Wearable Technology
The New Tomorrow
What is Wearable Technology?
How is Wearable Technology impacting people?
Effects of Wearable Technology on Society
Business
Some experts are predicting the wearable technology market could be worth more than $8 billion by 2018. If these predictions hold true, wearables may have the same impact on our lives that smartphones had, and that impact will more than likely extend to the small business community. A study in the UK found that when using wearable devices, employees are around 8.5 percent more productive compared to those without such devices. Wearable devices may also help small businesses remain more competitive. Wearable Technology can also increase a worker's productivity.With wearable devices, a salesperson would have all the data at hand for easy access from wireless headsets, high-tech lanyards, and wrist displays like Samsung, LG, or Apple Smart Watches. This tech allows the salesperson to respond to any needs of the customer without having to leave the customer’s presence or organize themselves accordingly for the day. This not only makes the salesperson’s job easier, it creates an improved customer experience, which is a top priority for small businesses.
More than 22% of American adults already own a piece of wearable technology. This is on par for the number of Americans who own a tablet and this number is expected to rise. Although certain products have a lot of popularity, others have under-delivered on people's expectations. Some of the main problems people have with them are that they will invade people’s privacy, make them vulnerable to security breaches, and underuse of the device.
School
It also allows students to learn at their own pace. For example, a scenario occurs that a student can't see what is on the board or can't keep up with what the teacher is saying or teaching at the same time while paying attention to the board. Well, there is a solution! Google Glasses can help this student see by taking a video of picture of the information on the board and be able to teach his/herself at their own pace.
Current News
Wearables are set to be the technology trend of 2015 - as demonstrated by the
category’s primacy at the world’s largest consumer electronics trade show, CES, in Las Vegas this month. LG and Sony showcased new wrist-based devices at CES, although the most anticipated wearable of 2015. It’s not just consumers who are poised to adopt wearable technology in 2015 - businesses are viewing the technology with interest. Fifty-one percent of business decision-makers say wearables are a “moderate, high, or critical priority for their firm”. In 2010, 43 percent identified employees using mobile devices as a priority.
With the wearables market expected to be worth $5.8 billion by 2018, it is important that manufacturers factor in the design element and not just how much the product can do. Many wearables currently on the market do not appear to have received much consideration by mainstream consumers rather than early tech adopters.
Wearable tech in Canada are advancing to being able to do more than monitor people’s heart rates and calculate the number of steps taken. The watches we have in the U.S., Fitbit and Jawbone, are for the everyday people, but these advancements are made for the pros. For example, Hykso, is working on having a watch with sensors that allows it to show a boxer the results of the speed, power, and skill of a punch. This will be their practicing guide when training and having to get better at a specific part of their punches. In addition, there are headbands from InteraXon that calculate an athlete's focus with brain sensors, which was used on PGA golfer Andrew Parr. Tech companies out there are saying that this is just the tip of the iceberg for what’s to come.
Students of FCGP Team 6A that did this project
Student Leader: LindsayK-BMHS-45
DienyeB_AAHS
FrankH_BMHS_3
BenM_FRSH
RyanG_BMHS_1
TabithaW_BMHS_3
MariaM_QCA
AidanC_RBSS
References
https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5548/11458183003_8f3a3a7643_b.jpg
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/be/Google_Glass_with_frame.jpg
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3948/15489204048_c6dc6bfe7c_o_d.jpg
https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7284/16766913771_5061c5ec7a_b.jpg
https://pixabay.com/static/uploads/photo/2015/07/02/10/29/smartwatch828786_960_720.jpg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OY5EIkC1_k
Henderson, P. (2015, November 4). New Canadian wearable tech promises athletes stronger punches, better swings | Toronto Star. Retrieved November 7, 2015, from
Howard, C. (2015, September 21). Widespread use of wearable technology. Retrieved 2016, from
Munk, S. (2015). 2015 to be the year of the wearable device [News Briefing]. Retrieved 2016, from
Sung, D. (2015, December 14). 50 wearable tech gamechangers for 2016. Retrieved 2016, from
http://www.wareable.com/wareable50/best-wearable-tech
"US PwC." PwC. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Oct. 2015
http://www.pwc.com/us/en/technology/publications/wearable-technology.html
"Wearable Technology." Wearable Technology. by Spela Kosir, 6 Aug. 2015. Web. 28 Oct. 2015.