Wearable Technologies: An Academic Discussion

For the moment, wearables are extensions of our smart phones and phablets offering a set amount of capabilities that are inferior to our smart devices but highly functional as they are currently designed. With innovations through miniaturization and improved power efficiencies, curved glass high resolution screens, products like the various takes on the computerized watch accessory, Samsung Gear Fit bracelet accessory and other exercise monitors, Google Glass wearable computers, various applications of systems embedded into clothing for various purposes (muscular development, health monitoring, etc.), biological chips that hold medical conditions and history details embedded under the skin, are all wearable technologies that are already changing how a lot of services are being delivered. Through improving miniaturization processes and improved manufacturing capabilities through more precision automation systems these wearable technologies will cause market disruption for various products that currently dominate the technology market such as laptop computers and other larger portable computing devices. There has been an shift happening the past couple decades that I have been tracking along with some peers. As technology advances and devices continue to shrink in size while increasing in power users are following suit by moving from clunky desktop systems, to laptops, to ultra books, to tablets, smart phones, and now wearables. The newest small, accessory-like devices have more computing power contained in them, and technical capability, than did the first dozen computers I owned growing up, combined. With as capable as wearable computing is commercially available today, combined with the research being done in nanotechnology and artificial intelligence and cloud-based service offerings and vast storage facilities, the future of wearable computers is already well in hand, with more innovations coming as we begin to fully understand how to manipulate and integrate such technologies as nanotubes and nanowires to allow us to take computing capabilities down to microscopic levels. The potential is nearly limitless, with the ability to theoretically build nanomachines that are self sufficient, self reliant, and highly aware, that could be able to repair genetic defects within DNA that result in terminal illnesses, mental disabilities, or other debilitating genetic predispositions passed down through the generations. Wearable microprocessors that are embedded in a persons skin could be the hub that enables personal interactions with our various devices and daily system interactions, also medical facilities, civil and government facilities, as well as large scale advertisements to provide a highly customized and personal experience not previously capable. Are there be privacy concerns, of course. Will there be instances of data theft, of course. Will it be a deterrent for mass adoption of such systems, no I do not think so. This is not different than the current state of things with our smart phones, tablets, phablets, laptops, flash drives, and cloud-based facilities. With as convenient as it becomes for dealing with usually stressful situations, such as going to the doctor, visiting a busy DMV, or being able to pay for products in a crowded store quickly, people would begin to see the benefits of convenience begin to far outweigh the potential invasions of privacy. Being able to have your personal details quickly at hand, regardless of what level of detail the user decides to include, does provide the basis for process innovation through technological innovation. Wearables will become the primary outlet for the next generation of data sharing and digital interaction.




What do you think about the future of wearable technologies? ~Geek