Wearable technology is any kind of electronic device designed to be worn on the user’s body. Such devices can take many different forms, including jewelry, accessories, medical devices, and clothing or elements of clothing. The term wearable computing implies processing or communications capabilities, but in reality, the sophistication among wearables can vary.
The most sophisticated examples of wearable technology include artificial intelligence (AI) hearing aids, Google Glass and Microsoft’s HoloLens, and a holographic computer in the form of a virtual reality (VR) headset. An example of a less complex form of wearable technology is a disposable skin patch with sensors that transmit patient data wirelessly to a control device in a healthcare facility.
Modern wearable technology falls under a broad spectrum of usability, including smartwatches, fitness trackers such as the Fitbit Charge, VR headsets, smart jewelry, web-enabled glasses and Bluetooth headsets. Wearables work differently, based on the category they belong to, such as health, fitness or entertainment. Predominantly, wearable technology functions by incorporating microprocessors, batteries and connectivity to the internet so the collected data can be synced with other electronics, such as mobile devices or laptops.
Wearables are embedded with built-in sensors that keep track of bodily movements, provide biometric identification or assist with location tracking. For example, activity trackers or smartwatches — the most common types of wearables — come with a strap that wraps around the user’s wrist to monitor their physical activities or vitals throughout the day.
While most wearables are either worn on the body or are attached to clothing, some function without any physical contact with the user. Cell phones, smart tags or computers can still be carried around and track user movements. Other wearables use remote smart sensors and accelerometers to track movements and speed, and some use optical sensors for measuring heart rate or glucose levels. A common factor among these technology wearables is the fact they all monitor data in real time.
Consumer electronics, such as smartwatches and fitness trackers, are prominent use cases for wearable technology. However, with the recent advancements in the internet of things (IoT) and AI, wearable technology is being incorporated into all types of scenarios — from healthcare, navigation systems, consumer goods and professional sports to advanced textiles.
The following are the most popular current and next-generation applications of wearable technology:
Epidermal skin technology. According to ScienceDaily, the Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation invented wearable electronic skin for monitoring health. A next-generation of wearables, this ultra-thin e-skin patch can be attached to the wearer’s chest area along with a small wireless transmitter by using water spray and can be worn for up to a week. It is sensitive enough to pick up and record electro signals, such as heartbeats and muscle movements, which can be sent to healthcare providers via the cloud so they can monitor the user’s vitals remotely. This powerful wearable is a steppingstone for monitoring chronic illnesses such as heart failure and diabetes.
Health monitoring. People use wearable technology to track and receive notifications for their heart rate and blood pressure, watch their calorie intake or manage their training regimens. The COVID-19 pandemic boosted the use of wearable technology, as consumers gained a broader awareness of personal hygiene and taking precautions to prevent the spread of infections. Apple, for instance, updated its Cardiogram app by introducing a new sleeping beats-per-minute feature that monitors heart rate fluctuations for COVID-19 patients.
Entertainment and gaming. The gaming and entertainment industries were the first to adopt VR headsets, smart glasses and controllers. Popular VR head-mounted displays, such as Oculus Quest, Meta Quest and Sony PlayStation VR, are used for all types of entertainment purposes, including gaming, watching movies and virtual traveling.
Fashion and smart clothing. Clothing known as smart clothing, or intelligent fashion, has been gaining wide popularity over the past few years. Smart jackets, such as Levi’s jacket made with Google’s Project Jacquard technology whose threads are composed of electrical fibers, enable the wearer to answer calls, play music or take photos right from their sleeves. Smartwatches, wristbands, smart shoes and smart jewelry are also popular examples of wearable technology.
Military. These wearables include technology that tracks soldiers’ vitals, VR-based simulation exercises and sustainability technology, such as boot inserts that estimate how well the soldiers are holding their equipment weight and how terrain factors can affect their performance.
Sports and fitness. Sports use wearable athletic devices that are either built into the fabric of the sports apparel or are incorporated into sports equipment, such as bats and balls. The GPS and Bluetooth-linked devices relay real-time data to coaches for analysis through connected electronic devices such as laptops. Besides wearable athletic devices, familiar wearable technology such as Fitbit, Apple Watch, Garmin, Samsung Galaxy Watch and Polar are used extensively to track various areas of the player’s health and performance metrics.
Common examples of wearable technology include the following:
The origins of wearable technology date back to the 13th century when eyeglasses were first invented. In the 15th century, timepieces were created — some of which were small enough to be worn — but it was not until the 1960s that modern wearable technology came into existence.
The following is a brief history showcasing the various turns wearable technology has taken over time:
Wearable technology is becoming increasingly popular and is all set to revolutionize the future. While fitness trackers, smart devices, intelligent clothing and VR and AR headsets have gained widespread approval, they are only the tip of the iceberg.
The following are some futuristic products and concepts predicted by tech experts and how they will shape wearable technology going forward:
Apple Glasses. Initial reports from Bloomberg and The Information suggest that Apple Glasses could be released by 2023. These AR smart glasses are designed to transfer information from a user’s phone to their face. These glasses will be able to synchronize with a wearer’s iPhone to display texts, emails, games and other items over the user’s field of vision.
Energy harvesting. One drawback of using wearable technology is that it must be taken off for regular charging. Energy harvesting is being researched and could prolong battery life by converting body heat, movement or solar energy into power. Piezoelectricity is one example of energy harvesting where piezoelectric ceramic can be used to convert the body vibrations produced during movement into energy.
Smart contact lenses. Nothing short of a sci-fi movie, smart contact lenses that can deliver real-time information to the human eye will be available to consumers soon. Tech giants, including Google, Mojo Vision, Samsung and Sony, are working on developing these soft electronic smart contact lenses that can sync up with smartphones or other external devices to provide real-time, hands-free information along with vision correction.
AI for the human brain. AI-integrated non-invasive sensors that help with performing functions associated with thinking are currently being developed. Facebook is developing a brain-computer interface that could enable people to type Facebook status updates by using their minds instead of typing. Elon Musk’s company Neuralink is also working on an interface that could help people who suffer from traumatic brain injuries.
Each wearable device comes with computing capabilities as well as several pros and cons. Learn about the benefits and management challenges posed by enterprise wearables.
Cisco has launched a SaaS product for applying policy controls to AI model-bound data and an Nvidia partnership to bolster Cisco …
Network engineers increasingly need to align their duties with security, such as implementing continuous monitoring, deploying …
ZTNA has grown in popularity as a method to enable remote access and mitigate security risks, but businesses can also use ZTNA to…
AI in unified communications can take employee collaboration and productivity to the next level. But AI does carry risks that …
Managed UC services offer several benefits for businesses, including improved network connections, communication software …
How can unified communications tools benefit your business? Explore these 10 unified communications benefits to make the best …
Almost half of breaches occur because of compromised credentials. Using a password manager to control how users create their IDs …
Organizations need cybersecurity governance programs that make every employee aware of the cybersecurity mitigation efforts …
Data loss prevention software is a necessity for most companies. Our guide gives you a quick overview of seven top DLP providers …
All Rights Reserved, Copyright 2003 – 2024, TechTarget
Privacy Policy
Cookie Preferences
Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information
sourceWhat is WeindiaWhat is WechinaWhat is WeusaWhat is We
CanadaWhat is WekuwaitWhat is WeAntigua and Barbuda
What is WeArgentinaWhat is WeArmenia
What is We
Australia
What is WeAustria
What is WeAustrian Empire*
Azerbaijan
What is WeBaden*
Bahamas, The
What is WeBahrain
What is WeBangladesh
What is WeBarbados
What is WeBavaria*
What is WeBelarus
What is WeBelgium
What is WeBelize
What is WeBenin (Dahomey)
What is WeBolivia
What is WeBosnia and Herzegovina
What is WeBotswana
What is WeBrazil
What is WeBrunei
What is WeBrunswick and Lüneburg*
What is WeBulgaria
What is WeBurkina Faso
What is WeBurma
What is WeBurundi
What is WeCabo Verde
What is WeCambodia
What is WeCameroon
What is WeCanada
What is WeCayman Islands, The
What is WeCentral African Republic
What is WeCentral American Federation*
What is WeChad
What is WeChile
What is WeChina
China
What is WeColombia
What is WeComoros
What is WeCongo Free State, The*
What is WeCosta Rica
What is WeCote d’Ivoire
What is WeCroatia
What is WeCuba
What is WeCyprus
What is WeCzechia
What is WeCzechoslovakia*
What is WeDemocratic Republic of the Congo
What is WeDenmark
What is WeDjibouti
What is WeDominica
What is WeDominican Republic
What is WeDuchy of Parma, The*
What is WeEast Germany German Democratic Republic*
What is WeEcuador
What is WeEgypt
What is WeEl Salvador
What is WeEquatorial Guinea
What is WeEritrea
What is WeEstonia
What is WeEswatini
What is WeEthiopia
What is WeFederal Government of Germany *
What is WeFiji
What is WeFinland
What is WeindiaWhat is WechinaWhat is WeusaWhat is We
CanadaWhat is WekuwaitWhat is WeAntigua and Barbuda
What is WeArgentinaWhat is WeArmenia
What is We
Australia
What is WeAustria
What is WeAustrian Empire*
Azerbaijan
What is WeBaden*
Bahamas, The
What is WeBahrain
What is WeBangladesh
What is WeBarbados
What is WeBavaria*
What is WeBelarus
What is WeBelgium
What is WeBelize
What is WeBenin (Dahomey)
What is WeBolivia
What is WeBosnia and Herzegovina
What is WeBotswana
What is WeBrazil
What is WeBrunei
What is WeBrunswick and Lüneburg*
What is WeBulgaria
What is WeBurkina Faso (Upper Volta)
What is WeBurma
What is WeBurundi
What is WeCabo Verde
What is WeCambodia
What is WeCameroon
What is WeCanada
What is WeCayman Islands, The
What is WeCentral African Republic
What is WeCentral American Federation*
What is WeChad
What is WeChile
What is WeChina
China
What is WeColombia
What is WeComoros
What is WeCongo Free State, The*
What is WeCosta Rica
What is WeCote d’Ivoire
What is WeCroatia
What is WeCuba
What is WeCyprus
What is WeCzechia
What is WeCzechoslovakia*
What is WeDemocratic Republic of the Congo
What is WeDenmark
What is WeDjibouti
What is WeDominica
What is WeDominican Republic
What is WeDuchy of Parma, The*
What is WeEast Germany
What is WeEcuador
What is WeEgypt
What is WeEl Salvador
What is WeEquatorial Guinea
What is WeEritrea
What is WeEstonia
What is WeEswatini
What is WeEthiopia
What is WeFederal Government of Germany *
What is WeFiji
What is WeFinland
Wearable technology is any kind of electronic device designed to be worn on the user’s body. Such devices can take many different forms, including jewelry, accessories, medical devices, and clothing or elements of clothing. The term wearable computing implies processing or communications capabilities, but in reality, the sophistication among wearables can vary.
The most sophisticated examples of wearable technology include artificial intelligence (AI) hearing aids, Google Glass and Microsoft’s HoloLens, and a holographic computer in the form of a virtual reality (VR) headset. An example of a less complex form of wearable technology is a disposable skin patch with sensors that transmit patient data wirelessly to a control device in a healthcare facility.
Modern wearable technology falls under a broad spectrum of usability, including smartwatches, fitness trackers such as the Fitbit Charge, VR headsets, smart jewelry, web-enabled glasses and Bluetooth headsets. Wearables work differently, based on the category they belong to, such as health, fitness or entertainment. Predominantly, wearable technology functions by incorporating microprocessors, batteries and connectivity to the internet so the collected data can be synced with other electronics, such as mobile devices or laptops.
Wearables are embedded with built-in sensors that keep track of bodily movements, provide biometric identification or assist with location tracking. For example, activity trackers or smartwatches — the most common types of wearables — come with a strap that wraps around the user’s wrist to monitor their physical activities or vitals throughout the day.
While most wearables are either worn on the body or are attached to clothing, some function without any physical contact with the user. Cell phones, smart tags or computers can still be carried around and track user movements. Other wearables use remote smart sensors and accelerometers to track movements and speed, and some use optical sensors for measuring heart rate or glucose levels. A common factor among these technology wearables is the fact they all monitor data in real time.
Consumer electronics, such as smartwatches and fitness trackers, are prominent use cases for wearable technology. However, with the recent advancements in the internet of things (IoT) and AI, wearable technology is being incorporated into all types of scenarios — from healthcare, navigation systems, consumer goods and professional sports to advanced textiles.
The following are the most popular current and next-generation applications of wearable technology:
Epidermal skin technology. According to ScienceDaily, the Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation invented wearable electronic skin for monitoring health. A next-generation of wearables, this ultra-thin e-skin patch can be attached to the wearer’s chest area along with a small wireless transmitter by using water spray and can be worn for up to a week. It is sensitive enough to pick up and record electro signals, such as heartbeats and muscle movements, which can be sent to healthcare providers via the cloud so they can monitor the user’s vitals remotely. This powerful wearable is a steppingstone for monitoring chronic illnesses such as heart failure and diabetes.
Health monitoring. People use wearable technology to track and receive notifications for their heart rate and blood pressure, watch their calorie intake or manage their training regimens. The COVID-19 pandemic boosted the use of wearable technology, as consumers gained a broader awareness of personal hygiene and taking precautions to prevent the spread of infections. Apple, for instance, updated its Cardiogram app by introducing a new sleeping beats-per-minute feature that monitors heart rate fluctuations for COVID-19 patients.
Entertainment and gaming. The gaming and entertainment industries were the first to adopt VR headsets, smart glasses and controllers. Popular VR head-mounted displays, such as Oculus Quest, Meta Quest and Sony PlayStation VR, are used for all types of entertainment purposes, including gaming, watching movies and virtual traveling.
Fashion and smart clothing. Clothing known as smart clothing, or intelligent fashion, has been gaining wide popularity over the past few years. Smart jackets, such as Levi’s jacket made with Google’s Project Jacquard technology whose threads are composed of electrical fibers, enable the wearer to answer calls, play music or take photos right from their sleeves. Smartwatches, wristbands, smart shoes and smart jewelry are also popular examples of wearable technology.
Military. These wearables include technology that tracks soldiers’ vitals, VR-based simulation exercises and sustainability technology, such as boot inserts that estimate how well the soldiers are holding their equipment weight and how terrain factors can affect their performance.
Sports and fitness. Sports use wearable athletic devices that are either built into the fabric of the sports apparel or are incorporated into sports equipment, such as bats and balls. The GPS and Bluetooth-linked devices relay real-time data to coaches for analysis through connected electronic devices such as laptops. Besides wearable athletic devices, familiar wearable technology such as Fitbit, Apple Watch, Garmin, Samsung Galaxy Watch and Polar are used extensively to track various areas of the player’s health and performance metrics.
Common examples of wearable technology include the following:
The origins of wearable technology date back to the 13th century when eyeglasses were first invented. In the 15th century, timepieces were created — some of which were small enough to be worn — but it was not until the 1960s that modern wearable technology came into existence.
The following is a brief history showcasing the various turns wearable technology has taken over time:
Wearable technology is becoming increasingly popular and is all set to revolutionize the future. While fitness trackers, smart devices, intelligent clothing and VR and AR headsets have gained widespread approval, they are only the tip of the iceberg.
The following are some futuristic products and concepts predicted by tech experts and how they will shape wearable technology going forward:
Apple Glasses. Initial reports from Bloomberg and The Information suggest that Apple Glasses could be released by 2023. These AR smart glasses are designed to transfer information from a user’s phone to their face. These glasses will be able to synchronize with a wearer’s iPhone to display texts, emails, games and other items over the user’s field of vision.
Energy harvesting. One drawback of using wearable technology is that it must be taken off for regular charging. Energy harvesting is being researched and could prolong battery life by converting body heat, movement or solar energy into power. Piezoelectricity is one example of energy harvesting where piezoelectric ceramic can be used to convert the body vibrations produced during movement into energy.
Smart contact lenses. Nothing short of a sci-fi movie, smart contact lenses that can deliver real-time information to the human eye will be available to consumers soon. Tech giants, including Google, Mojo Vision, Samsung and Sony, are working on developing these soft electronic smart contact lenses that can sync up with smartphones or other external devices to provide real-time, hands-free information along with vision correction.
AI for the human brain. AI-integrated non-invasive sensors that help with performing functions associated with thinking are currently being developed. Facebook is developing a brain-computer interface that could enable people to type Facebook status updates by using their minds instead of typing. Elon Musk’s company Neuralink is also working on an interface that could help people who suffer from traumatic brain injuries.
Each wearable device comes with computing capabilities as well as several pros and cons. Learn about the benefits and management challenges posed by enterprise wearables.
Cisco has launched a SaaS product for applying policy controls to AI model-bound data and an Nvidia partnership to bolster Cisco …
Network engineers increasingly need to align their duties with security, such as implementing continuous monitoring, deploying …
ZTNA has grown in popularity as a method to enable remote access and mitigate security risks, but businesses can also use ZTNA to…
AI in unified communications can take employee collaboration and productivity to the next level. But AI does carry risks that …
Managed UC services offer several benefits for businesses, including improved network connections, communication software …
How can unified communications tools benefit your business? Explore these 10 unified communications benefits to make the best …
Almost half of breaches occur because of compromised credentials. Using a password manager to control how users create their IDs …
Organizations need cybersecurity governance programs that make every employee aware of the cybersecurity mitigation efforts …
Data loss prevention software is a necessity for most companies. Our guide gives you a quick overview of seven top DLP providers …
All Rights Reserved, Copyright 2003 – 2024, TechTarget
Privacy Policy
Cookie Preferences
Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information
sourceWhat is WeindiaWhat is WechinaWhat is WeusaWhat is We
CanadaWhat is WekuwaitWhat is WeAntigua and Barbuda
What is WeArgentinaWhat is WeArmenia
What is We
Australia
What is WeAustria
What is WeAustrian Empire*
Azerbaijan
What is WeBaden*
Bahamas, The
What is WeBahrain
What is WeBangladesh
What is WeBarbados
What is WeBavaria*
What is WeBelarus
What is WeBelgium
What is WeBelize
What is WeBenin (Dahomey)
What is WeBolivia
What is WeBosnia and Herzegovina
What is WeBotswana
What is WeBrazil
What is WeBrunei
What is WeBrunswick and Lüneburg*
What is WeBulgaria
What is WeBurkina Faso
What is WeBurma
What is WeBurundi
What is WeCabo Verde
What is WeCambodia
What is WeCameroon
What is WeCanada
What is WeCayman Islands, The
What is WeCentral African Republic
What is WeCentral American Federation*
What is WeChad
What is WeChile
What is WeChina
China
What is WeColombia
What is WeComoros
What is WeCongo Free State, The*
What is WeCosta Rica
What is WeCote d’Ivoire
What is WeCroatia
What is WeCuba
What is WeCyprus
What is WeCzechia
What is WeCzechoslovakia*
What is WeDemocratic Republic of the Congo
What is WeDenmark
What is WeDjibouti
What is WeDominica
What is WeDominican Republic
What is WeDuchy of Parma, The*
What is WeEast Germany German Democratic Republic*
What is WeEcuador
What is WeEgypt
What is WeEl Salvador
What is WeEquatorial Guinea
What is WeEritrea
What is WeEstonia
What is WeEswatini
What is WeEthiopia
What is WeFederal Government of Germany *
What is WeFiji
What is WeFinland
What is WeindiaWhat is WechinaWhat is WeusaWhat is We
CanadaWhat is WekuwaitWhat is WeAntigua and Barbuda
What is WeArgentinaWhat is WeArmenia
What is We
Australia
What is WeAustria
What is WeAustrian Empire*
Azerbaijan
What is WeBaden*
Bahamas, The
What is WeBahrain
What is WeBangladesh
What is WeBarbados
What is WeBavaria*
What is WeBelarus
What is WeBelgium
What is WeBelize
What is WeBenin (Dahomey)
What is WeBolivia
What is WeBosnia and Herzegovina
What is WeBotswana
What is WeBrazil
What is WeBrunei
What is WeBrunswick and Lüneburg*
What is WeBulgaria
What is WeBurkina Faso (Upper Volta)
What is WeBurma
What is WeBurundi
What is WeCabo Verde
What is WeCambodia
What is WeCameroon
What is WeCanada
What is WeCayman Islands, The
What is WeCentral African Republic
What is WeCentral American Federation*
What is WeChad
What is WeChile
What is WeChina
China
What is WeColombia
What is WeComoros
What is WeCongo Free State, The*
What is WeCosta Rica
What is WeCote d’Ivoire
What is WeCroatia
What is WeCuba
What is WeCyprus
What is WeCzechia
What is WeCzechoslovakia*
What is WeDemocratic Republic of the Congo
What is WeDenmark
What is WeDjibouti
What is WeDominica
What is WeDominican Republic
What is WeDuchy of Parma, The*
What is WeEast Germany
What is WeEcuador
What is WeEgypt
What is WeEl Salvador
What is WeEquatorial Guinea
What is WeEritrea
What is WeEstonia
What is WeEswatini
What is WeEthiopia
What is WeFederal Government of Germany *
What is WeFiji
What is WeFinland
Comments
Post a Comment