Tag: wearable devices

Study shows that wearable devices are gaining traction among UK consumers

The United Kingdom may soon become a leading wearable technology market. According to a recent study from YouGov, the number of people with wearable devices is growing. These devices range from smartwatches, fitness bands, and head-mounted systems that offer people a chance to experience the world in a different way. While wearable devices are still somewhat rare in the commercial market, many new devices are expected to be launched within the coming year.

6% of UK population currently owns a wearable device of some kind

According to the study, the approximately 6% of the UK population — nearly 2.8 million people — currently have some sort of wearable device. Most of these devices are smartwatches and physical activity trackers. The study predicts that the number of people with these devices will double in 2015, when new devices are released into the UK market. One device, in particular, may account for much of this growth: The Apple Watch.

Apple Watch may find success in the UK market

Apple unveiled plans for its new wearable device last month. Apple Watch promises to be the next evolution in wearable technology, providing users with all the features of a smartphone in a wearable gadget. The device is slated to be launched next year and its quick adoption is expected among iOS fans. The exact features that the Apple Watch will launch with are not yet known, but there is already a significant degree of hype surrounding the gadget.

AR devices likely to attract many consumers

Augmented reality devices are also likely to become somewhat famous in the UK. These devices, many of which will be worn on the head, promise to change the way people see the world. Google Glass is, perhaps, the most well known and anticipated of these devices. The head-mounted system will leverage augmented reality technology for a variety of purposes, including social media and navigation. A few technology companies have plans to launch AR devices in the coming years, but Google Glass is expected to launch in 2015, ahead of its competition.

The brand has announced that the SmartBand Talk from its Smartwear lineup will also be released in that market.

Sony has now announced that two more of its products from within its SmartWear line, its SmartWatch 3 and its SmartBand Talk, are now going to be launched in the massive market in India.

These wearable technology gadgets can both synch with the Lifelog mobile app for health and fitness tracking.

That said, while the products are being announced for launch into the Indian marketplace, at the time that this article was written, the company had not yet revealed the prices for either its smartwatch or its fitness band. Sony has stated that the products will be reaching the store shelves in that country in December of this year.

There have been a number of improvements made to the SmartWatch 3 for the latest Sony wearables release.

For example, this device has adopted the Android Wear platform. This will allow the device to be able to anticipate the needs of the wearer, and it will organize the information stored within the device as it makes suggestions for what the wearer might need, showing it to him or her before it is even asked.

This wearable technology device will provide the wearer with appointment notifications, text messages to read, and weather updates at a rapid glance. Moreover, it can also be programmed to provide flight information or offer tips based on interests. Input into the device is rarely necessary. It functions more as an information and alert system that caters to the specific needs of the wearer.

The smartwatch can receive instructions via voice, which is the easiest way to interact with Android Wear, when taking the tiny screen size into account – the display is a mere 1.6 inches. That function is made possible through its built-in microphone. This Sony device is equipped with its own standalone mobile apps, as well and features a GPS sensor, a gyrometer, an accelerometer, and a compass. The onboard storage is a respectable 4G. It is waterproof and uses a microUSB port in order to charge its battery.