Wearable Computers

      

 Wearable Computers

Have you heard about computer clothing or wearable computers? It is a miniature device that is worn by the bearer under, with or on top of clothing. These are also known as bod-y-borne computers or wearable. This technology is developed for general or special purpose technologies and media development.

The main feature of wearable computer technology is its consistency. As a matter of fact,  there will be a constant interaction between the computer and user. So there is no need to turn the device on or off. Another feature of this technology is the ability to multitask. Also this device will work as an extension of the user’s mind and/or body.

The physical environment of wearable computers is the user’s skin, hands, voice, eyes, arms, as well as motion or attention.

Now let us have a look on the applications of this technology.

• Sensor integration
• Behavioral modeling
• Health care monitoring systems
• Service management
• Mobile phones
• Electronic textiles
• Fashion design etc

The wearable computing technology leads to the development of rehabilitation engineering, ambulatory intervention treatment, lifeguard systems, and defense wearable systems.

Currently this technology moves in standardization with IEEE, IETF and several industry groups. Moreover this leads to more interfacing under the WPAN (wireless personal area network) and the WBAN (wireless body area network) and it offers a new class of designs for interfacing and networking.

Now let us have a look at the latest computer wearables.

Now Sony is selling an Android compatible wrist watch, the Sony Smartwatch. It is paired with an Android phone as an additional, remote display and notification tool.

In 2013, Google glass launched their Optical Head Mounted Display (OHMD) to a test group. They plan to launch it to customers in 2014. In fact Google aims at producing a mass market ubiquitous computer which displays information in a smartphone-like hands-free format that can interact with the Internet via natural language voice commands.

Trends converging on wearable computers

1. Moving from wrist wearable computer

Almost 30% of respondents would like to have it clipped on their clothing and 15% would like it to be embedded. 

2.Wearable computers for healthcare and fitness

Sportsmen and people who are tracking their health are the most common consumers of wearables. For athletes and fitness enthusiasts, reading such types of data as ECG, temperature, pace, speed etc. and analyzing them is extremely important. 

3.For retailers that collect big data

The wearables allow all the in-store employees or staff to access data such as stock levels and it also smoothens the communication with other team members. 

The future of wearables is surely going to be much stronger. And brands who would like to stay competitive in the future must have to do all the preparations for the wearable technologies with strategies to leverage their value for both customers and employees. There are many wearable tech pieces available today and the future could be like everyone wears their business on their sleeve!