The smart watch is fast becoming the must-have gadget for the tech-savvy and with it comes a new age of computing: wearables. Analysts estimate that almost 20% of the current market for smart device development is accounted for by wearable technology.
The growth in wearable technology is the natural next step in the evolution of computing. We've gone from shared computing, through personal, portable and mobile to devices which perform a particular function or set of functions specifically for the individual and which are based on the particular preferences of that individual; intimate computing. So, while some gadget freaks want the world accessible from their wrist or their glasses, others may choose to manage or monitor certain functions via discrete devices like the Fitbit or smart meters to monitor bodily functions or environmental hazards. The wearable is a new paradigm for computing and we are already starting to see as many types of wearable as their are perceived uses for them.
The move towards intimacy in technology is, of course, nothing new. Early forms of mass transportation led us to the motor car, the motorcycle and initiatives (which, let's be honest, weren't the resounding success they could have been) like the Sinclair C5 and Segway. The public clock in the town square led us to clocks in our homes, then later the pocket- and wristwatch. The same model of falling costs, increasing sophistication, mass production and personalisation applies to almost every device we rely on in our everyday lives.
But what makes an effective wearable? It all boils down to three factors: Context, Insight and Action:
Context: What is my situation?
- Where I am, how I am, what data is specific to my current situation.
Insight: How can that data be applied?
- What the data gathered from my situation means and what can be extrapolated from that meaning.
Action: How can I act on the insights derived from my data?
- If I understand the specifics of my situation then what interventions are available to me?
We're already seeing wearables which effectively address these three factors, even if the current trend in smartwatches - the devices helping to push wearables into the mainstream - is as much a fashion statement as a desire to improve quality of life. As wearables become less about "look what I've got" and more about "look what I can do better" then we will see much greater specialism in the devices themselves.
Why, for example, push buttons on my phone to control my television, or advance my powerpoint slide when the Myo smartband can interpret my gestures? Why bother with remote control when you can run Siri or Google Now on a smart device ? Why even look at my satnav when my wrist gives me turn by turn directions through a series of vibrations? All these applications are commonly available now and while they may offer only the most basic of functions they have tremendous potential.
But what's really exciting is if we look beyond the consumer to enterprise applications. IBM's Watson Health takes the kind of data you're already tracking via your phone or smartwatch and infuses it with analytics and cognitive computing to generate a personalised view of one's health. Aggregating and analysing data from users in the cloud enables new insights to be unlocked - disease markers can be tracked, trends in diet or exercise can be extrapolated and our understanding of how our bodies work becomes vastly enhanced. The wearable is not just the point of data capture it also delivers personal insights and guidance to the individual; Big Data becomes personal insight.
There are similar applications in other industries; insurance companies are able to deliver personalised services based on each user's individual habits, rather than broad demographics. In relief efforts around the world, hazardous environments can be monitored and the movements of relief workers co-ordinated to ensure maximum safety and impact. Scanning technology is giving way to devices as small as Motorola's ring scanner; a highly portable solution which boosts productivity by enabling workers to scan paperwork or materials on the go.
The era of intimate computing connects man to machine whenever and wherever is required. Wearable tech should be intuitive, rather than intrusive; it should enhance one's journey through life, making things a easier, safer, more controllable - smarter.
