worn Terminals Heads-up Display Smart Clothing Smart Glasses
Military	Hand-worn Terminals Heads-up Display Smart Clothing

Wearable Tech-Sports

Uses

Track Performance

Reduce/Prevent injury

Tech

ECG

Accelerometers

Gyroscopes

GPS

GSR

Product

Nike +

Adidas miCoach

FuleBand

GPSports
Wearable Tech – Protection

Uses

Emergency Services

Military

MotorSports

Tech

Temperature Sensors

Heart rate (ECG)

Accelerometers

GPS

Gyroscopes

Sp02

Product

Hovding

Fibretronic

...
Wearable Tech – Fashion

Uses

Push Notifications

Advertising

Tech

LEDs

Heating

Conductive Yarns

Embedded Controls

Product

*Watch

Fibretronic

...
Wearable Tech - Health

Uses

Track Activity Levels

Track Sleep

Maintain Health

Tech

ECG

Accelerometers

Gyroscopes

GPS

GSR

EEG

Blood Glucose

Product

ZEO Sleep monitor

Jaebone

FitBit

...
Wearable Tech - Military
Market value for Wearable Technology devices between 2010 and 2018
Market shipment graph for Wearable Technology worldwide in millions1

1-🔗 http://www.statista.com/statistics/302684/wearable-devices-shipments-worldwide-by-category/
References

William Burns, University of Ulster

Tehrani, Kiana, and Andrew Michael. “Wearable Technology and Wearable Devices: Everything You Need to Know.” Wearable Devices Magazine, WearableDevices.com, March 2014.

Mashable, (2014). The History of Wearable Tech, From the Casino to the Consumer. [online] Available at: 🔗 http://mashable.com/2014/05/13/wearable-technology-history/ [Accessed 19 Nov. 2014].

Arion McNicoll, f. (2014). Digital tattoos, mind-reading headphones: The shape of things to come?. [online] CNN. Available at: 🔗 http://edition.cnn.com/2013/05/02/tech/innovation/future-of-design/ [Accessed 19 Nov. 2014].

Beechamresearch.com, (2014). Wearable Technology Application Chart :: Beecham Research. [online] Available at: 🔗 http://www.beechamresearch.com/article.aspx?id=20 [Accessed 19 Nov. 2014].

Wearable Technology – Market Assessment. (2013). 1st ed. [pdf] www.ihs.com. Available at: 🔗 https://ihsmarkit.com/products/wearable-technology-report.html [Accessed 19 Nov. 2014].

Memsnet.org, (2014). What is MEMS Technology?. [online] Available at: 🔗 http://www.memsnet.org/mems/what_is.html [Accessed 19 Nov. 2014].