Tag: wearable technology

Consumers want wearable technology, but at a lower price

| October 31, 2014

Recent research has revealed that while wearables are drawing interest, most won’t pay over $300 for them.

It is becoming increasingly difficult to find an electronics and mobile devices maker that has not come up with its own version of wearable technology, but while recent studies have shown that many consumers are very interested in this tech, the price tag is creating a barrier to adoption.

Wearables are coming out in the form of everything from smartwatches to clothing, glasses, jewelry, and more.

Despite the fact that there are many different offerings within the wearable technology category, it is clearly an industry that remains in its infancy as companies have not yet come up with the strategy that will ensure that the majority consumers will be willing to buy these devices and like them enough that they will be willing to replace them as new generations of wearables are released. A recent PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) study has provided considerable insight into this struggle.

The research asked 1,000 consumers in the United States about their opinions with regards to wearable technology.

Wearable Technology for lower costWhat it showed was that many Americans do already have one of these devices, at least in some form, and that they have high hopes with regards to their benefits. The data showed that around one in five people in the U.S. currently has some type of wearable technology device, such as a wrist band or a digital pedometer that will connect with their computers or smartphones.

That said, a surprising 56 percent of the people who took part in the PwC study also felt that these mobile gadgets (more specifically, those that allow for bio-feedback such as fitness trackers, sleep trackers, and those that monitor heart rate) will help a person to boost his or her life expectancy by a decade. Equally, just under 42 percent of the participants believed that wearables could help an individual to boost his or her athletic ability and overall fitness level.

That said, while 21 percent of the participants actually own some form of wearable technology device, only 10 percent of the total respondents actually use their gadget on a daily basis. Moreover, there is a price limit to the amount that they would spend. Only 5 percent said that they would be willing to pay $300 for a device in this category, while even fewer – 4 percent – said that they would be willing to pay $500. Only time will reveal whether or not the $349 price tag of the Apple Watch will make that product cost prohibitive.

Microsoft may release its Surface Smartwatch before the close of October

| October 31, 2014

There has been neither official confirmation of the device or its launch date, but many in the industry expect it.

The latest rumors about the Surface Smartwatch are suggesting that Microsoft could actually be released within the next week or so, making certain that it will have hit the market shelves in time for shoppers to snatch it up during the holiday season.

Speculations have been made about this wearable technology, suggesting that it will have a health focus.

That said, it is important to note that while there are many reports that read as though they are providing factual information about the Microsoft Surface Smartwatch, there have yet to be any official confirmations about the existence of the device itself, let alone its features or release date. Many in the industry that have made very accurate speculations in the past have been discussing various types of health sensors that could have been incorporated into the device, if it does indeed exist.

Some very reputable media sources have stated that the Surface Smartwatch will have certain impressive features.

Microsoft - Surface SmartwatchFor example, Forbes discussed a possible wearable technology device from Microsoft, saying that with regular use, it could continue to function for two days on a full charge, and that it should have a sensor that will allow the user’s heart rate to be tracked. The offering will likely provide cross platform capabilities and, if Microsoft manages to launch it during the next handful of weeks, it will provide a rival to the current products from Google and Samsung during the holiday shopping season.

It could also become competition for the Apple Watch, which is expected to launch at the beginning of next year, after the holiday shopping season has already fizzled out. As it will not be based on Android Wear, it will be in direct competition with other existing devices that are already using that platform.

However, the belief is that the Microsoft Surface Smartwatch will still be able to function with nearly any smartphone, which means that it will not be limited exclusively to mobile devices that operate on the Windows mobile operating system.