Tag: smartglasses

Wearable technology makes Google Glass completely hands-free

A wearable device makes it easier for people to interact with the digital world using smart glasses.

Waterloo-based Canadian startup, Thalmic Labs, has developed innovative wearable technology, an armband known as Myo, which gives the wearer the ability to control movements on a screen with a simple flick of their wrist, and the company has announced this technology has been integrated with Google Glass.

The wearable tech will make it easier for people in certain industries to use Glass as they go about their day.

The hand gesture armband could be particularly beneficial to individuals who work in industries such as construction and healthcare, where being able to use hands-free digital technology could be highly advantageous.

The Myo armband utilizes sensors to detect muscle movements in the wearer’s forearm when they make a hand signal. The wearable technology translates the gesture that was made on a screen. Thalmic Labs has said that it is working to change consumer gaming experiences, controlling a desktop computer, and online interactions with its device.

However, now the company is going one step further and will also be targeting workers in healthcare, field service, and construction. In these industries, giving workers on the move the advantage of using subtle finger and hand gestures, while interacting with smart glasses, makes a lot of sense.

Thalmic Labs co-founder Matthew Bailey said that “We’re literally changing the way that we, as people, interact with the digital world around us.” He added that the company is looking to find more ways to naturally merge people and technology. He commented that “We’re hitting the limits of today’s form factors whether they be personal computers, tablets, or smartphones. We believe wearable computing is the next progression in that evolution.”

The wearable technology can instantly interact with apps on smart glasses.

According to Stephen Lake, CEO and co-founder, the armband gives wearers the power to interact with smart glass applications without the person needing another controller or having to remove gloves. Thus, users will not require remote controls, buttons, touch pads, or voice control, all of which can slow down their ability to quickly access the information they need. This makes the technology ideal in noisy work environments and in those where maintaining sterility is vital.

Thalmic Lab’s public launch of its wearable technology will take place next month. Currently, more than 40,000 Myo armbands have been pre-ordered.

Can Wearable Technology Affect Mobile Commerce?

One of the most attractive aspects of mobile commerce is its convenience. Smartphones and tablets let people make payments for goods and services wherever they happen to be at any given moment, and these people don’t even have to use a credit card or any kind of physical currency. Many mobile commerce platforms have been able to thrive because of their convenient nature. In the advent of wearable technology, that convenience could be taken to a new level.

Wearable devices, such as smart watches and glasses are on the verge of becoming quite popular with tech-savvy consumers. Few of these devices are currently available, but that is likely to change in the next few years. Current wearable devices are somewhat lackluster in their features, but devices being released in the near future will behave very similar to modern smartphones. They will be able to use a wide range of applications, some of which will change the way people see the physical world around them. They will also have access to mobile commerce platforms.

smartwatch wearable technologyUnlike smartphones, wearable devices will be controlled in a more intuitive way. For smart glasses, voice controls and modest head and eye movements will be used to activate the features of a device. These devices will also be equipped with image recognition technology that could also be used to activate certain features. This could make commerce significantly more intuitive and responsive to consumer interaction. When someone can look at a product and make a purchase with nothing more than a blink of an eye, that is the epitome of convenience in the mobile commerce space.

Wearable devices aren’t perfect, of course. Using a simple gesture to make a purchase could lead to many problems, such as unauthorized transactions. This is not something that app developers are unaware of, and many are taking steps to ensure that their mobile commerce platforms will not be abusive in this way.