Tag: augmented reality glasses

Wearable technology could come to define the future

Wearable technology may be seen as a sort of novelty today, but in the future, it could define the way people live their lives. Wearable devices are still quite new and this sort of technology is in a state of infancy. Most of these devices are simply used for entertainment or to keep track of basic health and fitness information. As wearable technology becomes more advanced, however, new devices can be used for a wide range of purposes, including enhancing eyesight and other physical properties.

Technology has become a fundamental part of life and society. People throughout the world have come to rely on simple mobile devices, like smartphones and tablets, which are used extensively in their daily life. These people are using their mobile devices to shop online, communicate with their loved ones, learn more about subjects that they find interesting, and entertainment. Wearable devices can fulfill the role of other mobile devices, but can do so more intuitively than traditional devices.

Augmented reality glasses are, perhaps, the most well know wearable devices. While these devices are not widely available yet, they are often the subject of attention when it comes to matters concerning wearable technology. AR glasses can be used to, quite literally, change the way people see the world around them. Augmented reality technology can either enhance a person’s natural vision or create digital experiences superimposed over the real world. High-tech glasses are serving as the basis for integrated technology, such as AR contact lenses and even technological implants.

So called smartwatches are somewhat simpler devices when compared to AR glasses, but these devices also hold great potential. Currently, smartwatches have limited capabilities. They are generally smaller than smartphones and have weaker processing power, but typically excel when used for a very specific purpose, such as tracking fitness information. As technology advances, these devices will likely become more capable. In the future, they could be used to quickly share contact information over a wide network of mobile-centric people. The devices could also be used as a sort of electronic key, allowing entry into homes and other buildings with high-tech security systems.

How wearable technology will influence the development of the future is impossible to say for certain. Current trends suggest that technology will continue to become a more prominent force in society than it already is. Wearable technology may be little more than a stepping stone toward a more integrated form of technology.

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.