Is the Future of Wearable Technology a Reality?

In this fast-moving world we live in our lives revolve around technology, whether at home, in the workplace, or in general life, we use technology religiously to get through the day. But how much of it is wearable now and how much will be wearable in the future?

Currently, we are wearing headphones/earphones that are attached or not attached to our mobiles; we are wearing hoodies, tops and jackets with fixed earphones and baseball caps with headphones. Our watches are smart and record everything from time and distance to weight, cholesterol, heart rate and steps taken. Some watches link directly to our mobile devices making and receiving calls and messages plus they access the internet.

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We are trialling sunglasses and reading glasses that are intelligent through the retina; they offer vision directly to the internet. The retina is already in use with certain mobile phones to gain access to the phone’s bank memory. Equally, fingerprint recognition is almost standard across all high-end smartphones and tablets these days.

We wear wristbands and armbands (fitness trackers) that track our health for pharmaceutical research purpose, or just to help with our own personal fitness regimes. Runners have smart trainers/sneakers that help with gauging the correct pace to run, cyclists have power meters and power apps to aide fitness levels and to help with research.

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So that’s now, but what about the future, is there anything new on the technological horizon for wearable tech?

In short, of course there is!

Starting with our brain, there are a number of developing wearables that are about to launch including gadgets that assist with the relaxation of our minds, to gadgets that are specifically made to produce a greater athletic capability.

Moving more into the clothing sector now and big designer brands like Fossil Group and Diesel are working on the release of smart clothing, not just hoodies and jackets but handbags, jewellery and eyewear which will mean that some of the high street brands will almost certainly follow-suit, making wearable technology both affordable and fashionable.

General health is something that the wearable tech market is hitting hard. Doctors are said to be working together with manufacturers and pharmaceutical corporates on the perfect ‘fitbit’ which can determine early signs of major diseases and ailments such a cancer detection, heart disease, diabetes, and early onset arthritis.

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As technology develops so does our need to have it, we are becoming a world (first world countries) that is reliant on all things tech.  Only 25 short years ago there were very few mobile phones in use, people still communicated via landline, fast forward to today and most people couldn’t imagine a life without a mobile device. So, in 25 years when solar cells are fitted into our coats and bags, when ball impact sensors are tracking the angle of impact on a ball (football/soccer, rugby, American football and others), and when weather-shielding drones are following us to help with fresh air, protecting from the sun’s UV rays, and assisting as an umbrella will we be able to live without them? Only time will tell.