Tag: wearable technology

Patent pictures hint at a new design concept for the wearable tech.

Although not everyone is on board with Google Glass, one aspect regarding this wearable device on which most people agree is the fact that it lacks aesthetic appeal and does very little for a person’s looks, but this minor issue may be rectified down the road based on the latest speculations regarding a recent acquired patent.

The new design appears to be sleeker and thicker compared to the current eyewear.

Mitchell Heinrich, Google design and prototyping engineer involved with Project Glass, was granted US patent D710,928 S on August 12. The patent shows a Google Glass design that looks far more like thick framed normal eyeglasses compared to the relatively bulky projector that sits on the side of the current device.

Heinrich’s involvement in the project is described on his website as “Early stage mechanical architecture layout. Lead the consumer packaging development for the explorer release. Developed human factors numerical and physical models to fit Glass on as many people as possible. Co-developed the bone conduction audio system including component design and testing. Broad range of low and high fidelity prototype development.”

The patent application reveals relatively normal looking spectacles with a thick frame that features a display apparatus, which is tucked on the inside and is attached to the right arm of the glasses near the hinge. This would not only hide the projector, but make the wearable display device potentially more comfortable for the user, as they could receive information projected from the apparatus on the lenses instead of it floating in front of their eyes. This could also mean better image quality. On the other hand, this new design could end up being more obstructive to the wearer’s vision.

The new design may make people even more suspicious of Google Glass users.

Despite being more appealing to look at, this new design could raise more concerns among non-Glass users who may argue that it will make it easier for wearers to film others without these people being aware that they are being captured on film or that Glass users may find it easier to engage in other illicit activity. For instance, the smartglasses have already been banned at certain movie theaters in the US to prevent the illegal filming of movies.

Nevertheless, at the moment, the patent doesn’t reveal enough about the next-gen Google Glass for anything official to be determined. However, what has been seen certainly does appear to be a notable evolution in the product.

Many are beginning to ask if an increase in the popularity of wearable technology is also causing these problems.

Recalls of wearables over the last couple of years due to concerns about skin reactions are starting to become increasingly common, even among the most popular gadgets, and this is beginning to make some people believe that this issue will only continue to rise as more people wear electronics on their bodies.

Among the most recent recalls that were widely publicized included one of Fitbit, earlier this year.

The company’s wearables had to be recalled due to reactions that were being experienced by a few of its wearers. This is not the only situation in which this type of event has happened. Last year saw its own fair share of recalled devices that were causing skin reactions. Now, the dermatological community is wondering whether this will be an escalating problem over time as a growing number of consumers strap smartwatches, fitness trackers, and even smart clothing onto their bodies in order to be able to track their steps, measure their heart rates, read their blood pressures, and obtain other forms of data related to their medical and fitness performance.

It’s interesting to think that people use wearables to help to improve their own health and cause new medical issues.

The Fitbit Force is a device that is worn on the wrist to track physical activity. Though it was released in October 2013 with great reviews, it led to complaints made by thousands of people who complained of blistering and skin irritations. This caused a recall of 10,000 mobile devices. Moreover, the Consumer Product Safety Commission has stated that the gadget should no longer be allowed to be sold.

As the wearable technology industry continues to take off, so are the number of reports that these devices are contributing to skin irritations and allergic reactions. In the U.S. – one of the areas in which wearables are the most popular – it is common for people to have allergies to materials such as nickel. In Europe a method has been developed to stop the use of this metal from being used in consumer products and jewelry, but this is not the case in the United States. Nickel is also used in other mobile devices such as laptops and iPads. The primary difference is that those products are not held up against the face and are not in contact with the skin for long periods of time.