Wearable devices are becoming more than just entertainment tools
When it comes to wearable technology, many people immediately associate this concept with entertainment or social networking in some way. Many wearable devices that are slated for release in the coming months and years are, indeed, designed with entertainment in mind, but not all technology is meant to be fun. A recent breakthrough in wireless technology could actually make wearable devices very important tools for those that are interested in managing their health and wellbeing.
A team of researchers from Stanford University have developed a new wireless charging technology called “mid-field wireless transfer.” This technique is capable of delivering electrical power to small devices, such as biometric sensors, pacemakers, nerve stimulators, and wearable devices that monitor health. Moreover, the technique can actually be used to power devices that are imbedded deep within the human body, making implanted sensors and other such devices viable for health care.
The research team notes that its wireless energy transfer technique is so safe that it can be used to power devices embedded in livers, kidneys, hearts, and even brains. These devices can be used to simply monitor health information, such as the performance of kidney functions, or they can be used to treat serious illnesses or alleviate pain. These devices could also be less of a burden on their owners, as they would not require surgery to replace the batteries that are commonly used for current implanted devices.
Wearable technology is most often construed with entertainment because that is how many modern devices are developed. These devices may be serving as a stepping stone to a future where technology is a more fundamental part of human life than it already is, however. Wearable technology could lead the way to a new generation of integrated technology that could actually change the way people see and interact with the world around them in a way that is more profound than what can be achieved through a simple pair of augmented reality glasses.
Wearable devices could be having a problem with their image
Wearable technology has been growing in popularity, but not always because of good reasons. Wearable devices are gaining attention throughout the world because they are being marketed as somewhat revolutionary. Some of these devices can, quite literally, change the way you see the world, while others simply offer you a better way to keep track of your health and other basic information. Some devices are being lauded as tools that could change the way society, as a whole, interacts with itself. The issue, however, is that none of these devices have yet become successful.
What is going on behind the scenes in the technology world may determine the future of wearable devices and their image with the public. Recently, Nike laid off many of the members of its FuelBand team. The FuelBand is a sort of smart wristband that is meant to track physical activity. Nike claims that it will continue providing support for the device, but rumors concerning the FuelBand’s imminent demise have already begun to circulate. While Nike may, indeed, have plans to continue supporting the device, the image that the FuelBand has created for itself may end up affecting its future.
Consumers may be somewhat disinterested in wearable devices
Similar things are happening to other wearable devices as well. The majority of these devices may end up be affected by rumors much more than the FuelBand, however, as most of these devices have not yet been released. Products like augmented reality glasses are often presented as devices that can change how people see the world, but these devices have also been shrouded in controversy. Google’s forthcoming Glass platform, for instance, has run afoul of many lawmakers in some parts of the United States. These legislators suggest that the device will be distracting for drivers and could lead to serious privacy issues. Beyond that, Google had earned some notoriety in the past for constantly changing the features of the Glass platform, initially noting that it would including augmented reality technology, then claiming that it would not support the technology.
One of the most significant challenges facing wearable technology has to do with the apparent lack of interest that consumers have for these devices. While wearable devices have become very popular among tech-savvy individuals, most people have not yet been convinced that these devices are interesting in any way. Marketing that has focused on the vague, innovative aspects of these devices has yet to thrill the majority of people that already have smartphones or tablets.
