As technology evolves, it becomes easier and easier to incorporate into our everyday lives. Some might even consider it to be an extension of themselves.
What are some of the newer people-focused technologies out there, and what cool things can we do with them?
With this technology designed for humans you can:
- Improve your health and fitness levels.
- Manage chronic pain.
- Get a tech tattoo? You know you want one.
- Dress for success with smart clothing and accessories.
- Become a better skier with your own virtual ski instructor.
- Pay it forward.
- Transform annoying sounds into delightful melodies.
Improve your health and fitness levels.
According to a survey by the Consumer Technology Association (formerly the Consumer Electronics Association), 74% of online American adults are likely to purchase health and fitness technology in the next 12 months.
What is driving this incredible demand? According to Steve Koenig, Senior Director of Market Research at the Consumer Technology Association, “quantitative research distinctly shows health and fitness devices help consumers feel they’re more successful in setting personal fitness and health goals and tracking progress, and that their lives are improved by these devices.
From Fitbits to Fertility
From Fitbit, to the cheaper Xiaomi, to the more innovative coaching style of Moov, these tracking devices now have more advanced sensors to pick up the likes of stress and blood pressure, and more insights from the gathered data for more specific coaching advice.
Fertility tracking technology made the news earlier this year, when Apple controversially left out reproductive health from its Health app dashboard. When it was then added later to an iOS 9 update, it seemed to cement fertility tracking tech as a valid health tool, and since then there’s been a large number of different offerings from the small tech startups through the bigger, more established healthcare organizations.
Manage chronic pain with Quell.
Can technology replace drugs to manage pain? Quell is a revolutionary new wearable technology that provides intensive nerve stimulation that is clinically proven to help you manage chronic pain.
Worn just below the knee and activated by simply clicking a button, Quell taps into your body’s natural pain control system to block pain signals to deliver widespread pain relief.
Imagine this 100% drug free alternative.
Tattoos and the rise of the invisibles.
Invisibles – the next-gen connected tech you won’t be able to see!
Sensory tech is far easier to design when you don’t have to worry about what it looks like. There are tech tattoos in development from Chaotic Moon, New Deal Design and more, which might only need power from your movement or the current across your skin. Tech Tats use electro-conductive ink to connect sensors pressed against the skin, which can keep an eye on body vital signs, which could include temperature or vital signs. These can be stuck anywhere on the body, making them more discreet than standard wrist-based trackers.
You might be wearing an invisible in 2016 but, then, we’ll never know.
Dress for success with smart clothing and jewelry.
Big-name companies like Under Armour are thinking about ways to make the clothes on your back as smart as the phone in your pocket. Since most wearables are fitness-focused, much of smart clothing so far has followed in those footsteps with incredibly accurate fitness metrics and detailed analysis of workouts. But, companies are now thinking beyond gym rats, and the smart clothes they are working on may be the future of wearable tech.
Women’s wearables are becoming more fashion-forward, as companies are clued in to the growing demand for smart jewelry and smart clothing products.
Brands such as Swarovski and Fossil, have been quick to realize the potential and have created some beautiful designer jewelry with added smarts including fitness tracking and notifications. Guaranteed that the next generation of earrings, necklaces, and bracelets will be connected.
And I thought mood rings were cool.
Become a better skier with Carv – your virtual ski instructor.
The Carv, developed by the UK-based company MotionMetrics, is a device that directly attaches to ski boots and wirelessly connects to a smartphone to relay instructions on how to improve your technique while skiing. Carv analyses your skiing technique in real-time providing feedback on the slopes and detailed analysis between runs.
This wearable device has two parts that attach to a ski boot: an insert and a tracker. The insert looks like a memory-foam liner and is housed directly underneath the foot. The Carv insert does not sink under pressure as memory foam does, but it does remember and record where it experiences pressure, with the help of 48 sensors, according to MotionMetrics.
I guess I can finally get off the bunny hill.
Pay it forward with wearable payments.
The infrastructure is already here, and wearable payments are set to become the norm. With a few million Apple Watches out in the world, Samsung Pay, Apple Pay, bPay, in addition to MasterCard backing the likes of Ringly and Nymi, there are going to be far more ways to pay, and more securely at that.
Gone are the days of the bulging wallet of Benjamin Franklins.
Transform annoying sounds into delightful melodies.
It is possible to change the way we hear the world.
You’ve heard of wearables, but what about “hearables,” wearable technology for the ears that optimize the way you hear the world?
The Doppler Labs’ Here Active Listening system consists of a pair of earbuds that use Bluetooth to wirelessly connect to a smartphone app and gives you the power to control the sounds around you. Imagine how useful this could be, if you’re in a loud setting, such as a plane or in a hospital, or at home with your son’s garage band out back.
These trending human-designed technologies are just the tip of the iceberg. Looking forward to what’s ahead.